When you are the largest fire department in America, chances are you are going to be at the forefront of innovation for the fire service, which is exactly the case for the Fire Department of New York.
Stephen Raynis, Chief of Safety, FDNY – Safety Command wend over some of the innovative programs that promote safety and effiency that the FDNY has implemented since 9/11. The class addressed initiatives that include accident reduction programs, modified response, a new seat belt system specifically designed for FDNY apparatus, a new firefighter accountability system, the electronic fireground accountability system” (EFAS), Chief Officer training through the High Reliability Organization model, Safety Stand down, and personnel attitude toward safety.
These programs were successful and Raynis explained how members of the FDNY bought into them.
Benefits to firefighters, according to Raynis, who looked forward to sharing the information, include learning about programs that may assist their departments in helping change their safety cultures.
“The most important lesson the firefighters can take away from this class is the “everyone goes home” concept,” says Raynis. “Safety should be the number one priority at all operations. Firefighters are expected to put themselves in harm’s way to save a life – that’s our job. However it must always be in the back of our minds that, we risk a lot to save a lot, we risk little to save little, and we risk nothing to save nothing.”
