The Richmond (Virginia) Fire Department is getting road-safety devices that monitor driving and safety aspects, such as seat belt use, on apparatus. Not everyone is happy about it. According to StyleWeekly, the price of the devices and installation runs around $5 million, and when other areas of the department are being cut because of lack of funds, it angers some members.
From StyleWeekly:
If a driver violates the pre-set driving parameters, an alarm erupts in the cab and grows progressively louder until the activity ceases.
"It's really about safety," says Richmond Fire Chief Robert Creecy. "It helps us modify driver behavior. It helps protect citizens and lower the city's liability in case of an accident."
At a time when officials are being told that the department can't pay staffers overtime, hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on the ZOLL system, says Keith Andes, president of Richmond Fire Fighters Association Local 995.
Read the full story from Style Weekly here.
Maybe I'm missing it, but none of these "black box" and safety systems record if the siren is activated. I know many monitor the emergency lights, but it'd be nice to have both. If you are going to install it to hang me when I'm run, it should back me up when I'm right.
Firefighters are Adults and its up to everyone to make sure they use the safety devices especially the Co. Officer, without the need for a "Fink Alarm". Especially at a cost of $5 Million Dollars.
This is dumb, wasting money on this.
Firefighters are Adults but many of them make the stupid choice to not use seatbelts. I have first hand experience with this by members of my crew and also with the "Fink Alarm." I say, if it takes an annoyance to make them wear their seatbelts (even on the way to a fire) then so be it. I also have experience with a member being killed and another rendered to a wheelchair for the rest of his life because they didn't wear seatbelts. It's long overdue for attitudes to change. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE to not wear seatbelts.
There is nothing wrong with installing the system. We need to get over the fact that depts want to take measures to reduces accidents and injuries. This wouldnt be such a big issue if most depts were flush with money in their coffers. That is simply not the case.
The problem I have however is when a dept is making cuts to staffing, closing stations etc. then the union is right on point. The dept should re-evaluate what the priorities are.
The reality is that vehicle accidents are one of the biggest cause of FF injuries and LODD. If you are driving the speed as prescribed, what is the problem. Some might think this an extreme measure but I for one believe if the money spent reduces one civilian and/or a FF death, it will be immediately validated. Sometimes situations require extreme measures to ensure the safety of all FFs.
Let's focus here for a minute. The seven vehicles cost $5 million. The monitoring systems cost $60,000 for seven vehicles so less than $10k per vehicle. Most of the system is alrady required by NFPA Standard 1901.
The City, the Fire Department and the Fire Chief all have a responsibility to ensure that the vehicles are operated safely. I am sorry if it makes the operators feel that someone is looking over their shoulders when their employer installs a monitoring system, but it comes with the job that your boss gets to supervise what you do. Give the department some credit for being able to interpret the data and differentiate between reasonable emergency response driving and driving like an irresponsibloe idiot with red lights and siren. If you think that unsafe driving is essential in order to perform your mission, please resign from the fire department and seek employment as a stunt driver.
I'm with you Gordon! These systems usually annoy those that are at highest "risk" of not doing the right thing and following sop.
PS Thanks for your recent presentation in the palmetto state at the SC fire academy.
I think there is a miss print in the artical. Looks like the cost is under $100,000 not 5 million. Also talking to memeber of the department sounds like the complaint is the fire trucks already come with the NFPA required "Black Boxes" and the department is spending the extrea $70,000 or so on a Zoll system to capture the same data the NFPA system captures. Sounds like the Zoll system does three things or so above the NFPA box. 1. has buttons on the rear of the rig and front exterior to push before the rig backs up to capture that a spotter is there 2. The Zoll system automaticly uploads driving data to fire headquarters, and last but least 3. has a camera showing inside and out. In short for the extra $ you get buttons, auto upload and camera.
I would like to answers some of the questions and comments from all of you , and i think this is being taken WAY out of context. The Richmond Firefighters Local 995 is not in anyway shape or form against what the zoll system stand for and the safety. BUT.
1. These where ADD ONS at the cost of over $60,000 total (not per vehicle)
2. Zoll systems have not been installed on any fire apparatus in the U.S. and has not been tested with fire apparatus (try 1 first not 7)
3.This Adminsitration had just previously denied our Dive team money and resources for safe dive operations 2 or 3 different times because of budget constraints,4 weeks prior to this article there was a close call on a dive incident and several safety issues with equipment came to light (so much so that a 2 outside consultants had to be brought in) now an emergency purchase was place (our city does not have a open check book per our Chief,or the citizens would not approve of such wastefull spending)
4. Scooter, Per our Chief NO the Zoll is one system ,and the Cameras are another.
5. Last but not least is the accident statistics are very mis-leading ,Richmond is a old city with tight streets and we run a Quint Concept (4-105ft, 14-75ft,and 2 platforms Quints) thru these tight streets, with that said of the 65 or so accidents (as stated) probably 75-85% where grab bars hitting mirrors ,mirrors hitting mirrors.citizens vehicles hitting fire vehicles.
In Closing please do not judge us (Richmond Firefighters IAFF-955) on some of the incomplete /misleading information that is floating around, also understand that we are in no way shape or form against anything dealing with safety . We are simply against the way this system was planned (or lack of planning) and implemented.
Go figure! A newsstory with the facts taken out of context. Stay safe out there Brother and I hope that the members and the administration can reach an ammicable solution.
Dude, hit a car in an intersection going to yet another false alarm because someone has decided to "roll" through the light….the cost of this system will be nothing. Have ONE LODD because of a dumb driving move…the cost of this system will be nothing…AND finally people who pay taxes don't care if you are just hitting mirrors with grab bars. It's their mirrors.
Gotta say you guys need to talk to your Union about thinking about fighting the good fight vs. fighting a losing cause that very little people you serve are going to feel sympathic about. If you have a problem being watched…ask a cop or non-fire department EMS providers. They've been watched for more than a decade.
In Richmond, the local EMS Authority has the Zoll "black box" system in all of their ambulance fleet for many years. Ask them about driver modification, reduction in accidents, etc. I know of many other "emergency" services that have the same equipment installed, some going back more than 10 years. They have all had a significant decrease in accidents, undue wear and tear on the vehicles, etc. NFPA 1901 has required seat belt monitors, annunciator, and a vehicle data recorder for some time so what is the big deal. Live with it or get the NFPA standards changed!
Just got new trucks on our dept with the safety buzzers. I get that it’s for safety which is good but it can be a real problem when we are pulling out of the station or pulingl up to a scene and are trying to communicate with each other over the loud buzzers going off. We are adults, we can remember to use our belts on our own.