Annual RefresherAnnual Refresher

Communication, Human Factors, Communication, Human Factors, and Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned

A follow up to A follow up to “If you see “If you see something, say something”something, say something”

National Emphasis National Emphasis TopicTopic

Prepared by Ed Dunbar, Benton County Fire District 4Prepared by Ed Dunbar, Benton County Fire District 4

OverviewOverview

Prior year emphasis – Prior year emphasis – ““If you see If you see something, say somethingsomething, say something””

This year – next logical step is “What This year – next logical step is “What is it that we are looking for is it that we are looking for youyou to to say something about?say something about?• Past experiences, events and conditions Past experiences, events and conditions

that have lead to trouble for firefightersthat have lead to trouble for firefighters

ObjectivesObjectives

CommunicationsCommunications• Review Human factors barriers to Review Human factors barriers to

communicating hazardscommunicating hazards• Review Additional ways to communicate and Review Additional ways to communicate and

learn about hazardslearn about hazards Review Communications ResponsibilitiesReview Communications Responsibilities Explore additional resources for reporting Explore additional resources for reporting

and reviewing lessons learnedand reviewing lessons learned

Good CommunicationsGood Communications

Integral part of successful operationsIntegral part of successful operations Central aspect of Fireline Leadership Central aspect of Fireline Leadership

trainingtraining Reflected in 10 & 18, LCESReflected in 10 & 18, LCES

Millions of dollars spent on Millions of dollars spent on equipment to communicateequipment to communicate

Good CommunicationsGood Communications

Despite this heavy emphasis, every Despite this heavy emphasis, every year injuries or fatalities occur from year injuries or fatalities occur from hazards/threats seen by other hazards/threats seen by other firefighters but not communicated to firefighters but not communicated to those injured/killedthose injured/killed

Why does this happen?Why does this happen? Can we change to accept the Can we change to accept the

responsibility to communicate the responsibility to communicate the threat? – We must!!threat? – We must!!

Communication BarriersCommunication Barriers

Common pitfallsCommon pitfalls• Others are seeing the hazard/threat, so Others are seeing the hazard/threat, so

everyone must already be aware of iteveryone must already be aware of it Not everyone may have seen hazard or Not everyone may have seen hazard or

threat due to terrain, smoke, other events or threat due to terrain, smoke, other events or just not correctly identified the hazard/threatjust not correctly identified the hazard/threat

Communication BarriersCommunication Barriers

Common pitfallsCommon pitfalls• Others with more experience see the Others with more experience see the

hazard/threat and don’t appear to be hazard/threat and don’t appear to be concernedconcerned

Assume that those with more experience are Assume that those with more experience are awareaware

Assume that you are being over cautious Assume that you are being over cautious due to lack of experiencedue to lack of experience

Better to err on the side of safety to ensure Better to err on the side of safety to ensure threat is recognized by allthreat is recognized by all

Embarrassment is rarely, if at all, fatalEmbarrassment is rarely, if at all, fatal

Communication BarriersCommunication Barriers

Common pitfallsCommon pitfalls• I don’t want to insult intelligence of I don’t want to insult intelligence of

fellow firefighters by pointing out what fellow firefighters by pointing out what should be obviousshould be obvious

Again, err on the side of safetyAgain, err on the side of safety Ensure communication is made so all are Ensure communication is made so all are

awareaware If others are made aware, they may be If others are made aware, they may be

appreciative to a potential oversight on their appreciative to a potential oversight on their partpart

Communication BarriersCommunication Barriers

Common pitfallsCommon pitfalls• It isn’t any of my business if observed It isn’t any of my business if observed

threat is to someone outside of my crew threat is to someone outside of my crew or area of responsibilityor area of responsibility

Situational awareness dictates relying on Situational awareness dictates relying on others to provide information about the fire others to provide information about the fire not seennot seen

Operational boundaries should make no Operational boundaries should make no difference when communicating threatsdifference when communicating threats

Communication ResponsibilitiesCommunication Responsibilities

All firefighters have five communication responsibilities:• Brief others as needed• Debrief your actions• Communicate hazards to others• Acknowledge messages• Ask if you don’t know

Leader’s Intent

All leaders of firefighters have the responsibility to provide complete briefings and ensure that their subordinates have a clear understanding of their intent for the assignment:• Task = What is to be done• Purpose = Why it is to be done• End State = How it should look when

done

Human Factors Barrier to Situation Human Factors Barrier to Situation Awareness and Decision MakingAwareness and Decision Making

