Fire Officer Principles and Practice Chapter 3 with 100% correct answers(GUARANTEED SUCCESS))

The fire officer is responsible for managing a work unit within the fire department. When we think about the duties of a fire officer, the most prominent vision is leading a team of fire fighters into a challenging emergency situation. In reality, much of what a fire officer does during a normal workday consists of routine____ related to the work group, the assigned equipment, and the physical facility. The officer is expected to ensure that the work unit will be prepared to function effectively and efficiently when it is needed. That means managing personnel, resources, and ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 42). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. administrative activities programs In a large fire department, the direct supervisor is usually an administrative fire officer, typically at the rank level of ____or ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 42). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. battalion; district chief Previous Play Next Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:00 / 0:15 Full screen Brainpower Read More In a recent survey, chief officers working in cities and large counties responded to an e-mail request to "list the most important tasks you want a new fire officer to do well." This resulted in a list of four basic tasks that they consider vital: beginning of shift report, ____, decision making, and ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 42). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. notifications; problem solving Fire officers should provide a prompt and accurate report at the start of the workday . This report is provided from each work location to the battalion or district chief within the first ____ of the reporting time. The format of the report may be electronic, paper, or verbal. Some departments use sophisticated online staffing systems, such as TeleStaff, that provide real-time scheduling that conforms to departmental operational requirements. The chiefs rely on this information to make staffing adjustments at the beginning of the shift. An accurate report is needed to ensure that adequate staffing and equipment are in place and ready for the balance of the shift. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 42). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. quarter hour The ____ chief moves available staff to cover the vacancies noted on the beginning of shift reports, and any vacancies that remain have to be covered by fire fighters working overtime. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 43). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. battalion In addition, the beginning of shift report notes the ____ and ____of all of the apparatus or rolling stock, such as a reserve pumper that has been loaned to another station or an ambulance at the shop. Finally, the report provides the chief with any "must know" information that will require immediate attention. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 43). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. location; condition The second most important issue noted by the administrative fire officers in the previously mentioned survey was that the new supervising fire officer must ____. Some types of information must be passed up the chain of command quickly. For example, all injury and infectious disease exposure reports must be processed without delay. The designated infection control officer must be informed immediately so that he or she can get patient information while it can still be easily obtained. The same priority applies to any information the chief needs to know about when it is current, particularly before someone at a higher level calls to ask about the issue. Many chiefs call this the "____" rule. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (pp. 43-44). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. make prompt notifications no surprises The third and fourth issues cited by the administrative fire officers— decision making and problem solving— are of equal importance. Some chiefs complain that new supervising fire officers hesitate to make decisions. They seem to want the chief to make the hard decisions and to enforce unpopular rules. Chiefs typically want new officers to run their companies and make the decisions that are within their scope of responsibility. Chiefs are available for consultation, but they expect their officers to run the fire stations. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 44). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Fire officers should not complain about problems without proposing any solutions; they need to think through problems and contribute to solutions. The most valuable proposals from officers would consider the ____ of how a possible solution would affect the rest of the department Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 44). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. larger picture A supervising fire officer is responsible for accomplishing the fire department mission through the efforts of the fire fighters under his or her command. At the company level, facilitating this outcome requires a balance of management and ____. The officer must organize the work and provide the leadership to ensure that work gets done safely and effectively. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 44). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. leadership skills The fire department has an agency-wide mission that is translated into annual goals. These goals are used to develop annual, quarterly, and monthly objectives for each fire company. The ____goals show up as the planned activities on the fire company daily planner. The starting point is a schedule that ensures all of the required tasks are completed in a ____ order. The fire officer has to anticipate that emergency incidents will alter the workday and require adjustments in the schedule. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 44). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. monthly logical General station, company evolutions, and apparatus cleaning tasks are conducted on ____. One section of the fire station gets a major cleaning two or three times each year (e.g., wax floors, scrub apparatus floors). Specialized heavy cleaning, such as steam-cleaning carpets and waxing apparatus, is scheduled throughout the year. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 45). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. weekends There are four times in a fire fighter's career when a major change occurs in how the individual relates to the formal fire department organization. The first change occurs when the fire fighter completes the ____. Completing the initial training and probationary period is a major milestone— one that is marked in many departments by a change in ____ or shield. The company-level officer is directly responsible for the supervision, performance, and safety of a crew of fire fighters. He or she has a sacred duty to ensure that all of the fire company team members remain safe when operating in a hostile or hazardous work environment. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (pp. 45-46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. probationary training period helmet color There are four times in a fire fighter's career when a major change occurs in how the individual relates to the formal fire department organization. The ____ change takes place when the fire fighter successfully completes a promotional process and starts working as a fire company commander. second There are four times in a fire fighter's career when a major change occurs in how the individual relates to the formal fire department organization. The ____ event is when the fire officer completes another level of training, advances through the promotional process, and starts working as a chief officer. third There are four times in a fire fighter's career when a major change occurs in how the individual relates to the formal fire department organization. The fourth event is when a fire fighter ____. retires The company-level officer functions as a working supervisor, sharing the hazards and work conditions with the fire company team. This change in the sphere of responsibility often requires the new officer to change some on-duty behaviors or practices. The formal fire department organization considers a fire officer to be the fire chief's representative at the work location. This role creates an expectation that the fire officer will behave in a way that is appropriate for a first-line supervisor. Conversely, the new fire officer needs to consider how to respond to pranks and verbal jabs from fire fighters. Wearing the fire officer ____ enhances the effect and consequences of any action or response. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. badge Promotion to a chief officer rank changes the individual's relationship to the organization and the members to an even greater degree. A command officer has less of a hands-on role than an officer of a company. The command officer is typically directly responsible for several fire companies and must depend on company officers to provide direct supervision over crews performing fire-ground tasks, often in hazardous conditions. In many cases, the command officer works outside the hazardous area but is still responsible for whatever happens inside the site. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. In his book Effective Company Command, ____ divided the company officer's duties into three distinct roles: ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. James O. Page supervisor commander trainer In the supervisor role, the fire officer functions as the official representative of the ____. That means the fire chief expects that every fire officer will issue orders and directives and conduct business in a way that meets the chief's objectives. As part of that role, the fire officer is expected to supervise the fire company in a manner consistent with the rules and regulations of the fire department. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. fire chief Even if the officer disagrees with a particular directive, the formal organization requires and expects the officer to carry out that directive to the best of his or her ability. A fire officer can improve his or her effectiveness in handling an unpopular order by determining the ____ behind the order, which would enable the fire officer to put the directive in perspective. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 46). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. story or history When faced with an unpopular order, the fire officer should express any concerns and objections with his or her supervisor in private. This is the time for the fire officer to discuss suggestions for modifying or reversing the order. Occasionally, special circumstances may make the order difficult to implement, and the supervisor might be able to authorize adjustments. Once the meeting with the officer's supervisor is over, the formal organization expects the officer to enforce the order as issued or amended. Telling the fire fighters that their officer does not agree with an order undermines the officer's authority and supervisory ability. The fire chief expects an officer to perform the required supervisory tasks, and the fire fighters must understand that the fire officer does not make all the rules or have a choice about which ones to enforce. Enforcing unpopular orders is part of the job. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 47). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. When operating at the scene of an emergency incident, the fire officer is expected to function as a commander and to exercise strong direct supervision over the company members. In some cases, the fire officer could be responsible for directing the actions of additional resources, or he or she might function as the initial incident commander. Functioning as the initial ____ on a major emergency is one of the higher-profile roles of a fire officer. The ability to bring order out of the chaos of an emergency incident is an art that requires a well-developed skill set. incident commander The fire officer needs to be clear, calm, and concise in the initial radio transmissions. The communication of incident size-up information must be consistent with the organization's requirements and ____ . At the scene of an emergency incident, the fire officer may function as the initial incident commander. Incident Management System (IMS) Developing a ____ is a key part of mastering the art of incident command. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 47). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. command presence ____ is the ability of an officer to project an image of being in control of the situation. 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. Command presence A fire officer who is going to establish command upon arriving at an emergency incident should have a detailed knowledge of the responding companies, a mastery of the local procedures, and the ability to issue clear direct orders. Fire fighters are aggressive, action-oriented people who also can be obsessive. It is important that a new fire officer develop a ____ to focus the efforts of this action-oriented team in a constructive direction. command presence The fire officer has the responsibility of making sure the fire fighters under his or her command are confident and competent in their skills. The company-level officer is responsible for the performance level of the fire company and must establish a set of expectations that the company will perform at the highest level possible. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 47). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Technical rescue rigs, decontamination units, foam pumpers, mass-casualty units, and mobile command posts are examples of ____. co-located specialized units In addition, the fire company's response district may require a higher level of fire fighter skill or knowledge. Consider hose handling skills. A fire company in a high-rise district would require different hose handling skills and competencies than those required of a company in a mountainous wildland interface area. Although both companies need to demonstrate familiarity with the basics of operating a hose line from a stand-pipe, the high-rise fire company should have a much higher level of expertise and competence in this skill. Conversely, the mountain fire company usually has a higher level of expertise and competence in____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 48). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. rope rescue evolutions The company-level officer plays a key role in developing these competencies within the company. James O. Page makes three specific recommendations to assist fire officers in this task: develop a personal training library, know the neighborhood, and use ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 48). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. problem-solving scenarios. Page's personal library starts with a____ with subject matter tabs. The subject tabs could match the topic headings in NFPA 1001, come from the recruit school curricula, or represent a personal list of important topics. Every time the fire officer attends a training event, the notes from that session are placed into the three-ring binder. All related handouts,product information sheets, and other related items are also placed into the three-ring binder. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 48). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. three-ring notebook When the officer is preparing to present a class that covers a specific topic, his or her personal ____ is the first stop. training library ____, a retired Boston fire commissioner writing in Thirty Years on the Line, advocates that officers maintain a personal journal where they record information about the incidents they run and the issues they handle. For working incidents, that would include what was encountered, what they learned, and how they would handle it the next time. Stapleton encourages officers to make these entries as soon as possible after the incident, while the information is vivid in the officer's memory. Leo D. Stapleton Today, a fire officer can create an electronic version of Page's three-ring binder and Stapleton's journal with the use of a computer, scanner, and ____. digital camera As part of creating this personal electronic library, the fire officer can collect PowerPoint presentations and video clips, download files from the Internet, and convert various paper media into Adobe Portable Document Format (. pdf) files. A ____ allows all these materials to be used in classroom sessions. In addition to storing information in a three-ring notebook or on a laptop computer, Page and Stapleton recommend that the fire officer obtain personal copies of the textbooks and references used in fire fighter training and promotional examinations. You can highlight, tab, and write in this copy of the book until it becomes your personal reference. You can write notes in the margins and even note disagreements with the author's statement or point of view to personalize the learning experience. These kinds of annotations are especially valuable when you are reading a book in preparation for a promotional exam. digital projector Fire fighters should have a detailed knowledge of the environment they protect. That requires going out on ____ to walk through each nonresidential structure in the jurisdiction, from the roof through the subbasement; these walk-throughs reinforce the written preincident plan or diagrams. During the walk-through, the fire officer should take pictures to capture significant details. A detailed overhead view of many communities can be obtained from aerial photographs, digital maps, or Google Earth. This aerial view is especially valuable for apartment complexes, business parks, and retail areas. The maps and photos can be used to locate access routes, plan the placement of first-alarm apparatus, and identify exposure problems. Knowing the neighborhood may include working with the building owners and occupants to practice incident action plans and procedures. Fire officers should strive to establish good working relatio inspections The fire officer can help the company members become more skilled and knowledgeable by providing ____ to use their problem-solving skills. Instead of reading the code regulations to provide training for his company members, Page would present fact-based situations and require them to use the code to solve the problem. This technique forced the fire fighters to identify the occupancy use group, identify the issues, look up the applicable regulations, and make decisions. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 48). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. opportunities Every fire officer has a supervisor. In municipal fire departments, a fire officer's supervisor is usually a command-level officer (a battalion chief, a district chief, or a battalion commander) who supervises numerous fire companies within a geographical area. The battalion chief's supervisor could be a deputy chief, who reports directly to the fire chief. In the same manner, the fire chief would report to the mayor, the city manager, the commissioner of public safety, or an individual at an equivalent level. Under the chain of command, the fire chief's orders and directives are passed down through the deputy chief to the battalion or district chief, who then ensures that the fire officers enact those orders or directives. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 49). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Regardless of the organization structure, every fire officer has an obligation to work effectively with a supervisor. Three activities are necessary to ensure a good working relationship: -Keep your supervisor informed. -Make appropriate decisions at your level of responsibility. -____ Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 49). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or policy changes. No supervisor likes surprises. Part of the supervisor- subordinate relationship is to make sure the supervisor is not surprised or blindsided. Supervising and managing fire officers should not hesitate to make decisions appropriate for their level of responsibility. This means that problems should be addressed and situations resolved where and when they occur. If a fire officer has the authority to solve a problem, he or she should not wait for the supervisor to arrive to solve it. This level of authority usually covers fire station- level activities such as maintenance, training, and community out-reach. At fire stations with rotating career work shifts, the expectation is that most issues between the shifts will be resolved at the supervising fire officer level. If a decision will have an impact that goes beyond the fire officer's scope of authority, it is time to talk to the supervisor. This policy also applies be impartial The formal organization provides the new supervising fire officer with the symbols of power and authority that are associated with the badge, insignia, and distinctive markings on the officer's helmet. The individual, however, needs to provide the core values of ____ and ____ behavior that, combined with the formal symbols, create an effective fire officer. An un-ethical fire officer is ineffective and damages the department's reputation. If their behavior goes uncorrected, unethical and corrupt fire officers will corrode the department's ability to deliver services and maintain the public trust. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 50). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. integrity ethical ____ 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. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 50). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Integrity The fire officer should "walk the talk" and demonstrate the behaviors that he or she says are important. Integrity can be demonstrated by a steadfast adherence to a moral code. Such a code combines a fire officer's internal value system and the fire department's official organizational value system. Formal organizations publish their expectations as a code of ethics, a code of conduct, or a list of value statements. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. The fire officer position provides a wide range of opportunities to demonstrate ethical behavior. The fire officer demonstrating ethical behavior makes decisions and models behavior consistent with the department's core values, mission statement, and value statements. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. The fire officer position provides a wide range of opportunities to demonstrate ethical behavior. The fire officer demonstrating ethical behavior makes decisions and models behavior consistent with the department's core values, mission statement, and value statements. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Ethical conduct requires ____ on the part of all public safety personnel. Choices must be made on the basis of maximum benefit to the citizens and the community. The process of making these decisions must also be open to the public. The means of providing service, as well as the quality of the service provided, must be above question and must maximize the principles of fairness and equity as well as those of efficiency and effectiveness. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. honesty Fire department activity tends to be high profile, regardless of the task. Even a trip to the grocery store to pick up dinner draws public attention. The fire officer should act as if someone is always documenting his or her actions when out of the fire station. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. The civil rights of Americans are established by federal laws, which are enforced in the workplace by the ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 51). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Title ____ of the Civil Rights Act of ____ covers state and local governments, schools, colleges, and unions. This law states that it is illegal for an employer to: (1) fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, or (2) to limit, segregate, or classify employees or applicants for employment in any way that would deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect status as an employee because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. VII 1964 The Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and expanded its coverage to include almost all public and private employers with ____ or more employees. In general, the 1972 act covers volunteer fire departments and other nonprofit emergency service organizations. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (pp. 51-53). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. 15 The ____ Act of ____ provides additional compensatory and punitive damages in cases of intentional discrimination under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The changes introduced in the 1991 act increased the number of discrimination lawsuits filed against organizations. Civil Rights; 1991 Diversity, as applied to fire departments, means the workforce should reflect the ____. In all cases, the overarching goal is for the fire department to reflect the diversity of the ____. If the department has agreed to an EEOC consent decree, it has promised the court that it will work to hire qualified individuals who reflect the community. A consent decree can require a variety of activities, including community outreach, job fairs, pre-employment preparation, and peer group coaching. The court formally meets with the fire department representative periodically to see how well the department is progressing. community it serves community Expiration of a court order does not relieve the fire department of its charge to maintain diversity. One large fire department had a qualified applicant pool that included 23 percent candidates representing a protected class when a consent decree was terminated in 1999. By 2008, that representation shrunk to 7 percent of the qualified applicant pool, resulting in another inquiry by the court. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 52). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Jack W. Gravely is a lawyer, subject-matter expert, and trainer on workplace diversity. He has been a frequent speaker at public safety agencies on issues of racial and cultural diversity. In a presentation to fire department leaders, Gravely pointed out that today's fire officer has the benefit of four decades of equal employment opportunity (EEO)/ affirmative action (AA) court decisions to guide decision making. When Gravely started teaching diversity training classes, the emphasis was on the language of the regulations and their potential impact. Today, the EEOC files approximately ____lawsuits every year; hundreds of court decisions and a large body of case law present a clear and generally consistent policy on how a supervisor should behave in the workplace. Gravely recommends that a fire officer focus on actionable items and the definition of a ____. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 52). Jones & 400 hostile workplace ____ are employee behaviors that require an immediate corrective action by the supervisor. Dozens of lawsuits have shown that failing to act when these situations occur is likely to create a liability and a loss for the department. The best example is the use of certain words in the workplace. The fire officer must act immediately in these situations. That means speaking with the offending fire fighter in private, and counseling the fire fighter that the use of such words is unacceptable in the fire station or in any situation where the individual is representing the department (either on duty or off duty but in uniform). The fire officer should provide the fire fighter with the fire department's or municipality's EEO/ AA policy statement and, if applicable, the code of conduct. The fire officer should also maintain a formal or informal record of the counseling session. If any doubt arises about whether the message w Actionable items Case law has shown that use of unacceptable language requires an immediate response. An officer's failure to act has been interpreted as official condoning or encouragement of such behavior. Discuss inappropriate behaviors with fire fighters privately. Although enough case law is available to provide general guidelines and some specific examples, the subject of what constitutes harassment remains a dynamic aspect of the work environment. The fire officer needs to stay informed about the organization's EEO/ AA and diversity policies. Most large organizations have a diversity or EEO/ AA office that can provide up-to-date information and answer questions. In ____(year), the EEOC amended the guidelines on sexual harassment. The amended regulations broadened the types of harassment that are considered illegal and included a requirement that employers have a duty to maintain a harassment-free work environment. The standard for evaluating sexual harassment is what a "reasonable person" in the same or similar circumstances would find intimidating, hostile, or abusive. The 1999 guidelines clearly state that employers are liable for the acts of those who work for them if the organization knew or should have known about the conduct and took no immediate, appropriate, corrective action. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 52). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. 