Crew Resource Management

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Crew Resource Management

• Presentation Prepared for
• Date 2009

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What is Crew Resource Management

• Crew Resource Management (CRM) is an effective
  us of all resources to minimize errors and
  improve safety and performance.

1 Fatality
10 lost time injuries
1000 No Loss Accidents 10,000 UNSAFE ACTS!
1000 No Loss Accidents 10,000 UNSAFE ACTS!
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Crew Resource Management

• Crew Resource Management evolved from what was
  initially, Cockpit Resource Management.

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Crew Resource Management

• A landmark event was United Airlines flight 173,
  which occurred in 1978. Flight 173 crashed in a
  wooded area outside of Portland. The problem
  which occurred involved an indicator light for
  the landing gear. It indicated that the landing
  gear was not completely down. The pilot was
  informed of a low fuel by his crew after he
  decided to fly around trying to figure out the
  light. He either disregarded them or
  misunderstood them and crashed killing 8
  passengers and two crew members. Twenty three
  other people were seriously injured.
• Why were so few killed?

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Lack of Crew Resource Management

• July 1, 1988, Hackensack, N.J., - Catastrophic
  collapse of bowstring trusses. The I.C. was scene
  with portable over shoulder participating in
  firefighting. Three (3) firefighters killed in
  initial collapse, two entombed that ran out of
  air. After 27 calls for help radio goes silent.
• October 27, 1997, Washington D.C., - Fire in a
  corner grocery store. Crews initiated an
  aggressive interior attack. Crews evacuated after
  rapid heat build up and floor shift. Engine 14
  exits crew cant find officer. Crew reports their
  officer missing on two separate occasions to
  other officers. Dead officer of Engine14 found in
  basement.

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Crew Resource Management

• From 1997 to 2001
• 500 firefighters died in structure fires and fire
  fighting operations.
• Worcester, Mass.
• Keokuk, Iowa
• Louisville, Ky.
• New York City

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Crew Resource Management

• Factors that contributed to these and other fire
  service tragedies are remarkably similar to
  factors identified by an industry that began
  adopting CRM as a mantra more than 25 years ago.
• The nations aviation industry recognized that
  human error was the prevailing cause in aviation
  disasters.
• The lessons learned by this industry are worth
  study by the fire service because of common
  contributing factors to the deaths in both
  industries.

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Crew Resource Management

• CRM exists when all members of the team actively
  seek to prevent adverse effects on the current
  situations.

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Does the Fire Service Promote a Risk Culture?

• Managing risk is our business, we do a great job
  taking care of Mr. Mrs. Smiths risk, but how
  about our own?
• Human behavior patterns suggest that the well
  intentioned, best trained, consistently
  performing individuals and groups commit errors.
  (Titanic)
• Accidents are not random occurrences People
  cause accidents and make errors.
• CRM has a proven history in reduction of errors.
• Aviations, Military, and Medical.

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Crew Resource Management

• Adrenaline and testosterone contribute to more
  injuries than structural failure. A key factor in
  firefighter injury or death is the risk a
  firefighter will take and their supervisors
  ability to control it.

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How Does It Work?

• Six Principles
• Communication
• Decision-Making
• Task Allocation
• Teamwork
• S/A
• Debrief

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Communication

• Barriers and bias block effective communication
• Standard language benefits all
• Practice active listening
• Divide duties to prevent overload
• Minimize distractions
• Establish Inquiry/Advocacy patterns
• Clear, Concise
• Respectful
• Bishops Assertive Statement

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Communication
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Decision Making

• Axioms
• Recognize problems
• Fight the fire
• Treat the patient
• Maintain SA
• Accept input
• Make a decision

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Task Allocations

• Know your limits
• Know your crews limits
• Capitalize on strengths
• Seek out experts
• Eat the elephant one bite at a time

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Teamwork

• Leadership
• Followership

Photo by Bob Bartosz, Camden Fire Department
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Situational Awareness

• Point where reality and perception collide
• Reality always wins
• Beware of loss factors
• Ambiguity
• Distraction
• Fixation
• Overload
• Complacency
• Unresolved discrepancy

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Debrief

• Pre-Brief
• Topic
• Decorum
• Facilitate
• Analyze
• Operations
• Human Behaviors

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For More Information

• http//www.iafc.org/associations/4685/files/CRM20
  Manual.pdf (downloadable manual)
• Okray and Lubnau, Crew Resource Management for
  the Fire Service. Penwell Publishing

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Crew Resource Management

• The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting
  System
• 4025 Fair Ridge Drive
• Fairfax, Virginia 22033
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]

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Crew Resource Management

• The project is administered by the International
  Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in consultation
  with the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss
  Reporting System Task Force. The project is
  endorsed by IAFC, International Association of
  Fire Fighters and the Volunteer Combination
  Officers Section of the IAFC.

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