Ch. 3: Firefighters and the Fire Officer Flashcards

1
Q

Fire officers should not complain about problems without proposing any solutions;

A

they need to think through problems and contribute to solutions.

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2
Q

Who is responsible for the fire department mission through the efforts of the firefighters under their command?

A

A supervising fire officer

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3
Q

Which three distinct roles did James O. Page divide the company officer’s duties into?

A

supervisor, commander, and trainer

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4
Q

Which role does the fire officer function as the official representative of the fire chief?

A

supervisor role

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5
Q

Which role is the fire officer expected to supervise the fire company in a manner consistent with the rules and regulations of the fire department?

A

supervisor

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6
Q

When operating at a scene of an emergency incident, the fire officer is expected to function as a ________ and to exercise strong direct supervision over the company members.

A

commander

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7
Q

Functioning as the initial ________ _________ on a major emergency is one of the higher-profile roles of a fire officer.

A

incident commander

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8
Q

Developing a ________ _________ is a key part of mastering the art of incident command.

A

command presence

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9
Q

To be a successful leader, the officer must convince others to follow by:

A

demonstrating the ability to take charge and make the right things happen.

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10
Q

Which role establishes the fire officer to have the responsibility of making sure the firefighters under their command are confident and competent in their skills?

A

trainer

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11
Q

What are the three activities that are necessary to ensure a good working relationship with a supervisor?

A
  • Keep your supervisor informed.
  • Make appropriate decisions at your level of responsibility.
  • Consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or policy changes.
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12
Q

What refers to the complex system of inherent attributes that determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions, including the quality of being honest?

A

integrity

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13
Q

The fire officer should “walk the talk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he/she says are important.

A

The fire officer should “walk the talk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he/she says are important

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14
Q

What is the fire officer demonstrating when they make decisions and models behavior consistent with the department’s core values, mission statement, and value statements?

A

ethical behavior

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15
Q

What means the workforce should reflect the community it serves as it is applied to fire departments?

A

diversity

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16
Q

What are employee behaviors that require an immediate corrective action by the supervisor?

A

actionable items

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17
Q

Describe the fire officer’s basic tasks.

A
  • Managing the work within the unit
  • Most prominent is leading a team into challenging emergency situations.
  • Much of the workday is routine daily activities
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18
Q

Much of the workday is routine daily activities related to:

A
  • Routine administrative activities for work group
  • Assigned equipment
  • The physical facility
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19
Q

The fire officer is expected to ensure work unit will be prepared to function effectively & efficiently as needed by:

A
  • Managing personnel
  • Resources
  • Programs
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20
Q

Most important tasks you want a new officer to do well:

A
  • Beginning of shift Report: (Most important)
  • Notification: “no surprise rule”. (Second most important)
  • Decision making: the third & fourth issue, (Problem Solving) are of equal importance.
  • Problem solving: officers shouldn’t complain about a problem without a solution.
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21
Q

Describe a typical fire station workday.

A

The starting point is a schedule that ensures all required tasks are completed in a logical order. The fire officer must anticipate that emergencies incidents will alter the work-day & require adjustments

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22
Q

List 4 tasks a new officer should do well in order of importance.

A
  1. The Beginning of Shift Report
  2. Notifications
  3. & 4. Decision Making = Problem Solving
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23
Q

When should the fire officer give the Beginning of shift report to his chief?

A

This report is provided within the first quarter hour of the report time. It can be electronic, paper, or verbal.

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24
Q

When should the fire officer submit the morning report?

A

Within 15 minutes of the start of the shift

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25
Q

What should be in the Beginning of Shift Report?

A
  • The report provides the on-duty staffing info, sick leave, and identify any positions needed to be filled for the shift.
  • Also notes location and condition of apparatus.
  • Finally provides the chief with any “must know” info, needing immediate attention.
  • Some report include anticipated staffing for next shift.
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26
Q

What is NOT included in the morning report?

A

Anticipated daily activities

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27
Q

What is the “no surprise rule”?

A

Any info the chief need to know about when it is current, particularly before someone at a higher level calls to ask.

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28
Q

When bringing up a problem what else should the officer propose?

A

The officer should propose a solution. The most valuable proposal would consider the larger picture on how the solution would affect the rest of the department.

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29
Q

Where do the monthly goals show up for the fire officer?

A

The monthly goals show up as a planned activities on the fire company daily planner.

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30
Q

How many time does in a fire fighter’s career dose he have major changes?

