The model codes are derived from different international or federal organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or international organizations such as the International Code Council. Every jurisdiction is tasked with putting effective policies aimed at code enforcement to improve the safety of firefighters as well as minimize the extent of damages caused by fire hazards ( Coffman, 2019) . One of the most relevant codes that had been violated by the firefighting officials described in the current case is the NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program concerning the establishment of a safety committee and the definition of the committee's roles ( National Fire Protection Association, 2007) . An examination of the recommendations made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicates that even if it was in place, the safety committee failed to put in place effective measures aimed at improving the safety of firefighters while responding to fires. For instance, the firefighter had been working continuously for 58 hours responding to different fire incidents despite being relatively older and with an underlying severe underlying coronary artery disease (CAD), which points out to the safety committee’s incompetence in assessing the health and safety of officers dispatched to fire incidents. Another limitation of the code model system that allowed the tragedy to occur is that the codes despite their existence, their enforcement depends on professional firefighters. Firefighters are responsible for their safety since no one often controls what they do. For instance, it is not advisable to smoke while responding to fire hazards. However, the firefighter in the current case took a 10-minutes break to smoke despite having a severe underlying CAD as well as the intensity of the fire. Early warning signs greatly help in the reduction of fire-related hazards. Nevertheless, early warning signs might not be practicable in the mitigation of grass fires. The effectiveness of early warning signs depends on the ratio of the warning time to the time needed to successfully implement a preventive action ( de Groot, Wotton & Flannigan, 2015) . Grass fires spread so easily and the warning times of any early warning signs might be too short for firefighters to respond or undertake preventive actions. Thus, although warning signs can be crucial when responding to fires inside buildings, they might not be effective when dealing with wildfires or grass fires. Based on the incident described in the current case, several considerations for future safety must be implemented to complement the safety code system. For example, the fire chief of any firefighting organization must foster a culture of safety among their staff members, which can be done through a strong emphasis on safety as part of any fire hazard response, station activity, and training evolution. Also, it is important to put in place an effective and committed safety committee as needed by the NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program ( National Fire Protection Association, 2007) . The primary responsibility of the safety committee should be the development of appropriate safety procedures and policies. As for the current case, the department did not undertake an autopsy to determine the exact cause of the firefighter’s death. However, the safety committee should be tasked with the investigation of any accidents and come up with essential changes to minimize the issues identified. Finally, the implementation of wellness and safety training programs would greatly improve occupational safety among firefighters. The training should be regular, and up-to-date, and should focus on firefighter health and safety. In summary, the current case highlights the serious ineffectiveness of the code system as well as the incompetence and irresponsibility of firefighting chiefs. Incorporating programs that teach about firefighter safety such as smoking cessation could have saved the firefighter's life since smoking might have complicated the officer's underlying medical condition.
References
Coffman, B. (2019). Code enforcement: Critical for a successful fire prevention program, 2013 . http://www.fireengineering.com/content/dam/fe/online-articles/documents/FEU/FEU-CoffmanJan13.pdf, accessed in May.
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de Groot, W. J., Wotton, B. M., & Flannigan, M. D. (2015). Wildland fire danger rating and early warning systems. In Wildfire hazards, risks and disasters (pp. 207-228). Elsevier. doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-410434-1.00011-7
National Fire Protection Association. (2007). NFPA 1500 (2007): Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program . National Fire Protection Association. doi.org/10.4135/9781452275956.n220
