How many of us have seen something that’s not right and thought to ourselves, “I’ll get to that later” but never do?
Despite working in a field where attention to detail is a key safety consideration, you can walk into virtually any fire station and spot all those little things that are getting missed or not being addressed as they should be – in a timely manner for the safety and efficiency of all involved.
For example, how many times have you walked into an apparatus bay and noticed that the valve for the hose used to wash the truck is leaking? No big deal, right? At least not until a member of your crew or a visitor slips on the water and sprains an ankle or breaks a leg.
That’s when the entire crew faces some tough questions like, “who knew about this?” and “why didn’t anyone do something about it?” Both fair questions.
How about the windshield wiper that’s starting to leave streaks, but we defer the maintenance on it until it’s so bad that we basically can’t see out the windshield while responding to a house fire with people trapped inside in a driving rainstorm. What about the brakes on the apparatus that have been pulling to the left? They seem to be getting worse but aren’t quite “bad enough” for the hassle to take it out of service for the shop to get it fixed.
Get proactive about windshield wipers and brakes
Unfortunately, no one is exempt from making these decisions or falling into these mental pitfalls. We all do it from time to time. So, the question becomes, how do we prevent these scenarios from playing out to the point that they compromise our work or put lives in danger?
First, we must decide that the issue is a true safety concern and something we must proactively seek to correct as soon as a problem is detected. When we run across the leaky hose, don’t walk by it; grab a wrench and try and fix it. If you can’t do that easily, then follow your procedure for getting it reported and corrected by those who are qualified and responsible for affecting the repair. We shouldn’t wait for someone to get hurt to have the motivation to get it fixed. Hospital bills and lawsuits cannot be our motivation to act. Doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do should be the motivation.
Let’s take the windshield wiper example. Windshield wipers are a known wear item on every vehicle. Most of us are simply not in the habit of changing a windshield wiper on a regular interval – but we should be. This is how we adopt a proactive mindset with maintenance. But we also shouldn’t wait to change the wiper based on a set date on the calendar, like if the wiper is delaminating on the arm and leaves more dirt and water on the windshield than it wipes away. We need them to work when it really counts. If we don’t, we increase the risk of a crash, putting firefighters and others in danger, not to mention necessitating additional resources to cover two incidents instead of the original one – all this because of a $20 part that should have been replaced weeks, if not months, earlier when everyone started noticing the dirty windshield and streaky lines.
Now, let’s talk about brakes. They are a big deal. Despite the improvements in design and durability that come with modern fire apparatus, brakes still wear out or fail to adjust automatically, not to mention the “driver issues,” like overdriving the apparatus for its design, that can contribute to a significant event, like a crash.
Everyone on the apparatus is responsible for speaking up when they see something, hear something or smell something involving overheated, damaged or worn-out brakes. Any of these issues could easily be an indicator of a significant mechanical issue that necessitates taking the apparatus out of service. Have the courage to speak up about such issues, even when doing so results in needing to transfer to a reserve apparatus or having to call for aid from your neighbors until repairs can be completed.
If you report this to a supervisor and they suggest that you ride it out for a while, you need to ask yourself if that is the right course of action. Remember, not handling this issue can make the difference between answering the next call, helping a member of your community when they need you most, and your ability to return home safely to your family at the end of the shift. So do the right thing, and if people try to defer maintenance for any reason, escalate the issue until the correct action is taken. The stakes are too high not to.
Stay vigilant
So, the next time you walk into your own fire station or someone else’s, look for water leaks on the floor, worn windshield wipers, or excessive brake dust on the rims of the apparatus. But also check out the proper storage of the SCBA, tools secured in the compartments, and tire tread. Stay vigilant about regular maintenance to ensure your crew remains mission ready.
Remember, when you discover something wrong, get it fixed – now!
