It is time to explore the topic of accountability. This is a different type of accountability, the uncomfortable kind of accountability.
This type of accountability doesn’t include tags or command boards; this type is personal. It is the type that requires us all to take a deep look inside our own actions and opinions, and determine our level of personal accountability to the profession that we have chosen.
A few things to consider while we talk about accountability; one huge part that is critical at any level is professionalism. Professionalism does not come with a paycheck or a plaque, and it doesn’t come in a bottle. Professionalism is a state of mind; an acceptance of the task and responsibility to do it right, every time, after we accept our oath and begin to respond. It is a disposition that carries into every level of the service, and it is vital at every position that we hold (see Photo 1). One can mirror professionalism with integrity; those who operate with a high level of one usually possess a high level of both. But the downside to integrity is that it is rarely lost at once; it is usually faded a small amount at a time, until it is eroded away completely.
Accountability for the firefighter
The candidate entering into this profession comes to the fire station with an open mind. At the earliest part of their career, they are the most impressionable. The knowledge, skills and abilities they develop are directly related to what they are exposed to. When we look at this exposure, what do we see? What we witness mostly as of late is a lack of respect and integrity for a profession that demands it at every step of the journey. Here is what we should see:
Report to your assignment ready to function: Being ready to function means that we come in our assigned uniform or station wear, clean shaven, well hydrated, alert and oriented. Clean shaven isn’t an opinion of a position that varies from department to department: it is the law, so to speak, that is laid down from OSHA. It doesn’t matter if you think you can get a seal; you’re not allowed. PERIOD. So trying to sell your officer, your instructor or your mentor on the facial hair position is moot; find another cause, preferably one that is worth fighting for.
Wear all of your PPE correctly: There are times when your instructor/officer/boss would allow for a modification of PPE depending on a few specific situations; type of incident, weather, assignment, etc… This author has modified the PPE assignment in the summer months to bunker pants only unless it is reported as smoke showing or greater. What is not acceptable is seeing firefighters wearing their gear incorrectly or not completely. This author was fortunate to serve as an instructor under some of the greatest trainers in the service, and one factor remained constant with each one of them; when it came to PPE, they all set a positive example by wearing it all correctly (photo 2). Look around the next incident; are there firefighters wearing all of their gear? Are they wearing it correctly? Are there members without their suspenders on, no bottom strap for their SCBA, operating bare handed while working on the emergency scene? This is not the way to efficiently operate on the emergency scene.
Continue your training and advance your knowledge: Basic firefighting classes focus on precisely that; the basics Every fire service leader has spent years honing their craft with continuing education and experience. There is no magic pill or potion that makes someone complete in their abilities; it comes from hard work. Your skill level will continue to flourish with the investment that you put in to further your education; thinking that you will get all of your experience riding backwards is dangerous. Instead of getting multiple years of experience, you will have earned one year of experience, multiple years consecutively… Embrace the fact that this profession requires continuing education at every level of the service, and your skill set will grow accordingly.
Accountability for the fire officer
A position of leadership requires just that—LEADERSHIP. A leader should already possess the positive characteristics that a firefighter has, and show them at every alarm. Moreover, the officer should possess the T-A-L-E-N-T for the position:
Training: True leadership comes with leading by example. The officer must be well-trained in every facet of their responsibilities.
Accountability: There’s that word again. This level of accountability means that the buck ultimately stops with you. It is the officer’s responsibility for the overall success on the emergency scene, and the same holds true when operations do not go as planned.
Locus of Control: The officer is the one who sets the tone for success and makes it happen. Whatever is needed to get the job done, the officer knows how to get it and how to deploy it. Circumstances aren’t left to chance; the motivated leader knows what to do to get things done.
Empowerment: Being able to motivate and empower their firefighters to step up and shine is on the officer (see Photo 3). Showing trust and admiration for them will empower them to reach higher in their careers.
Needs of the department: Every action that an officer takes is a reflection of leadership and capabilities that the department maintains. Making decisions that an officer has to make isn’t always easy, but these decisions should be made with the presence of the Fire Chief on one shoulder and one’s parents on the other shoulder.
Trustworthy: An officer may be able to fool the spectators, but will not fool the players. If the players don’t have faith in their leader, then this is a recipe for disaster.
Accountability for the fire instructor
The position of instructor is a dynamically changing one. The future success of the fire service as a whole rests on the capabilities of the knowledge, skills and abilities of the instructor. However, it doesn’t take much for the reputation of the training staff, and facility for that matter, to be tarnished by the representatives performing the training. So, consider the following when it comes time to deliver the program:
Be prepared: There is nothing more insulting or infuriating to a student than an instructor who shows up late, and is not well versed in the topic of discussion. A class full of impressionable minds has shown up for learning, and the instructor isn’t respectful enough of their time and desire to be ready.
Be patient: The instructor should be so well-versed that the information should just flow out to the audience. However, the reception the information will get will vary. It may require the instructor to invest extra time in confirming that the material is clear, accurate and embraced by the audience (see Photo 4).
Wear your PPE: There are plenty of case studies that link training injuries and deaths directly with the lack of proper PPE being worn at the incident. There is no need to add to those statistics. Your certification as an instructor did not arrive with Nomex skin and an iron lung; setting the stage for success on the emergency scene begins with the proper attitude on the training ground.
Accountability—the fire inspector
Fire prevention plays an integral part in the overall success and safety for the firefighters responding to hazards in their community. Most times, the first point of awareness of an existing hazard comes from the work of the inspector or official (see Photo 5). So, while performing these duties, consider the following:
Enforcing means exactly that: When a violation is found, then make sure it is corrected! This author has witnessed code violations that have been ignored for years. Some of these violations were imminent hazards; there is no excuse for this!
Inspections result in better pre-planning: When a copy of the inspection goes to the rank and file, a great opportunity exists for sharing the knowledge about the building BEFORE the fire alarm is transmitted. When all of the players know the play book, the team works safer and efficiently.
Be part of the solution, not the problem: This author’s experiences have shown that when the focus is on compliance and not profit, then both sides can come to a mutually acceptable solution. Let me be clear; there are violation penalties in place for a reason, and they should be administered accordingly. The point here is this; the safety of the responders is driven more so by compliance, not just penalties.
Conclusion
There is a common goal that every department should embrace when it comes to how they operate, and that is to benefit the overall success of the department. Every action, or non-action, can make or break the reputation that a department has spent years of time and energy to build. The profession we have all chosen has a noble history and reputation, and it is infuriating to see that some members of this craft continue to show the lack of respect, professionalism and discipline that it takes to continue to that tradition of success. This lack of respect seems to have a contagious effect on the nation’s fire service, and the time for change is NOW.
For those of you who continue to do the right thing every time, I say thank you, and don’t give up; doing the right thing isn’t always the easy thing, but it is always the right thing. For those of you who continue to fall short, due to the chosen lack of respect that you show based upon your actions, I say this…
Thanks for coming, but we can take it from here!
Until next time, stay focused and stay safe.
MICHAEL DALEY, a Firehouse.com Contributing Editor, serves with Monroe Township, NJ, Fire District No. 3 as a lieutenant and serves on New Jersey Task Force 1. He earned the Master Fire Instructor certification from the ISFSI and is an instructor at the Middlesex County Fire Academy where he developed rescue training curriculum. He is a managing member of Fire Service Performance Concepts.
