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It is the responsibility of the company officer (or the person acting in that capacity) to supervise relief and roll call each morning or evening when shift change takes place.
This article provides a list of tasks to be completed by the company officer and a time frame in which to complete them that should help ensure an efficient change of shift. An efficient change of shift will help lead to a safe workday for everyone.
Company officer’s responsibilities upon reporting for duty:
Report for duty early so that the person you are relieving can brief you on past events — and as a courtesy to that person.
Be in proper uniform (lead by example). Put your equipment in service on the apparatus immediately.
Check out SCBA/PASS, alarms, portable radios, and make note of same (follow your departments S.O.G.’s).
Read your company journal of past shifts’ events in order to update yourself on pertinent information.
Examples:
Fire activity: What emergency events has the company responded to?
Department communications: Have any orders, memos, etc. been distributed during your time off? Read and review with all members at Roll Call.
Staffing: Is your company staffing at the department’s required level? Have personnel detailed out, reported on sick leave, traded tour of duty, etc.?
Equipment and apparatus information: Is there any new equipment that has been placed in service? Is there any equipment that has been taken out of service for repairs? Has any equipment been moved or relocated on the apparatus? Is any equipment in need of repairs.
Scheduled Training: Do you have a daily/monthly training schedule? If so, be prepared for upcoming drills.
Check schedules for the day’s activities:
Daily apparatus work schedule
Daily firehouse duties
In-service inspections/preplans
Plan other necessary activities for your shift:
Apparatus inventory
Drill of the day
Other special events
Supervise relief of company personnel as members report for duty:
Check members fitness for duty
Ensure proper relief; for example, FF/EMT-B, FF/EMT-P or qualified
Aapparatus driver must be relieved by another member of equal certification.
Make sure members are in proper uniform. Not only is it required, but it is also necessary for safety reasons and so that we represent our departments with pride and professionalism.
Give assignments to members as they report for duty so they know what is expected of them.
Examples:
Engine company: Who is on the nozzle; who is back up?
Truck company: Who is search and rescue, outside, vent, roof etc.? Assign portable radios. A little chat at each roll call lets the troops know what is expected.
Make sure that all members have checked and inventoried their equipment (SCBA/PASS, portable radios, hose lines, hand tools, hand can, EMS equipment, etc.
Company officers, you are responsible for your crew’s wellbeing.
Roll Call location: Roll Call should take place on the apparatus floor. This is where the company officer can inspect his or her people while they perform their daily inspections.
Review assignments with all members: This confirms assignments previously given when shift relief took place before Roll Call or official starting time. Reaffirming assignments also allows members assigned to other units in the same firehouse to know who is doing what.
Examples:
Engine crew will know who the forcible-entry team is.
The engine crew will know who is backing them up from the ambulance crew, etc.
Discuss Tactics: Talk about building construction, hazards, preplans, weather conditions, critique and past incidents, etc.
Discuss pertinent information with the group: Department communications, events of previous shifts, new equipment, and defective equipment. Inform everyone of the schedule for the day/evening-training, apparatus and housework, in-service inspections, etc.
After Roll Call:
Ensure completion of apparatus inventory, oversee inventory with all members. Remember, it is everyone’s responsibility to be able to locate and operate the equipment and to operate the apparatus.
Ensure checkout/inspection of auxiliary or ancillary apparatus and equipment that is in your quarters.
Example: Reserve apparatus, specialized apparatus, dive truck, back up EMS units, etc.
Some Additional Points:
If one is not already in place in your department; develop an accountability system, i.e., list of riding assignments in cab.
Show enthusiasm; it can be contagious.
Get everyone involved.
Talk to and treat members as you would want to be treated. Courtesy and respect go a long way. Remember, as a company officer, you are a counselor, problem-solver, safety officer, leader and role model; so don’t ignore potential problems. Address them, because it is your responsibility. This will add to the presence of a safe work shift. Company Officers: “Speed of the Leader; Speed of the Team”
Always remember your priorities:
The Firefighter and Paramedics
The Apparatus and Equipment
The Fire House (Some may question the use of the term “Firehouse” instead of “Fire Station.” The Firehouse is where we live together and work together. A family lives in a house, and that is what we are!)
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