Industry Insights: How One Fire Dept. Moved 'Light Years Ahead' of the NFPA's 1401 Reporting Standards
Editor's note: Industry Insights are sponsored blogs submitted by manufacturers and suppliers serving the fire service industry.
Not every fire department incorporates the NFPA’s 1401 standard into its training program. Many agencies, in fact, might not understand or even know about the NFPA’s recommended practice for documenting fire service training records.
Hanover Fire & EMS in Richmond, VA, is not one of those departments.
Division Chief Eddie Buchanan believes ignorance to the 1401 is a risky proposition. Not recording training to the NFPA’s benchmark can have devastating consequences. As a member of the NFPA’s Technical Committee on Fire Service Training, Buchanan recognizes why it’s critically important to track training information.
“It’s all good until somebody gets hurt,” said Buchanan. “If there is ever a significant injury or death, they are going to look at every record. PPE training records, SCBA records … you want to make sure you have a good baseline of these records because they all have the appropriate minimal qualifications."
“The old adage is if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. If there is no documentation, there is no way to prove the training took place. That’s why we pay attention to it.”
Buchanan says the 1401 sets the foundation for what a fire department’s training records should look like. But the 1401 does not say what the training should be. For that, Hanover uses the International Society for Fire Service Instructors’ tools on firefighter training. And to track it all, the agency relies on TargetSolutions, the industry’s leading online training management system.
When Hanover first signed on with TargetSolutions in September of 2015, it was to manage its officers’ development. It didn’t take long for Buchanan to realize this incredibly powerful technology could simplify everything for the larger-sized agency with approximately 160 career personnel, 370 volunteer responders and 100 auxiliary members.
“What you’re able to do with TargetSolutions for documenting training is light years ahead of what’s needed for the minimum for (NFPA) 1401," Buchanan said. "With TargetSolutions we’re able to capture all of the training that we’re doing at the user level. … We started building (digital) assignments for tracking (NFPA) 1410 evolutions. We’re also doing ISO requirements for company drills. With all of these members, it was difficult to keep it all straight before TargetSolutions.”
By utilizing TargetSolutions’ ground-breaking records management system, including the Activities Builder and the Manage Credentials applications, Hanover is able to efficiently and effectively track records. Whether it’s the volunteer personnel’s PPE records, the ongoing 1410 drills, or mandatory ISO training hours, it’s all possible with TargetSolutions.
Hanover isn't the only department singing TargetSolutions' praises when it comes to recordkeeping technology. Here are some comments from other fire department leaders who are leaning on the system for tracking training and EMS continuing education:
Guy Keirn, Pinellas County Training Group (FL)
“TargetSolutions has created a records system that clearly allowed our organization to comply with our scheduled ISO audit in September 2010. The process of completing the training section of the report for ISO was seamless.”
Bob Olme, Wheat Ridge Fire Department (CO)
“TargetSolutions is a very strong platform for tracking certifications, hours and all of the things you need from a certification standpoint. It’s also a great way to keep track of records for ISO compliance.”
Chris Basdikis, Chesterfield Fire & EMS (VA)
“It was the product suite which best suited our organization’s needs to have both a Records Management System and a Learning Management System.”
David Piper, Orland Fire Protection District (IL)
“What TargetSolutions has done is provide a system to not only deliver training, but a way to track and meet requirements.”
Jay Sumerlin, West Pierce Fire & Rescue (WA)
“TargetSolutions gave us the ability to schedule classes for individuals and hold them accountable for training. It is great for tracking exactly who did what and when they did it.”
If your agency is looking to make sure every hour of training is recorded, TargetSolutions is the tool for you. To see more testimonials from agencies using TargetSolutions, please click here. And if you have any questions, contact us today at (800) 840-8046.
