Fire Department Liability
A quick look at today's news headlines tells the story:
Baltimore, MD, April 21, 2010, Family of Fire Cadet who Died in Training Sues City for $35 million
Kosciusko, MS, April 12, 2010, Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Attala Fire Department
Chicago, IL, April 6, 2010, Chicago Fire Department Hit with Wrongful Death Suit
Sacramento, CA, March 14, 2010, Sexual Harassment Alleged at Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
Shreveport, LA, February 28, 2010, Fire Department Sued After Firefighter's Death
New York, NY, December 21, 2009, NY EMTs on Coffee Break Accused of Ignoring Pregnant Woman Who Died
Huntsville, AL, September 19, 2007, Huntsville Employee Sued for Alleged Harassment by Fire Chief
There are
no easy answers to these types of suits – but there are definitive steps that
can be taken to protect a fire department. My philosophy incorporates three seemingly disconnected
concepts: firefighter safety, legal liability, and risk management.
All too often these three concepts are viewed as separate and
distinct disciplines. They are taught as distinct topics, they are
often approached independently, and they each have their own cadre
of subject-matter experts.
Safety
officers are usually experienced firefighters and often heavily
involved in training. Risk managers are often employed by entities
outside the emergency services organization and are usually
associated with insurance programs. Legal liability is addressed by
people in suits who seem to speak a different language and always
seem angry with something the fire department did or did not do.
Often,
each of these groups of experts don't realize the
interrelationship and overlap between firefighter safety, risk
management, and legal liability, focusing instead on addressing
problems from their own
perspective. However, the reality is that when you address one of
the three, you inevitably impact
the other two!!!!!
Managing Fire
Service Liability & Safety Best Practices teaches fire
service leaders how to
address legal liability, risk management and firefighter safety in a
comprehensive manner.