A

There are four times:

  • Completion of Probationary training.
  • Completes promotional process & works as a company commander.
  • Advances to and works as a chief fire officer.
  • When he retires.
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31
Q

What was NOT identified as a time in one’s career when a change in the relationship to the fire department organizational structure occurs?

A

Promotion to driver/operator

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32
Q

Does wearing an officer’s badge affect any actions or responses?

A

Wearing the fire officer badge enhances the effect and consequences of any action or response.

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33
Q

Promotion to chief causes what change in the relationship to the fire dept. and members?

A
  • A command officer has less hands-on role.
  • Typically is responsible for several fire companies.
  • Usually works outside hazard area & is responsible for whatever happens inside.
34
Q

What are the 3 roles James O. Page divides the officer’s duties into:

A

The Company officer’s duties are divided into:

  • Supervisor
  • Commander:
  • Trainer
35
Q

What are unpopular orders & directives?

A

Even if the officer disagrees with the particular directive, the dept. requires & expects officer to carry out the directives.

36
Q

Where can an employee initially file a sexual harassment complaint?

A
With the:
 fire department, 
local government, 
or 
federal government.
37
Q

The compony level officer is responsible for ______________, ______________, and ________ of a crew of firefighters:

A
  • Supervision
  • Performance
  • Safety
38
Q

What are the 3 things the company level duties are divided into?

A
  • Supervisor: functions as the official representative of the fire chief.
  • Commander: operating at the emergency scene, exercising strong direct supervision over the company members.
  • Trainer: makes sure the fire fighters under his leadership are confident and competent in their skills.
39
Q

What makes an officer a successful leader?

A

To be a successful leader, the officer must convince others to follow by demonstrating the ability to take charge and make the right things happen.

40
Q

What is a skill set that an officer must have well-developed?

A

The ability to bring order out of the chaos of an emergency incident is an art that requirers a well-developed skill set.

41
Q

What is a key part of mastering the art of incident command?

A

-Developing a command presence, (defined as; the ability of an officer to project an image of being in control of the situation).

42
Q

A fire officer who is going to establish command upon arrival at an emergency scene should have a detailed knowledge of:

A
  • Responding units
  • Mastery of the local procedures
  • Ability to issue clear direct orders
43
Q

A strong command presence does what to the team of firefighter who are aggressive, action-oriented people that can be obsessive?

A

Focuses the efforts of this action-oriented team in a constructive direction.

44
Q

Functioning as the initial incident commander, of a major emergency a fire officer arriving on scene needs to be:

A

The officer needs to be clear, calm and concise in the initial radio transmissions.

45
Q

What is command presence?

A

It is the ability of an officer to project an image of being in control of the situation.

46
Q

In the book, Effective Company Command, James O. Page’s duty as the trainer fire officer has which responsibilities?

A
  • Making sure the fire fighter under his command are confident and competent in their skills.
  • Responsible for the performance level of the fire company will perform at highest level possible.
47
Q

What 3 specific recommendations does Page make to assist the fire officer in the task of developing the fire company’s competencies?

A
  • Develop a personal training library
  • Know the neighborhood
  • Use problem-solving scenarios
48
Q

Personal Library should have subjects matching which NFPA or curriculum?

A
  • The subject tabs could match heading in NFPA 1001 from recruit curriculum or represent a personal list of important topics.
  • Every time the officer attends a training event , the notes form that session are placed in the binder.
49
Q

When should an officer use his personal training library?

A

When the officer is preparing to present a class that covers a specific topic, his personal training library is the first stop.

50
Q

What does Leo D. Stapleton, retires fire commissioner who wrote, Thirty Years on the Line, advocate officers maintain?

A

Officers should maintain a personal journal where they record info about incidents they run and the issues they handled.

51
Q

When is it the best time to make entires to the personal journal per Stapleton?

A

These entries should be made as soon as possible, while still vivid in the memory.

52
Q

What does Page & Stapleton recommend officers to obtain?

A

In addition to storing info in a three-ring notebook or on a laptop. Officers should obtain personal copies of the textbooks & reference used for training firefighters & promotional exams.

53
Q

What should the officer take pictures of during his walkthroughs?

A

Significant details

54
Q

What are the aerial view especially valuable for?

A

Aerial photos are valuable for apartment complexes, business parks, and retail areas.

55
Q

In knowing the neighborhood, what can maps and photos be used for?

A
  • Used to locate access routes.
  • Plan the placement of first-alarm apparatus.
  • Identify exposure problems.
56
Q

How would Page present facts-based situations and code to firefighters?

