Safety/Training Officer
The position of Safety/Training Officer is filled by a full time staff Captain. This position allows the Englewood Fire department the capability to be in full compliance with various state and federal laws and standards governing the fire suppression activities of New Jersey fire departments and provides invaluable daily management and project assistance to the Chiefs office. The Captain assigned here is on call for all emergency incidents requiring the recall of Englewood personnel. He responds directly to fire and emergency incidents and upon arrival assumes the position of Safety Officer.
In Englewood and throughout the country, this officer has three basic but vital responsibilities. They are:
1. Fireground Safety officer, responds to all fire and emergency incidents and ensures that all firefighters are accounted for through the use of our departmental accountability system, ensures that all firefighters are in compliance with departmental procedures governing the use of personal protective equipment, monitors the fire building for any unsafe conditions detrimental to firefighter safety, works in conjunction with the ambulance corps to establish a fireground rehabilitation area, and coordinates the implementation and follow through of post incident critiques.
2. Training Officer, under direct supervision of the Deputy Chief, oversees all department training; conducts and coordinates all mandatory and annual refresher training, conducts and oversees driver training, and coordinates all requests for extracurricular training opportunities.
3. Compliance Officer, performs the duty of the infection control officer by ensuring compliance with all Bloodborne Pathogen standards, supervises OSHA medical questionnaire and SCBA fit testing procedures, ensures compliance with NJ Right To Know Laws, investigates all accidents, and in conjunction with the Chief’s office manages the departments accident prevention and investigation program.
The addition of this position has reinforced our commitment to provide our firefighters with a safe working environment at emergency incidents, allowed our Chief Officers the opportunity to focus on their core responsibility of implementing strategic and tactical decisions at emergency scenes, and significantly enhanced the administrative operations of our day time staff.