Alert: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters When Fighting Fires in Unoccupied Structures
2008
NIOSH Docket Number 141
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a public review of the NIOSH draft document entitled NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters When Fighting Fires in Unoccupied Structures, NIOSH Docket Number NIOSH-141. This document has been determined by NIOSH to be a Significant Guidance document, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines under the Federal Data Quality Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-554, Section 1(a)(3)[515]). The overall goal of the review is to enhance the quality and credibility of Agency recommendations by ensuring that the scientific and technical work underlying these recommendations receives appropriate public review. This guidance document does not have the force and effect of law.
Background Information
Final document: NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters using Risk Management Principles at Structure Fires [PDF – 2M]
FR Notice Final: Notice of issuance of final publication – FR Notice
Notice of draft document available for public comment; 73 FR 78365; 12/22/08 [PDF – 1,420 KB]
Draft NIOSH Alert, “Preventing deaths and injuries of fire fighters when fighting fires in unoccupied structures,” February 2009. [PDF – 8,590 KB]
Review Comments
Summary of Changes to the Alert Table – 7/7/10 [PDF – 1,506 KB]
Submissions from the Public in Order of Receipt
Submission to the docket from private person – 12/23/08 [PDF – 323 KB]
Submission to the docket from private person – 12/23/08 [PDF – 405 KB]
Submission to the docket from Walsh – 12/23/08 [PDF – 998 KB]
Submission to the docket from O’Melia (C-O-MM Fire and Rescue) – 12/27/08 [PDF – 189 KB]
Submission to the docket from Mignone (Village of Scarsdale) – 1/6/09 [PDF – 668 KB]
Submission to the docket from Campbell (Rhinebeck Fire Department) – 1/7/09 [PDF – 715 KB]
Submission to the docket from LaMacchia (Buffalo Fire Department) – 1/8/09 [PDF – 362 KB]
Submission to the docket from Luna (City of Rochester) – 1/22/09 [PDF – 937 KB]
Submission to the docket from McGinnis (Columbus Fire Department, Local 67) – 2/4/09 [PDF – 273 KB]
Submission to the docket from Connell (City of Columbus/Division of Fire) – 2/4/09 [PDF – 199 KB]
Submission to the docket from Young (Upper Arlington Fire Division) – 2/4/09 [PDF – 376 KB]
Submission to the docket from Barton – 2/4/09 [PDF – 116 KB]
Submission to the docket from Adams (Columbus Fire) – 2/4/09 [PDF – 108 KB]
Submission to the docket from Hennosy (Columbus Ohio Division of Fire) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 114 KB]
Submission to the docket from Eblin (Columbus Ohio Division of Fire) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 129 KB]
Submission to the docket from Moore (Upper Arlington Fire Division) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 342 KB]
Submission to the docket from Roggenkamp (Columbus Ohio Division of Fire) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 258 KB]
Submission to the docket from private person – 2/5/09 [PDF – 298 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bonner (Philadelphia Fire Department) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 363 KB]
Submission to the docket from Nicodemus (Columbus Ohio Division of Fire) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 195 KB]
Submission to the docket from Wood (Columbus Division of Fire) – 2/5/09 [PDF – 180 KB]
Submission to the docket from Whiting (Columbus Division of Fire) – 2/7/09 [PDF – 277 KB]
Submission to the docket from Morrison (Harrison Twp Fire) – 2/7/09 [PDF – 250 KB]
Submission to the docket from Sundberg (Columbus Division of Fire) – 2/9/09 [PDF – 109 KB]
Submission to the docket from Mahoney (Baytown Fire Department) – 2/10/09 [PDF – 840 KB]
Submission to the docket from Moore – 2/11/09 [PDF – 198 KB]
Submission to the docket from Blangsted (CAL FIRE) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 225 KB]
Submission to the docket from Williamson (Orlando Fire Department) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 217 KB]
Submission to the docket from Reardon (Fire Instructor/Consultant) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 306 KB]
Submission to the docket from Malo (Florida State Fire College) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 179 KB]
Submission to the docket from Cottrell (Syracuse Fire Department) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 160 KB]
Submission to the docket from Holzwarth (East Grand Fire District #4) – 2/11/09 [PDF – 184 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bifano (Warren Fire Department) – 2/12/09 [PDF – 453 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bifano (Warren Fire Department) – 2/12/09 [PDF – 244 KB]
Submission to the docket from Irving (HRM Fire and Emergency) – 2/12/09 [PDF – 164 KB]
Submission to the docket from Kassel (Washougal Fire Department) – 2/12/09 [PDF – 227 KB]
Submission to the docket from Ross (Columbus, OH Division of Fire) – 2/12/09 [PDF – 217 KB]
Submission to the docket from Salka (FDNY) – 2/13/09 [PDF – 872 KB]
Submission to the docket from Wheeler (Park Forest Fire Department) – 2/13/09 [PDF – 163 KB]
