Employee evaluation training essential
In response to Jason B. Hosea’s article “Employee Evaluations: How Does Your Organization Measure Up?” (Fire Engineering, August 2004), I agree with him. Effective leaders use employee evaluations to provide praise and a chance for improvement, which benefit the employee and the organization. I believe there are two main reasons evaluations fail in the fire service. The first one, addressed in the article, is the evaluation form itself. The second area is the training of the evaluators. How many departments actually spend time training their supervisors on this important subject? Without it, accuracy decreases and errors increase. In the book Increasing Productivity Through Performance Appraisal (Latham and Wexley), it is written that the lecture method (of learning to perform evaluations) has no effect on the accuracy of the appraisal. Group discussion and intensive, active participation are the only ways to increase rating accuracy.
Fire departments will likely see little improvement through employee evaluations unless time is taken to train the evaluators.
Brian Burke
Captain, Assistant Training Officer
Clackamas County (OR) Fire District #1
Fire in falsework of concrete parking decks
Brian Bennett’s article “Concrete Parking Decks: Construction and Hazards” (Fire Engineering, August 2204) unfortunately does not mention the hazard of a “mini World Trade Center” happening if a fire should occur in the falsework supporting post-tensioned concrete that is curing but has not yet tensioned. Tons of hard, dry concrete not attached to the building are resting on a combustible structure, possibly with open flame heaters in operation.
I realize that the author was writing only about problems in a completed garage; however, because of the tremendous catastrophic risk, I believe that any article about concrete should contain this warning, at least as a sidebar. It might save many lives, as it did in the collapse of a 14-story high-rise under construction in Cleveland. Further information can be found in Building Construction for the Fire Service, 3rd edition, pages 346-358.
The fire service has long been hung up on experience purchased at the cost of blood and tears. We need more people who are willing to analyze a hazard—in this case, by analyzing the path to ground for fire-vulnerable elements. Gravity wants that pile of concrete on the ground, and the supplied defenses are woefully inadequate in a fire. Any such fire should be the subject of a DOA (defensive on arrival) SOP so that the families of firefighters will not be betrayed by those they trusted to protect their loved ones.
In 1971, I wrote “Beware the truss” without any experience to cite; I wrote it based on an analysis of the hazard. Firefighters and their families paid dearly because leaders did not protect them from trusses until the experience became overwhelming. Get involved: Be aware of all construction in your area, stay up to date daily on concrete construction, and write protective SOPs.
Francis L. Brannigan
SFPE (fellow)
Silver Spring, Maryland
Flashlight technology test results differ
As a Fire Department of New York firefighter and trainer with more than 15 years of experience, I am sharing the results of a real-world evaluation of the Recoil LED Technology,™ discussed in “Recoil LED Technology™ Focuses on Improving Fire Service Safety” (Technology Today, Fire Engineering, June 2004). I personally performed the tests, which yielded far different results than those presented by author Del Williams.
The following is a summary report on testing done at the Rockland County (NY) Training Center on March 10, 2004, comparing Pelican Re-Coil with Xenon lamp technology.
The tests were conducted in a multi-level concrete training building/tower. Smoke was generated by burning hay bales and pallets. A Xenon lamp flashlight was compared with a Pelican M8 and a Pelican Sabre light, both with Re-Coil LED.
Williams states in the article: “Re-Coil technology will enable firefighters to see farther and more clearly in smoke-filled or dimly lit environments ….” We found that the Re-Coil technology did not provide any noticeable advantage over traditional xenon bulb technology in moderate to heavy smoke.
Williams also stated, “Halogen and incandescent bulbs cast a washed-out, oval-shaped pattern of light ….” We found that while Re-Coil technology does provide a very tight beam, it does not light anything outside the tight beam. So, if you are pointing it straight ahead, you can’t see things that may be in front of you on the floor or ground, which is like walking with blinders on.
Additionally, the author says that Re-Coil technology is more durable than regular lighting products and that it will allow the light to “operate under rugged … conditions.” In our testing, we found that both the Pelican M8 and the Pelican SabreLite Re-Coil LED failed the 30-foot drop test onto concrete. The bezel cracked, the lens cracked, and the support arm for the Re-Coil LED broke. Both lights would not operate after the drop test and, in fact, required major repairs, rendering both out of service. The fact that the Re-Coil LED has to be mounted on a cross bar flush against the lens is a problem, as this is the point of a flashlight that takes the most abuse. I believe the test suggests that this technology will not stand up to the abusive environments regularly encountered on the fireground.
The SabreLite LED is selling on the street for about $49. This is more than twice the cost of traditional 3C lights with xenon bulbs. Based on our testing, we feel the additional cost of the Re-Coil is not justified by enhanced performance. The SabreLite LED is larger than traditional 3C products and is somewhat bulky and cumbersome. Also, the fact that you have to twist the head of the flashlight to turn it on means it is a two-hand operation vs. a tail cap switch, a one-hand operation.
There is not a significant advantage in runtime using Re-Coil. The Re-Coil LED products we tested were rated at six hours runtime. A comparable Streamlight 3C Xenon product is rated at 51/2 hours.
Conclusion: Admittedly, the light output in a clean, ambient environment is impressive for the Re-Coil LED. But, in real-world fire simulation testing, this technology does not provide the enhanced performance over xenon bulbs in medium to heavy smoke. Also, there are some real issues relative to durability and the cost to the end-user. All these factors must be weighed when selecting a technology you count on to help save your life.
Bob LaGrow
Fire Department of New York
Engine 63
Altering the perception of RIT
Dan Shaw highlighted in “Image Is Everything” (Real World RIT, Fire Engineering, August 2004) the negative perception some fire department members have regarding RIT duties. I feel this negative perception is gradually leaving the fire service, but more work needs to be done. Some involved in RIT training call the RIT position a “combat position” and continuously stress this throughout the training. I agree! RIT is a combat position and should be presented as such from the chief down to the firefighters. If our department chiefs do not support RIT, the front-line troops will not support it. Too many chiefs are not supporting RIT and are using many excuses for their actions, beginning with “there is no staffing to perform RIT” to “there may be a life hazard in the building.” RIT policies should give clear guidelines on when the RIT function can be delayed. What are the indicators that will let us know when a life hazard may be present and RIT can be temporarily suspended?
I would like to add one thing on altering the perception of RIT: In my previous department, we instituted a RIT policy, brought in training from outside the department, and enforced the policies. I believe that at the time we were the only department in the area that had such a policy. One of our members who designed and sold shirts with the department logo began to make shirts with a rapid intervention team logo on them. This created a sense of pride among the members who wore them and highlighted the concept to other departments in the area. It also gave the program legitimacy among department members and reminded everyone of the importance of the position.
Keep up the great articles, and let us remember the importance of having every firefighter return home at the end of the shift.
Craig H. Shelley
Fire Protection Advisor
Saudi Aramaco
Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia
