Fire Department Liability – What can be done to Prevent It – Part 2 of 2
The first of a two-part series looking at the liability exposures for fire agencies. Part one will look at EMS issues and report writing. Part two will look at general fire agency liability exposures.
What is the biggest liability facing your fire department? If you ask the fire department leadership, they may tell you it is a suit by a homeowner angry over a slow response to a fire that resulted in unnecessary damage. Staff might also suggest that rendering emergency medical care to patients poses another major concern because of the sheer volume of EMS related incidents that the fire department responds to.
The process of identifying risk, prioritizing risk, and developing plans to address risk is sometimes viewed as a separate and distinct risk management exercise, one in which the fire service has neither the time nor the inclination to do so. Department leadership must take an in-depth look and identify the real risks they face, as opposed to perceived risks. Claims, lawsuits, grievances, OSHA citations, injuries, apparatus accidents, near misses, citizen complaints, and even disciplinary actions provide a wealth of information that should be reviewed and prioritized.
Risk management has been a tough sell to fire service. Firefighters are engaged in an inherently dangerous business and tend to accept that risks are an inescapable part of the job. In the firefighters’ paradigm, risk management is nice idea created by folks who do not understand real risk. As a result, firefighters focus on risks they perceive as important without taking the time to understand if those risks are actually as significant as they appear. Risk management is a formal, structured process designed to protect the organization’s assets. As such proper documentation is a priority.
Topics Covered:
In this webinar we look at proper documentation and the importance of reviewing documentation before it becomes final.
Additional Information
Need More Info or Help?
We hope you can join us. Feel free to contact Ian Chadwick for more details.
Phone: 916-850-7300
Email: ichadwick@csac-eia.org
Risk Control Training Seminar
Webinar Location:
EIA TV - General Liability