Submission to the docket from McDermott (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office) – 2/13/09 [PDF – 163 KB]
Submission to the docket from Spinelli (Hartsdale Fire District) – 2/14/09 [PDF – 984 KB]
Submission to the docket from Carnegie (Seattle Fire Department, Retired) – 2/20/09 [PDF – 1,110 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bossert (Lexington Fire Department) – 2/21/09 [PDF – 313 KB]
Submission to the docket from Pellegrin (New Brighton Department of Public Safety) – 2/21/09 [PDF – 260 KB]
Submission to the docket from private person – 2/24/09 [PDF – 17 KB]
Submission to the docket from Lowery (Chillicothe Fire Department) – 2/24/09 [PDF – 51 KB]
Submission to the docket from Hartin (Gresham Fire & Emergency Services) – 2/27/09 [PDF – 33 KB]
Submission to the docket from Fannon (Veterans Administration) – 3/2/09 [PDF – 40 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bennett (Clovis Fire Department) – 3/2/09 [PDF – 1,390 KB]
Submission to the docket from Grorud (International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)) – 3/3/09 [PDF – 296 KB]
Submission to the docket from Butler (South Montgomery County Fire Department) – 3/4/09 [PDF – 35 KB]
Submission to the docket from Partridge (Massachusetts Department of Fire Services) – 3/5/09 [PDF – 80 KB]
Submission to the docket from Zimmerman (Westhampton Fire Department) – 3/5/09 [PDF – 69 KB]
Submission to the docket from Zimmerman (Westhampton Fire Department) – 3/5/09 [PDF – 489 KB]
Submission to the docket from Boyd – 3/5/09 [PDF – 35 KB]
Submission to the docket from Almqvist (CREATEC Consulting LLC) – 3/6/09 [PDF – 75 KB]
Submission to the docket from Bailey (Aurora Volunteer Fire Department) – 3/8/09 [PDF – 25 KB]
Submission to the docket from Malek – 3/9/09 [PDF – 186 KB]
Submission to the docket from Carey (Firehouse.com, Officer.com, EMS Responder.com) – 3/9/09 [PDF – 253 KB]
Submission to the docket from Kreis (Phoenix Fire Department) – 3/9/09 [PDF – 1,210 KB]
Submission to the docket from Nalley (Genoa Fire Department) – 3/11/09 [PDF – 19 KB]
Peer Review
Title: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters when Fighting Fires in Unoccupied Structures
Subject: Summary of fatality statistics and selected case reports.
Purpose: To highlight hazards and provide recommendations for preventing fire fighter deaths and injuries when working in structures that are known or suspected to be vacant or unoccupied.
Timing of Review: Spring 2008
Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review: Fire fighter injury prevention
Type of Review: Individual
Number of Reviewers: 6
Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH
Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No
Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes
Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments Before Their Review: No
Peer Reviewers:
Matt Chibarro
Organizational Affiliation: Fire Protection Engineer, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire protection engineering, safety and health regulations and federal standards
Recommended by: NIOSH
Richard Duffy
Organizational Affiliation: Special Assistant to the President, International Association of Fire Fighters, AFLCIO
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire fighting, labor relations
Recommended by: NIOSH
William Goldfeder
Organizational Affiliation: Deputy Chief, Loveland-Symmes Fire Department, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Safety Health and Survival Section
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire fighting, fire department management, occupational safety and health
Recommended by: NIOSH
Robert Neale
Organizational Affiliation: Training Specialist, United States Fire Administration, National Fire Academy
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire fighting, training, education, safety and health
Recommended by: NIOSH
Heather Schaffer
Organizational Affiliation: Director, National Volunteer Fire Council
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire fighting, volunteer fire department organization and management
Recommended by: NIOSH
Robert Solomon
Organizational Affiliation: Vice President, National Fire Protection Association
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire protection engineering, national consensus standards
Recommended by: NIOSH
Charge to Peer Reviewers:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is planning to publish a NIOSH ALERT document titled “Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters When Fighting Fires in Unoccupied Structures.” This document addresses considerations of defensive versus offensive fire attack based on knowledge regarding occupancy, and the need for evaluation of the risks versus gains of these strategies.
Since you have programmatic interest or expertise in this subject, we would appreciate you or your designee’s review of this draft document. Please send your comments by March 15, 2008 directly to NIOSH.
Please note that because this is a pre-decisional draft, we request that you not further distribute this document outside of your organization, and that it not be publicly cited or quoted. Thank you in advance for your assistance in reviewing this document.
Comments and Response: