2023 ANNUAL REPORT-FINAL

66

EMERGENCY SERVICES

EM

Safety Office

The Safety Office plays a crucial role within the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. In 2023, the Safety Office underwent a significant expansion in staffing, transitioning from a team consisting of a Captain and three Lieutenants to its current structure: a Battalion Chief, two Captains, and three Lieutenants. This expansion has empowered the Safety Office to take on additional responsibilities, such as: Peer Fitness Training, Candidate Physical Ability Testing (CPAT), Work Performance Evaluations (WPE), and Peer Support. To foster a collaborative approach to review safety concerns, a Safety Workgroup was established in 2023. Comprised of three IAFF Local 3666 personnel and three DFRS Management personnel, the committee meets bi-monthly. The Safety Officer is an integral part of the Incident Management System (IMS) during emergency incidents county-wide. They serve as the Incident Safety Officer monitoring emergency operations and evaluating dynamic conditions, including air quality, structural integrity, crew safety, and providing guidance for environmental factors and work/rest cycles. In addition to responding to 561 emergency incidents for 2023, the Safety Office also manages day-to-day safety and health responsibilities within the Division. This includes acting as the Division's representative on the county’s Risk Management Team, conducting routine inspections to maintain a safe workplace, overseeing health and wellness initiatives, and managing the Division’s O2X human performance program. Additionally, the Safety Office fulfills roles such as Certified Managers for the County’s employee drug testing program, representation on various committees, and functioning as the Division’s infection control officer, ensuring compliance with Federal and State laws in monitoring and addressing incidents related to infectious agents. The Safety Office investigated and reported on 91 vehicle collisions, 189 injuries, and 28 instances of property damage. Vehicle collisions were down 10% compared to 2022 and 20% compared to 2021. There was a 37% increase in reported injuries, which aligns more closely with pre-2022 levels. Of the 189 reported injuries, 96 were documented injuries only with no medical treatment required. The remaining injuries resulted in 131.5 shifts (24-hour shifts) of missed time by our personnel. DFRS continues its collaboration with O2X, which features an On-Site Specialist. Their contributions encompass monthly workout distributions, event organization (including the annual Chili Challenge), coordination of fitness training for recruit classes, and various consultations. Remarkably, O2X has played a pivotal role in developing and delivering Peer Fitness Trainer certification for the divisions entire Peer Fitness staff. Our commitment to safety extends to our workplace facilities. It includes bed bug inspections at 30 stations, well water testing at nine facilities, and air spore testing at 25 stations. A collaboration with Mollie’s Fund has allowed us to install sunscreen dispensers at several locations, emphasizing our dedication to skin cancer safety and prevention. Five treadmills generously donated by Orange Theory Fitness have been installed at several fire stations, enhancing fitness resources so our responders remain physically fit and capable of delivering quality service under extreme conditions.