By Gary Morris
for FirefighterNation.com

As we all know, even when following the best safety practices, firefighters can be seriously injured or killed while engaged in fire and rescue operations. And if a tragedy like this does occur, there must be a thorough investigation.

Conducting an investigation is the primary responsibility of the safety officer and management team.The goal of these investigations is to find out what caused the event and how to prevent it from happening again.

Investigations: 3 Critical Elements
The actions of the incident commander and the safety officer at the scene immediately after the serious injury or fatality will set the stage for the accuracy of the investigation. There are three critical elements for a thorough investigation: 1) collecting evidence, 2) establishing a solid chain of evidence and 3) obtaining statements and interviews. Let’s review each.

Evidence Collection: Immediately collect all equipment used by the firefighter(s) and initially place it in a locked vehicle at the scene. The equipment should next be secured at a fire or police facility under lock and key.

Documenting the status and observation of the equipment when it is initially collected on scene is critical. Some examples of what to note: What was the pressure remaining in the SCBA? What was the status of SCBA valves and controls? Was power for the portable radio on or off? Was the radio on the proper channel? This type of information must be documented in detail before the equipment is stored. Also record the names of all members who handled or examined the equipment.

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