Professionalization Of Fire Communications

Transcription

1 Professionalization Of Fire Communications Niagara Falls, Ontario November 4, 2015

2 Certification based on Professional Qualifications Standards If you are a dedicated fire service communications centre, an EMS or police agency providing fire dispatch services, Ontario Fire Chiefs will be looking for NFPA certification for your personnel.

3 Certification and Accreditation As with any vocation, the evolution of fire communications needs to be based on professional standards, certifications and recognized credentials. Certification is the verification that a candidate has successfully completed an evaluation of his/her knowledge, skills and abilities against a national standard. Accreditation is the stamp of approval from a third party (IFSAC or Pro Board) review of an agency s certification system (e.g. OFMEM as AHJ in Ontario).

4 What is the National Standard? National Fire Protection Association Based in the United States, NFPA is a global nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards (internationally-recognized). Their published codes and standards provide methods to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. NFPA Certification is a voluntary process. The direction of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs is to follow NFPA rather than Ontario specific standards.

5 What is IFSAC International Fire Service Accreditation Congress provides accreditation to entities that certify the competency of individuals who pass examinations based on NFPA fire service professional qualifications and other standards that are approved Peer driven and self governing Based out of Oklahoma State University

6 What is Pro Board National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications, also based in the US Their goal is accreditation of organizations that certify members of the fire service that use NFPA standards. In Ontario, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management is the accredited agency and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in the province.

7 Role of the OFMEM The OFMEM is accredited under Pro Board and IFSAC to evaluate qualified candidates for a range of NFPA Standards including NFPA 1061, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator, 2007 Edition The OFMEM has developed certification policies and procedures to ensure its testing and certification processes are compliant with the regulations set by IFSAC and Pro Board.

8 NFPA 1061 The standard adopts the term Telecommunicator to describe fire service call takers and dispatchers and defines them as An individual whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, or disseminate information of a public safety nature via telecommunication devices.

9 Communicator Certification Police - Adequacy Standards Agencies can be accredited or train to that standard EMS Ambulance Act Provincial requirement FIRE no standardization Each municipal agency decides level of training and material used for training

10 Current Best Practices for Fire Services in Ontario OFMEM Public Fire Safety Guidelines UNDER REVIEW PFSG (Communications Centre/Resource Centre) PFSG 04-64A-12 (Communications Best Practices) PFSG (Fire Service Communications Centres) Because of increasing complexity of fire services communications, wherever possible, dedicated fire service communicators should provide services. The call takers must elicit proper and full information from the caller, provide appropriate instructions to the caller, and transfer appropriate information to the responders.

11 PFSG (Fire Service Communications Centres) Regardless of how the service is delivered, it is critical that all fire service communicators receive training that reflects the unique nature of fire service communications. While a number of agencies provide training for communicators, fire service communicators must also be trained to: Support the incident management system used by the fire service Support the accountability and entry control systems used by the fire service Support the functions of the safety officer at an emergency incident Support personnel working in a potentially violent situation

12 Best Practices for Telecommunicators NFPA 1221 Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems, 2013 Edition NFPA 1061 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel, 2014 Edition National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards and documents available Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO)

13 First Steps to Certification What does your current training consist of? NFPA 1061 Telecommunicator I lists approximately 11 areas with requisite knowledge and skills How does your training stand up to those listed? NFPA 1061 Telecommunicator II lists 10 areas with requisite knowledge and skills How does your training stand up to those listed? Start now and compare your current training to these documents.

14 First Steps to Certification Communications Standard Operating Guidelines, Policies, Procedures Do they cover what your communicators do? Are they current? Would your communicators be able to use them to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills if required?

15 Considering Certification to NFPA Suggested Readings 1061, 2007 Edition? NFPA 1061, 2007 Edition standard APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator Course, 6 th Edition (available in class or on-line through APCO) IFSTA, Telecommunicator, 1 st Edition (available as an ebook through IFSTA)

16 APCO Training APCO has a Basic Telecommunicator course that has been Canadianized. Available on-line APCO has a Public Safety Telecommunicator, Instructor certification Enables your agency instructors to instruct the course Available on-line

17 Certification Process Gap analysis of existing training to NFPA 1061 Complete required training if required Apply for testing through OFMEM Complete written testing Complete skills evaluation/practical testing Receive certification

18 What is Next NFPA 1061, 2014 Edition to be introduced in the next year by the OFMEM New defined roles: Incident/Tactical Dispatcher Public Safety Communications Training Officer Public Safety Communications Training Coordinator Public Safety Training Communications Supervisor Public Safety Communications Centre Manager/Director Public Safety Quality Assurance/Improvement Personnel Logistics Section Communications Unit Leader

19 QUESTIONS