Seat Belts

[wellingcountry]

With the recent influx of apparatus crashes throughout the country has your department or dose you department have a policy for wearing seat belts while riding in fire apparatus or has/is your department participating in the firefighter seatbelt pledge. Is there any reparations for members who do not comply with the seatbelt policy.

I'm going to hand this one over to Shawn for what the 43rd dose since he seems to have every one of our policys on hand. I know it but want him to post it word for word.

[ENG27SQ]

wellingcountry said:

With the recent influx of apparatus crashes throughout the country has your department or dose you department have a policy for wearing seat belts while riding in fire apparatus or has/is your department participating in the firefighter seatbelt pledge. Is there any reparations for members who do not comply with the seatbelt policy.

I'm going to hand this one over to Shawn for what the 43rd dose since he seems to have every one of our policys on hand. I know it but want him to post it word for word.

Truck doesn't move unless all are seated, and belted. No exceptions. IF the driver goes (havent had this happen) without all being belted in, he/she faces a penalty deemed by the Officer of the truck(pending that member is a company officer not just a FF) or Chief of Department.

[thelurker]

Nothing about the seatbelt pledge, however....

Cinnaminson Fire Department, SOG Book, Directive #3, Sept. 1995.

Section V. Riding Apparatus
- Only Members shall ride on apparatus. No member is permitted to ride on the side or rear step of any apparatus.
- Seatbelts will be worn.


As far as the discipline for this, you would have to determine how bad of a violation it was, if it created a problem operationally;

"Cinnaminson SOG Book, Code of Conduct. Section 4.5 Level II (Major Offense), Article A.
A flagrant violation of a policy, directive, general order, guideline, or operational guideline which causes the repitation or effectiveness of the Department to diminish or suffer. (Category 2 Offense)

Section 4.6 - Penalty Guideline- Level II (Major) Offenses

Category 2 Offense

Career Member
- First Offense: Reprimand up to 5 day suspension
-Second Offense: 5 to 30 day suspension
-Third Offense: 30 day suspension to dismissal

Volunteer Member
-First Offense: Reprimand up to 30 day suspension
-Second Offense: 30 to 180 day suspension
-Third Offense: 180 Day suspension up to dismissal."

[tootall]

In the West we have a 0 tolerance for not wearing your seat belts.

About a year and half ago we put an empty water cooler in the office. Every time someone didn't wear their seatbelt they had to put a dollar into the bucket. It turned into a game. People where ratting each other out left and right which reminded them to put their seat belts on and than put the dollar in the can when they got back.

I'm not going to lie the can got filled quickly with cash. We ended up taking the money out of the jug and put it towards our big screen TV.

Today I can happily tell you that the jug sits almost empty. It has become part of everyday life around here to wear your seatbelt.

[papacheese]

Motown had an SOP in place for years, but like anything else, it went unenforced until last year, when a BIG push was made to have everyone belt up. The D/O has permission to sit until every last one of them clicks in, but we still have a few obstinate ones who pretend to belt in, then remove it (Further proof that age has nothing to do with maturity).

The key to any policy or procedure is enforcement; if it's ignored or unevenly applied, then the policy becomes essentially useless. This is one area where an officer has to act like an officer and NOT a politican...there should be zero tolerance for anyone not following something as basic as belting in.

[thelurker]

papacheese said:

Motown had an SOP in place for years, but like anything else, it went unenforced until last year, when a BIG push was made to have everyone belt up. The D/O has permission to sit until every last one of them clicks in, but we still have a few obstinate ones who pretend to belt in, then remove it (Further proof that age has nothing to do with maturity).

The key to any policy or procedure is enforcement; if it's ignored or unevenly applied, then the policy becomes essentially useless. This is one area where an officer has to act like an officer and NOT a politican...there should be zero tolerance for anyone not following something as basic as belting in.

Damn right rick, that is ASSUMING that the officer is not the PROBLEM.

[opsoverkill]

WellingCountry it is located in General Order 2005-1 which needs to placed in SOG format. Here is what it states

RE: RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURE
SEAT BELTS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

All Medford Farms Fire Company members shall understand the importance and necessity of wearing seat belts and protective clothing while responding to emergencies. All Medford Farms members will adhere to and enforce this ORDER immediately.

ALL DISTRICT and COMPANY OWNED EQUIPMENT DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS
All passengers must be seated and belted whenever the vehicle is in motion. The only exception to this rule is during slow speeds (less than 10mph) such as parades.

Seat belts may be removed after setting the parking brake or by direct order of the right seat officer upon arrival of an emergency scene. This specifically refers to arrival at an emergency where one or more personnel are ordered to depart the vehicle for a specific assignment and the vehicle is being positioned elsewhere.

Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a written warning that will be placed in the respective personal file for the first offense. Any additional non-compliance will result in the suspension from active duty for a minimum of seven (7) days, or increased by the Fire Chief. In addition, the senior officer and/or right seat officer’s is responsible for all junior members aboard the apparatus. Failure of a junior member to wear the seat belt will result in the senior officer and/or right seat officer’s suspension and the non-complying individual will receive the same reprimand as the right seat officer. Failure to follow this order is considered an offense that permits an accelerated discipline procedure as listed above and permitted under SOG 301.


In addition papa cheese you stated it best with this comment
"The key to any policy or procedure is enforcement; if it's ignored or unevenly applied, then the policy becomes essentially useless. This is one area where an officer has to act like an officer and NOT a politican...there should be zero tolerance for anyone not following something as basic as belting in."


For the new officer that may read this. When you agreed to accept the officer position that many get because of the popularity process YOU AGREED THAT WHEN THE ALARM GOES OFF YOU STOP BEING BUDDY BUDDY AND BECOME THEIR FIRE OFFICER. So do your job and trust me you will lose some that have supported you because you were doing your job and not just being a puppet or one of the boys. You no longer have that luxury during an emergency assignment.

[shader101]

riddle me this, how does the officer who doesn't ware his seatbelt casue he's way too big for it to fit inforce the sog that says ware it ? and on that note if you cant see out of the right side rvm can he ride there?

[opsoverkill]

Take it from a big man. I fit in all the seatbelt that I ride in. So witness for your self that it is to small if it is get a extension. I remember when Ford switch their chassis design in the early 90's even a little overweight person could not fit in the seatbelt and they sold extension until the next model year when they corrected the problem. Back to the belt and the big man (sounds like a sitcom). it is very difficult at times to get the belt on and he my be getting embarrassed because everyone is say lets go and they have to wait for him so he throws out it does not fit. Been there and done it. As for the Mirror you have to ask him to clear that side. That is on of the disadvantage to those old California mirrors(the ones on the door).

[wellingcountry]

To add to this discussion how many departments have alarms on the seatbelts that let them know when members do not have there seatbelt on. On R4399 we have such an option but it is still not fail proof. We have found that people have been putting the belt behind them to defeat the system. It has become less and less of a problem with the implemtation of our seat belt policy. I do have to agree with ops he fits into every seat belt.

[opsoverkill]

Check out Fire Chief Mag pg 85 there is a seatbelt monitor that looks interesting can not find anything on the website link of fireresearch.com. But still looks neat

[riverlinetk]

I'm not sure if it was seagrave or pierce, but i'm pretty sure I remember that one was developing a new seat belt that would sort of be a pull down from above your head and clip into the middle of the seat between your legs allowing you the flexibility to still be able to finish putting scba on. I know this would be very helpful b/c often times people like to use the excuse that the bet prohibits them from getting ready. NO EXCUSE by any means, but I thought that was something cool that we'll hopefully see in the future.

[papacheese]

shader101 said:

riddle me this, how does the officer who doesn't ware his seatbelt casue he's way too big for it to fit inforce the sog that says ware it ? and on that note if you cant see out of the right side rvm can he ride there?

I find it hard to believe that this guy can't get belted in....and if it is true, then there are a hellava lot of other problems going on that should be addressed....

[chief3102]

papacheese said:

shader101 said:

riddle me this, how does the officer who doesn't ware his seatbelt casue he's way too big for it to fit inforce the sog that says ware it ? and on that note if you cant see out of the right side rvm can he ride there?

I find it hard to believe that this guy can't get belted in....and if it is true, then there are a hellava lot of other problems going on that should be addressed....

Papa,

I beleive this ties into your other thread 'When is it time......."