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HomeMy WebLinkAbout203.003 - Personnel Accountability System STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES HEALTH AND SAFETY 203.003 PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007 Current Revision Date: 9/1/20 Next Revision Date: 9/1/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Christian Palmer, Fire Captain Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher, Management Analyst II Section 203.003 Page 1 of 5 PURPOSE To establish a procedure to assist in accountability of members working at emergency incidents. APPLICATION The Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or Department) Personnel Accountability System is used to improve accountability and provide quick identification of individuals and companies during emergency incidents. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES The Personnel Accountability System should be used at every incident where multiple companies are assigned. The use of passports and other accountability aides should not delay initial emergency operations and should be brought up to date as soon as conditions on the emergency incident allow. All members operating at emergency incidents should actively participate in the personnel accountability system. Section 203.003 Page 2 of 5 PROCESS Each member has a responsibility to ensure all Department provided personnel accountability aides are in place and ready for use prior to responding to calls. The following steps are taken at the beginning of each shift or any time there is a change in crew members: 1. Ensure appropriate helmet identifiers are in place. 2. Place name tags of all crew members on both red (primary) and black (secondary) passports. 3. Place red passport on apparatus status board on inside of company officer (CO) apparatus door. 4. Place black passport on underside of CO helmet. 5. Ensure appropriate Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) unit identifiers are in place on the rear tension strap of SCBA. Passports are utilized in the following manner: 1. When a single company is the only unit assigned to an incident, the red passport is left on the unit’s apparatus status board and the black passport remains on the CO’s helmet. 2. When multiple apparatus are assigned to an incident, the red passport is brought to the incident command post (ICP) after receiving a tactical assignment. 3. When the ICP has not been established or is not in close proximity to the incident, the red passport is brought to and placed on the status board of the first arriving/attack pumper. 4. When unable to bring the red passport to the ICP or first arriving/attack pumper due to geographical location, the red passport is left on the original apparatus’ status board. a. The incident commander (IC) should assign an aide to retrieve passports as soon as conditions allow. 5. When divisions and/or groups are established at an incident, division/group supervisors collect the black passports and/or individual name tags of all units and/or members working under their span of control. Section 203.003 Page 3 of 5 a. The IC should have the red passport(s) of all personnel on scene, including the divisions/group supervisors. 6. When units are released from divisions and/or groups, their black passports are returned and the unit is directed to a new assignment. a. The supervisor releasing the unit confirms all members are accounted for and informs the unit’s new supervisor the company is in route to their location. b. Incident tracking logs or worksheets can be used to assist in the tracking of company/personnel movement. 7. When a crew is split, either due to its members being re-assigned to work for another company or designated to operate a secondary apparatus housed at the station (e.g. WT7), passports are updated accordingly. The re-assigned members do so by placing spare nametags, kept on the brim of their helmet, on to the passport(s) of their new assignment. 8. When units or personnel are released from an incident, both the black and red passport(s) are returned to the CO as personnel accountability is no longer necessary. The CO is responsible for retrieving passport(s) prior to leaving the incident. INFORMATION The Personnel Accountability System utilizes a variety of accountability aides to assist in providing accurate member accountability at emergency scenes. The system allows ICS supervisors tasked with member accountability to use tactical worksheets and passports collected from their subordinates to quickly and accurately establish the location, unit and number of personnel working under their command. While the Personnel Accountability System cannot protect against poor tactics, strategy, judgment, or violation of rules or good practice, it can be used to complement the ICS and as a tool to help meet emergency scene accountability recommendations provided for in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500 and 1561. Officers are ultimately responsible for the accuracy and use of accountability aides by members under their span of control. These aides include, but are not limited to, the use of: Passports Section 203.003 Page 4 of 5 Name tags Helmet identifiers Helmet shields SCBA identifiers SCBA face mask luminescent name plate Tactical worksheets DEFINITIONS Personnel Accountability System Helmet identifiers Helmet shield Name tag Passport Status board Station staffing board Make-up kit SCBA Unit Identifiers Transfer of Command Worksheet (FD-55) Tracking log (FD-64) CROSS-REFERENCES Fresno Operational Area Guidelines: Firefighter Emergency Standard Operating Guideline Rapid Intervention Standard Operating Guideline National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1500 (Chapter 25) & 1561 Section 203.003 Page 5 of 5 Fire Scope ICS-910 & ICS-420-1 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910 &1926