Stamford Fire Company Fined For Safety Violations

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Long Ridge Fire fined $1K for safety violations

By Natasha Lee

Staff Writer

Stamford Advocate - February 25, 2007

STAMFORD - The state has fined Long Ridge Fire Company $1,080 for violating worker safety, including failing to test firefighters for breathing masks and failing to provide annual hazardous materials training.

In the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Feb. 9 report, a copy of which was obtained by The Advocate, OSHA deemed six of the nine violations serious, meaning they could threaten the lives and safety of firefighters.

Long Ridge Fire, a private, nonprofit volunteer department, is separate from the city but largely funded with taxpayer money.

The OSHA report found Long Ridge did not provide medical evaluations to determine whether firefighters could use breathing machines, did not ensure all breathing masks fit properly and could not prove firefighters attended refresher training in handling hazardous materials.

Volunteer Fire Chief Robert Bennett said most of the state's citations stemmed from poor record-keeping. He said he relied on firefighters' word that they had completed medical examinations. Bennett acknowledged being lax on enforcing mandatory training.

OSHA was "very fair, and we're making headway on correcting the problems," he said.

The department's headquarters is on Old Long Ridge Road and staffs two paid firefighters during the day and one at night. A second station on High Ridge Road has one paid firefighter manning a 24-hour shift. The department also relies on volunteers and mutual aid from the Turn of River Fire Department to respond to calls. The department's 30 firefighters include 10 paid firefighters and 20 volunteers.

OSHA investigated the department last month after paid firefighter Donald Berg filed a complaint containing 19 allegations, including issues of understaffing at the department's two stations, faulty fire engines, broken ladders on a fire engine, lack of hazardous materials training and drills, and mold and exposed wiring at a fire station.

Berg, a 25-year veteran, said he feared for his and residents' safety.

OSHA did not address the issue of staffing, injuries sustained on the job, and seven other allegations outside its jurisdiction.

In the report, OSHA said it investigated Berg's claim of the failure of Long Ridge Fire Company to comply with "two-in, two-out" staffing, a federal standard that requires two equally trained and equipped firefighters at the scene for every two who enter a burning building or other hazardous situation. OSHA concluded the department did have a "written procedure for two-in, two-out operations" but did not comment on whether the standard was enforced.

OSHA Program Manager Thomas Hozebin said it does not comment on open investigations and that the complaint will remain open until the fine is paid and OSHA has approved corrections to the violations. Long Ridge has until May 14 to resolve most of them, according to the complaint.

Berg said he was disappointed in OSHA's findings and that more than quick fixes are needed.

"My purpose for (filing the complaint) was to push the chief and to push the city to realize we're behind in training and all of the other things we're entitled to and by law are required to have to serve the people of North Stamford," he said.

Bennett said he has addressed some of the violations, including citations for electrical hazards, and is drafting program manuals required for using breathing masks, and on exposure to blood-borne pathogens and other infectious materials OSHA cited as violations.

Other violations will take more time to address.

The report said: "The employer does not have a written respirator program, fit tests are not complete for all firefighters, and no records of medical evaluations were available."

According to OSHA requirements, a firefighter using a respirator or breathing machine with a face mask must have the mask checked annually to ensure it fits properly. Firefighters must complete a medical examination before being fit-tested for the mask.

The department has fit-tested 15 firefighters since last summer, Bennett said. Long Ridge Fire Company co-owns a fit-testing machine with Springdale Fire Company and Belltown Fire Department.

"It's time consuming. Slowly but surely, we've been getting guys to go down there for a fit," Bennett said. "A year from now everyone will be 100 percent."

OSHA requires that fire departments document whether a firefighter has passed a medical exam, and whether their training is up to date.

It was unclear whether all 30 firefighters have completed medical exams.

Bennett said he did not keep documentation of completed medical exams because of privacy concerns, but said OSHA advised him to create a form that would indicate a pass or fail on a medical examination.

"I was pleased with OSHA's findings, and it educated me. For years, it was kind of a myth what OSHA expected," said Bennett, who has been chief for three years and is a 36-year veteran with the fire company.

He said he will be stricter about recording hazmat training and drill participation. He provided OSHA with records back to 2005, Bennett said. Only one firefighter has not completed refresher training, he said.

"I'm supposed to enforce the rules, or firefighters could lose their jobs," Bennett said. "When the announcement goes out that it is mandatory, you show up, or I guess you won't work here anymore."

OSHA officials said fire departments are not required to turn in records of certification and training unless a complaint is filed.

"Departments maintain their own records, and most operate in good faith and do the best jobs they can but occasionally can fall through the cracks," Hozebin said. "Generally the only way we find out is if an employee files a complaint, particularly incidents where the 'two-in and two-out' was required," he said.

Despite OSHA's reprimand, Berg said the agency did not address his main concerns. He alleged that the department's inadequate staffing was violating the "two-in, two-out" rule.

Berg said he works alone during his shift and drives a fire engine by himself to calls, sometimes having to wait 10 minutes for backup to arrive.

"We cover a fair amount of territory. We're alone and we have inferior equipment," he said.

Issues of staffing, faulty equipment and hazardous conditions also fall outside the city's jurisdiction, city officials said. The city Charter gives the volunteer fire chief sole authority over Long Ridge Fire Company, Stamford Public Safety Director William Callion said. The city is required only to provide funding to the five volunteer fire departments. Long Ridge receives about $1.3 million a year in city funding and supplements its operational expenses through federal and state grants, Bennett said.

