CC_Minutes_2008_0714 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Station Location, Apparatus, and Staffing Analysis Roseville. MN To protect the heath, safety, and welfare of firefighters, the federal government enacted regulations to ensure that firefighters operate safely in and around structure fires. Enacted by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.134, also known as "Two-in/Two-out," mandates that there must be a minimum of four personnel on the scene of a structural fire before personnel can initiate interior operations. Two firefighters must remain on the exterior of the structure, properly equipped with full turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to act as a RIT in the event the firefighters operating inside the structure become incapacitated or trapped. Although OSHA allows one RIT member to have an additional role such as incident commander or safety officer, as long as rescue activities can be performed without jeopardizing the safety of other firefighters, a pump operator cannot make up part of the RIT unless the apparatus utilizes a positive water source, which allows the pump to be unstaffed for a period. Apparatus Analysis The current inventory of apparatus includes: 4 engines, 2 ladders, 1 rescue, 1 boat, and 2 medic units in the department. This complement is rather large for the risks present and could be reduced to 3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 rescue, 2 medic units and 1 boat. This is a reduction of 1 engine and 1 ladder from the inventory. Additionally, the rescue unit should be evaluated for need when the current unit is worn out, since the current unit is averaging less than 1 call per month. The total apparatus savings from this downsizing would generate $1.SM to $2M for other emergency services needs on a 20 year cycle or $75K to $100K per year. It should be stressed that when considering this cost savings option it is important to have strong automatic and mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions. This additional protection is needed for safety (citizen and firefighter) and to maintain a strong ISO rating as currently enjoyed by Roseville. Staffing Analysis RFD currently operates with 5 personnel on duty at all times and augments this with a cadre of paid on-call personnel who respond from home or work to emergency calls. The system seems to work well except that the majority of the time the shifts are running short of on-duty personnel. Since 78 percent of all emergency calls are EMS calls, the system is currently dealing with this shortfall fairly well. However, as EMS calls increase in frequency the stress on the on duty personnel will increase also and burnout will occur with the paid on call personnel on duty first. This staffing shortfall will increase the need for paid staff. Administration of RFD has tried to maintain on call personnel with many incentive ideas. Results are not keeping up with attrition. System Planning Corporation 21 TriData Division May 2008 '