1999 ____ is unwanted, uninvited, and unwelcome attention and intimacy in a nonreciprocal relationship. Sexual harassment The ____ is an essential component of sexual harassment. The EEOC guidelines state that verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature is harassment when the following conditions are present: The employee is made to feel that he or she has to endure such treatment to remain employed. Whether the employee submits to or rejects such treatment is used when making employment decisions. The employee's work performance is affected. An intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment is present. abuse of power The term ____ can be used to describe a broad range of situations in which an employee is subject to discrimination in the workplace. The generalized hostile workplace definition can apply to a variety of circumstances that do not necessarily include a specific abuse of supervisory power. "hostile work environment" Gravely believes that ____ complaints will shape workplace diversity. There are few quid pro quo sexual harassment cases— cases in which a supervisor specifically promises a work-related benefit in return for a sexual favor. Instead, the trend is toward more complaints about a hostile workplace, which can involve sexual issues. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 54). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. hostile workplace Many examples can be cited of hostile workplace issues that resulted in large court-directed settlements for the complainant. In one municipality, a formal investigation was initiated by the EEOC after the fire department settled multiple cases that cost the city more than $ 10 million. The investigation took more than a year, and its outcome included a federal requirement to provide ____ training throughout the department. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 54). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. anti-harassment Complaints settled by a court decision represent less than ____ percent of all of the harassment, hostile workplace, and discrimination complaints filed against fire departments. The company officer plays a vital role in establishing a work environment that is free from conditions that might lead to such a complaint. Social media and a 24-hour news cycle can transform a minor firehouse incident into an international news item in hours. Failing to respond to actionable items or ignoring elements leading to a hostile environment creates organizational liability and places the fire officer in professional peril. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 54). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. 3 Fire fighters who want to initiate a harassment complaint have a choice of ____(how many) methods for doing so. They can start with the federal government, they can start with the local government, or they can start within the fire department— it is their choice. If the process starts within the fire department, a fire officer may be the first formal point of contact. In this case, the fire officer would function as the first step of a multistep procedure. The fire officer's designated role in conducting an investigation of an EEO complaint depends on the procedures adopted by the jurisdiction or the fire department. In some cases, an officer's role is limited to starting the process by making appropriate notifications Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (p. 54). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. three In other cases, the fire officer might be required to perform the initial investigation and submit a report. Following are general guidelines: Keep an open mind. Many fire officers have a difficult time believing that discrimination or harassment could be happening right under their noses. ____, however, is the most common reason a local government is found liable. Every complaint must be investigated and documented. Do not come to any conclusions until your investigation is complete. Follow your organization's procedures and inform your supervisor. Iafc. Fire Officer: Principles and Practice (pp. 54-55). Jones & Bartlett Learning. Kindle Edition. Failure to investigate a complaint Treat the person who files the complaint with respect and compassion. When an employee comes to you with concerns about discrimination or harassment, be professional, but also be ____. understanding Do not blame the person filing the complaint. Case law and current practice dictate that it is the complainant who determines whether the situation is hostile or is harassment. ____is the second most common way that local governments lose harassment or hostile workplace complaints. Blaming the person bringing the complaint to you Do not retaliate against the person filing the complaint. It is against the law to punish someone for complaining about discrimination or harassment. The most obvious forms of retaliation are termination, discipline, demotion, or threats to do any of these things. More subtle forms of retaliation could include changing the shift hours or work location of the accuser, even if the intent is to remove the alleged victim from the problem. Follow established procedures. Local government personnel regulations generally provide a detailed procedure on how to handle harassment or hostile workplace complaints. Follow the procedure used in your jurisdiction. Interview the people involved. An initial investigation usually involves conducting interviews with the people who are involved in the situation, typically starting with ____. The interviewer needs to find out exactly what the employee is concerned about. Get details: what was said or done, when and where, and who was present. Then talk to any employees who are being accused of discrimination or harassment. Get details from them as well. Be sure to interview any witnesses who may have seen or heard any problematic conduct. Take notes about your interviews and gather any relevant documents. the person who made the complaint Look for corroboration or contradiction. Discrimination and harassment complaints often involve "he said/ she said" situations. The accuser and the accused may offer different versions of an incident, leaving you with no way of knowing