Callion said he assigned Phillip Cundiff, the city's safety and training officer, to advise the department.

"They are a separate corporation, and they have to answer to the complaint," Callion said. "We don't have that responsibility."

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Wow. This is rarely seen in our realm. I could only imagine if they did this in NY what could happen. I just honestly don't get it sometimes, why is it so hard to get personnel fit tested and have physicals?

[IzzyEng4 427]

Wow.  This is rarely seen in our realm.  I could only imagine if they did this in NY what could happen.  I just honestly don't get it sometimes, why is it so hard to get personnel fit tested and have physicals?

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I can't believe it either. Usually I hear the excuse of "not enough money" up here but sorry, money is no object when it comes to safety. The real problem is laziness and not having the proper people in the right offices in my opinion. I was stunned when I read this, OSHA must have had to investigate something that happened there.

Connecticut is an OSHA (Conn-OSHA) state for all that do not know this.

[ex-commish 490]

Wow.  This is rarely seen in our realm.  I could only imagine if they did this in NY what could happen.  I just honestly don't get it sometimes, why is it so hard to get personnel fit tested and have physicals?

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Als...you know the deal...bands are expensive...parades come first you know

[x152 179]

A bit of history behind this:

In 1996, the former Chief of this Department requested help from the City in order to staff the smaller of the Department's two Stations. The City and the Department agreed that in order to immediately rectify the (shortage of personnel) problems, a City (Stamford Fire and Rescue) Engine Company would be re-assigned to staff the Station in question. Overnight the Station went from having ONE Fire Fighter working an fragmented day/evening schedule to Stamford Fire and Rescue Engine #6 staffing the station 24/7. The minimum assigned staffing level for Engine 6 is one Officer and three Fire Fighters (4 shifts=16 total personnel).

This was an obvious staffing improvement for the District (staffing reduction for the City District) and allowed the LRFD to eventually consolidate their own staff to the other Station (thus increasing staffing levels in that Station).

However, the relationship was short-lived and within months, the LRFD began a series of lawsuits against the City/Mayor/Union/etc.

City Fire Fighters were unfairly criticized on a daily basis in the local media (by representatives of the Fire Company) and accused of being incapable of handling the types of fires occurring in their unique rural/suburban district.

Quote "they (City) Fire Fighters only know how to fight high-rise fires....."

and reference to the 4 person (often referred to as the "16 person Engine Company" to bolster the confustion) crew of Engine 6 was TOO much staff for this District. etc..etc...

In 1999, a Judge granted the LRFD a temporary injunction, which forced the City to remove Engine 6 and reassign it back to the City Fire Headquarters. (It remains at that assignment to this day). The LRFD was given funding by the City to add two more firefighters which allowed them to staff their second Station with ONE fire fighter 24/7.

It is ironic that the some of the same people who led the charge AGAINST an adequately staffed and NFPA compliant Engine Company are now complaining about a lack of fire fighters (2 in/2 out) available to initiate an interior operation?

Just my own PERSONAL opinion.

[Guest]

A bit of history behind this:

In 1996, the former Chief of this Department requested help from the City in order to staff the smaller of the Department's two Stations. The City and the Department agreed that in order to immediately rectify the (shortage of personnel) problems, a City (Stamford Fire and Rescue) Engine Company would be re-assigned to staff the Station in question. Overnight the Station went from having ONE Fire Fighter working an fragmented day/evening schedule to Stamford Fire and Rescue Engine #6 staffing the station 24/7. The minimum assigned staffing level for Engine 6 is one Officer and three Fire Fighters (4 shifts=16 total personnel).

This was an obvious staffing improvement for the District (staffing reduction for the City District) and allowed the LRFD to eventually consolidate their own staff to the other Station (thus increasing staffing levels in that Station).

However, the relationship was short-lived and within months, the LRFD began a series of lawsuits against the City/Mayor/Union/etc.

City Fire Fighters were unfairly criticized on a daily basis in the local media (by representatives of the Fire Company) and accused of being incapable of handling the types of fires occurring in their unique rural/suburban district.

Quote "they (City) Fire Fighters only know how to fight high-rise fires....."

and reference to the 4 person (often referred to as the "16 person Engine Company" to bolster the confustion) crew of Engine 6 was TOO much staff for this District. etc..etc...

In 1999, a Judge granted the LRFD a temporary injunction, which forced the City to remove Engine 6 and reassign it back to the City Fire Headquarters. (It remains at that assignment to this day). The LRFD was given funding by the City to add two more firefighters which allowed them to staff their second Station with ONE fire fighter 24/7.

It is ironic that the some of the same people who led the charge AGAINST an adequately staffed and NFPA compliant Engine Company are now complaining about a lack of fire fighters (2 in/2 out) available to initiate an interior operation?

Just my own PERSONAL opinion.

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Thanks for the background on this story 152. Its always important to get a well rounded picture of what really is going on. It really is a sad story - especially for the people of the long ridge area. Any idea what ground's the judge used to order his injunction? It just blows my mind that a group of people could be so very, very ignorant. It sounds like those who spoke out against having Engine 6 stationed @ LRFD had more of an issue with the career status of the firefighters than their ability to fight a fire. I think its time for the residents that reside within LRFD's district to take a serious look at who is protecting their property and lives as well as how they do it.

If you ask me - i say shut the place down, bring Engine 6 back (if thats possible per the City) and look towards a long-term solution. I would be happy with a career dept. complimented by a volunteer contingent.