Low experience level with local factorsLow experience level with local factors• Unfamiliar with the area or the organizational Unfamiliar with the area or the organizational

structurestructure Distraction from Primary DutyDistraction from Primary Duty

• Radio TrafficRadio Traffic• ConflictConflict• Previous ErrorsPrevious Errors• Collateral dutiesCollateral duties• Incident within an incidentIncident within an incident

Human Factors Barrier to Situation Human Factors Barrier to Situation Awareness and Decision MakingAwareness and Decision Making

FatigueFatigue• Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide• DehydrationDehydration• Heat stress and poor fitness level can Heat stress and poor fitness level can

reduce resistance to fatiguereduce resistance to fatigue• 24-hours awake affects your decision-24-hours awake affects your decision-

making capability like 0.10 blood alcohol making capability like 0.10 blood alcohol contentcontent

Human Factors Barrier to Situation Human Factors Barrier to Situation Awareness and Decision MakingAwareness and Decision Making

Stress ReactionsStress Reactions• Communication deteriorate or grows tenseCommunication deteriorate or grows tense• Habitual or repetitive behaviorsHabitual or repetitive behaviors• Target fixation – locking into a course of action, Target fixation – locking into a course of action,

whether it makes sense or not, just try harderwhether it makes sense or not, just try harder• Action tunneling – focusing on small tasks but Action tunneling – focusing on small tasks but

ignoring the big pictureignoring the big picture• Escalation of commitment – accepting Escalation of commitment – accepting

increased risk as completion of task gets nearincreased risk as completion of task gets near

Human Factors Barrier to Situation Human Factors Barrier to Situation Awareness and Decision MakingAwareness and Decision Making

Hazardous AttitudesHazardous Attitudes• Invulnerable – That can’t happen to usInvulnerable – That can’t happen to us• Anti-authority – Disregard of the team effortAnti-authority – Disregard of the team effort• Impulsive – Do something even if it’s wrongImpulsive – Do something even if it’s wrong• Macho – Trying to impress or prove somethingMacho – Trying to impress or prove something• Complacent – Just another routine fireComplacent – Just another routine fire• Resigned – We can’t make a differenceResigned – We can’t make a difference• Group Think – Afraid to speak up or disagreeGroup Think – Afraid to speak up or disagree

Additional ways to communicate Additional ways to communicate and learn about hazardsand learn about hazards

Underutilized toolsUnderutilized tools• Safenet – http://safenet.nifc.gov/Safenet – http://safenet.nifc.gov/• SAFECOM – https://www.safecom.govSAFECOM – https://www.safecom.gov

• Clickable LinksClickable Links Safenet SAFECOM

Additional ways to communicate Additional ways to communicate and learn about hazardsand learn about hazards

Safenet & SAFECOMSafenet & SAFECOM• Powerful methods of communicating Powerful methods of communicating

hazards and safety concernshazards and safety concerns• Not intended to replace immediate Not intended to replace immediate

corrective actionscorrective actions• Easy to useEasy to use• Available to all fire and aviation Available to all fire and aviation

personnelpersonnel• ““Search” function useful for finding Search” function useful for finding

informationinformation

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

““This Day in History” – part of the 6 This Day in History” – part of the 6 Minutes for Safety topicsMinutes for Safety topics

““Learning from Incidents” library – Learning from Incidents” library – videos that highlight personal stories videos that highlight personal stories from wildland incidentsfrom wildland incidents

Staff Ride Library – virtual site visit Staff Ride Library – virtual site visit and incident simulation based on and incident simulation based on past incidentspast incidents

After Action ReviewAfter Action Review

The climate surrounding an AAR must be one in which the participants openly and honestly discuss what transpired, in sufficient detail and clarity, so everyone understands what did and did not occur and why.

Most importantly, participants should leave with a strong desire to improve their proficiency.

After Action ReviewAfter Action Review

• Where Lessons Learned come outWhere Lessons Learned come out• Perform as immediately after the event Perform as immediately after the event

as possibleas possible• Reinforce that respectful disagreement Reinforce that respectful disagreement

is OK. is OK. • Keep focused on the Keep focused on the whatwhat, not the , not the whowho• Participation by allParticipation by all• End on a positive noteEnd on a positive note

After Action ReviewAfter Action Review

What was planned?What was planned? What actually happened?What actually happened?

• Effective/non-effective performanceEffective/non-effective performance Why did it happen?Why did it happen?

• Again – what, not whoAgain – what, not who What can we do next time?What can we do next time?

• Correct weaknesses/sustain strengthsCorrect weaknesses/sustain strengths