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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219- 8151.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
today cited Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
for unsafe conditions that led to the deaths of 14 firefighters in a wildland
fire near Glenwood Springs, Colo.
The 14, including 13 Forest Service firefighters and one
from Bureau of Land Management, were killed when the fire raged out of control
at South Canyon on July 6, 1994.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Joseph A. Dear said, "Based on evidence collected from on- site
observations, document reviews and numerous interviews, OSHA has determined
that BLM and USFS violated standard firefighting procedures. They also failed
to recognize and respond in a timely manner to numerous factors that, together,
clearly identified the South Canyon fire as highly hazardous to firefighting
personnel."
"OSHA's investigation indicated that this was a management
failure," Dear said. "Our investigation, which took almost seven months to
complete, was designed to identify the causes of this tragedy and to recommend
corrective actions to avoid another South Canyon tragedy. We want to assist the
agencies in making firefighting safer."
The Notices of Unsafe Conditions issued to BLM and USFS
cited one alleged willful and one alleged serious violation.
Dear said the alleged willful violation was based on a
finding that the management of the two agencies demonstrated "plain
indifference" to the safety and health of their employees. "Management
officials were aware of the conditions and practices at the site of the fire
but failed to determine the extent of danger and thus did not take the
necessary corrective actions."
The alleged willful citation said that in fighting the
South Canyon fire the agency management did not enforce the safety provisions
of the National Wildfire Coordination Group Fireline Handbook:
- The identity of the Incident Commander was not effectively
communicated to firefighters.
- Adequate safety zones and escape routes were not established for and
identified to employees.
- Available weather forecasts and expected fire behavior information
were not provided to employees.
- Adequate fire lookouts were not used on the fire.
- Hazardous downhill fireline construction did not follow established
safe practices and proper safety precautions.
The alleged serious citation said the agencies failed to
provide sufficient management oversight to ensure that existing safe
firefighting practices were followed:
- Management failed to provide firefighters with comprehensive fire
behavior information to include fuel type/moisture, topography and local
weather forecasts.
- Management failed to ensure that the evolution of the Incident
Command system was commensurate with the fire threat.
- Even though fires in the surrounding area (the Bunniger Fire and the
Paonia Fire), with similar fuels, were exhibiting extreme fire behavior,
management failed to follow the safety practices for blow-up conditions.
- Management failed to conduct adequate workplace inspections of
firefighting operations to include on-site, front- line evaluations.
In issuing the citations, OSHA recommended several feasible
and acceptable methods of abating the hazards.
OSHA believes that the joint investigation of the fire
conducted earlier by the BLM and USFS was thorough.
Following the release of the joint investigation team's
Aug. 17, 1994 report, the five federal wildland firefighting agencies undertook
a comprehensive management review. The results of that review highlighted the
importance of management involvement and accountability in ensuring the health
and safety of wildland firefighters. The review team also developed a detailed
corrective action plan, most of which will be implemented before the 1995
Western fire season. OSHA believes that this interagency management review team
report was an excellent report and blueprint for change.
OSHA has no authority to propose monetary penalties for
other federal agencies. The agencies have 15 working days in which to request
an informal conference with the Denver Area OSHA Director in which they may
present any evidence or views that they believe might support an adjustment to
the notice. In such a conference, they also are required to bring supporting
documentation of existing conditions as well as any abatement steps they have
taken.
If the results of an informal conference are not
satisfactory to the agencies, they can make a formal appeal of the notice to
the Regional Administrator in Denver. Further appeals, if necessary, can be
made to OSHA's Office of Federal Agency Programs in Washington.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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