A

Instead of reading code regulations as training the fact-based situations and codes are used to solve problems.

57
Q

In Page’s problem-solving scenarios techniques forced the fire fighters to:

A
  • Identify the occupancy use group
  • Identify the issues
  • Look up applicable regulations
  • Make decisions
58
Q

What can the problem-solving techniques by Page useful for?

A
  • Fire-ground hydraulics.
  • Technical rescue scenarios.
  • Incident management procedures.
  • Pre-incident actions plans.
59
Q

What are three activities necessary to ensure a good working relationships with his supervisor?

A
  • Keep your supervisor informed.
  • Make appropriate decisions at your level for responsibility.
  • Consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or policy changes.
60
Q

What are the symbols of power and authority given to a new supervisors?

A

Formal organizations provides new supervising officers with a badge, insignia and distinctive markings on the helmet a symbols of power & authority.

61
Q

What can make an officer ineffective and damages department?

A

An unethical and corrupt officer.

62
Q

What are attributes are inherent of integrity?

A

Integrity refers to the complex system of inherent attributes that determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions, including the quality of being honest.

63
Q

What is the usual level of authority of a supervising and managing officer’s cover?

A

Fire station level activities such as;

  • maintenance
  • training
  • community outreach
64
Q

How should the officer demonstrate the proper and important behaviors?

A

The officer should “walk the walk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he or she says are important.

65
Q

How do formal organizations publish their expectations?

A

Formal organizations publish their expectations as a code of ethics. code of conduct or a list of value statements.

66
Q

How can integrity be demonstrated?

A

By a steadfast adherence to a moral code.

67
Q

How does the officer demonstrate ethical behavior?

A

The officer demonstrate ethical behavior by making decisions consistent with the department’s core values, mission statement, and value statements.

68
Q

What NFPA discusses the officer’s conduct?

A

The “Annex A: Explanatory Material” section of NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications.

69
Q

Who enforces civil rights?

A

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

70
Q

Which civil rights, federal laws originally was establish to enforce workplace equal employment that included state & local government, schools, colleges and union?

A

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers state and local governments, schools, colleges and unions.

71
Q

What does Diversity, as applies to fire departments mean?

A

The work force should reflect the community it serves.

72
Q

What does an EEOC consent decree promise the courts from the fire departments?

A

It promises the courts that it will work to hire qualified individuals who reflect the community.

73
Q

List the habits for an officer to keep himself in check by Stephen McClure.

A
  • Stay real
  • Be fair
  • Do right
  • Listen
  • Teach
  • Get feedback
  • Lead by example
  • Lead by example
  • Be fast to praise; be slow to discipline.
  • Don’t ask anyone to do anything you wouldn’t do.
74
Q

What does Gravely recommend an officer focus on in reference to workplace diversity?

A

That a fire officer focus on actionable items and definition of a hostile workplace.

75
Q

What could the failure to act on an unacceptable behavior be interpreted as?

A

Case law has shown unacceptable behavior requires immediate response. The failure to act on the officer’s part may be seen as officially condoning or encouraging the behavior.

76
Q

What are employee behaviors that require immediate corrective action by the supervisor?

A

Actionable items

77
Q

EEOC amended what guidelines in 1999?

A

The guidelines on sexual harassment. Adding that a “reasonable person” in same circumstance would find intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

78
Q

What is the standard for evaluating sexual harassment?

A

Sexual harassment is unwanted, uninvited, & unwelcome attention and intimacy in a nonreciprocal relationship.

79
Q

EEOC guidelines states that verbal and physical conduct of sexual nature is harassment when the following conditions are present:

A
  • Employee is made to feel that they half to endure the treatment to remain employed.
  • Whether the employee submits to or rejects treatment is used when making employment decisions.
  • The employee’s work performance is affected
  • An intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment is present.
80
Q

What can the term “hostile work environment” be used to describe?

A

A range of situations in which an employee is subject to discrimination in the workplace.

81
Q

What’s a method of fostering the concept of on-duty speech or appropriate workplace behavior as in a non-hostile work environment?

A
  • On method of fostering the concept of on-duty speech or appropriate workplace behavior is to have the firefighters develop their own set of rule to behaviors.
  • Provide the source documents (fed, & municipal, codes & regulations), asking them to consider which words or behaviors they consider inappropriate at work.
82
Q

What are 3 ways a firefighter can initiate a harassment complaint?

A
They have 3 methods:
- Federal gov.
- Local gov. 
or
- Fire department.