Vacation Days and Employee Effectiveness - Essay Example

Fire Administration Inserts His/her Inserts Grade Inserts 6th, February, Fire Administration 1.0 Fire Code Administration. The key purpose of the fire code is to provide regulations that will control circumstances injurious to life and property from fire, hazardous materials, or explosion (Fire Code, 2011). In the fire code administration, “the Fire Marshal serves as the fire official for the Fire District and the City in consideration” (City of Rancho, n.d). For that matter, the Fire Marshal and Bureau’s fire cases inspectors are responsible for enforcing the fire code and issuing the necessary permits. In addition, the fire Prevention bureau refers to that part of the Fire Department, which is assigned to execute all fire prevention tasks and duties (Fire Code, 2011). The Bureau will also assume key responsibilities such as in creating awareness within their area of operation. However, every region has different conditions relating to the administration of the fire code; hence, there arises the need for local interpretations and applications of the fire code (City of Rancho, n.d). In that sense, the fire official takes all the responsibilities for making the resulting interpretations and establishing how the codes will be applied. On the other hand, the Prevention Bureau has established a series of standards that ensure consistency, as well as make developers and businesses aware of the local applications. This ensures that all the essential fire information is made accessible by the end user for a smooth administration of the codes. For instance, the established fire standards cover various topics including water supply rules, fire alarm requirements, and accessibility to the fire department among others (City of Rancho, n.d). In addition, fire code administration employs the use of guidance documents that give a detailed explanation of selected fire code requirements (Cook, 1998). As such, guidance documents will not give an interpretation of the codes, but provide a detailed clarification on certain requirements that may be unclear. Therefore, this will ensure that fire administration occurs as intended especially for topics such as apartment emergency guides, swimming pools, and classroom displays among others. 2.0 Code Enforcement. In code enforcement systems, there must be several elements that must be present so that the administration of such codes becomes effective. Firstly, there must be a legally adopted code within the code enforcement program that forms the minimum fire safety needs within the area of concern (Cook, 1998). Such requirements have to address the local community fire issues in the most efficient approach. It should also be noted that the community is composed of peculiar interest cartels that include citizens, private sector agents, elected members, and the fire service crew. As such, the local community must check the scope of the code in adoption to ensure that it covers all the requirements for new and existing facilities and conditions (Cook, 1998). Consequently, the code enforcement system must address various issues including the authority having jurisdiction, inspection mandate, issuing notices of violation, charging fines and the authority establishing the appeal process. Secondly, the codes and standards must be legally adopted within the local area of operation as required by the statute of the state. This is an essential element within code administration because a code can only be enforced as a law after its successful legal adoption (Cook, 1998). In that sense, the enforcement process is characterized by various functions, which include initial inspection, planned inspections, issuance of violation notices, administering hearings, keeping records, and issuance of permits among others. Thirdly, it is mandatory that all the fire inspectors are well informed about the legal authority that is associated with code enforcement in order to have a smooth operation within the fire department. In most occurrences, this authority is created at the local level of government where laws are formed under the authority vested upon the United States Constitution, and local home regulations. As such, the local authority comes into existence when a fire or building code becomes legally adopted. The authorities deal with issues such as where codes may be enforced, the right to undertake an inspection, access a property, emergency powers, and issuing of permits among other (Smeby, 2006). Several code enforcement programs employ an appeals board, which serves the purpose of answering analysis questions and assessing equivalencies. However, the appeals board does not take part in waiving the code requirements, or any other similar functions. The board always adopts selected rules and regulations that are required during the conduction of their hearings, which all become public record (Cook, 1998). As such, all the members within the board must be qualified to rule on issues concerning fire protection and prevention. Additionally, all uninformed decisions are checked to ensure that inappropriate decisions are not administered. 3.0 Globalization of Codes and Standards. With the current globalization trends, several countries are going to be part and parcel of the same international code and standards. The safety of various building facilities has relied on the Standard Building Code (SBC) and the Uniform Building Code (UBC) respectively. However, these documents have last been published in the year 1999 and 1997 respectively due to the effect of globalization on safety standards (Nelson & Associates, 2010). In the near future, several cities and states within the U.S will have to upgrade their building codes, as it will be necessary to adopt the International Building Code (IBC). This means that several countries will take up the International Code Council (ICC) in order to keep pace with globalization. According to Nelson and Associates (2010), the ICC has created an inspiring collection of the international codes some of which include the International Building Code; International Fire Code; International Plumbing Code; and International Zoning Code among others. Some of the key building code organizations are described below (Nelson & Associates, 2010): The Standard Building Code (SBC) – Published by the Southern Building Code Congress international (SBCCI). The Uniform Building Code (UBC) – Published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). The BOCA National Building Code – Published by the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International. Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) – Published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Although globalization of code and standards may be essential for effective development across the globe, there are other reasons that may undermine the effect. For instance, conservative countries may want to hold on to their local codes; thereby, hindering the smooth application of the international codes in such regions. Conversely, the uniformity in building codes and standards will enable effective administration throughout the countries adopting similar codes (NJFSAB, 2007). 4.0 Fire Department Safety Officer Operations. The fire department safety officer keeps records and documents that help in the management of fire operations (NFPA, 2010). Such documents provide the standards and methods that are used during fire fighting activities that may include exercise drills, risk management plans, accidents reports, firefighter’s casualty report, OSHA reporting forums among others (Cook, 1998). Therefore, the fire safety officer forms a crucial member of the incident management team as he provides all the necessary information that is essential for conducting a safe emergency operation. From the record keeping knowledge, the safety officer becomes well equipped with firsthand information that is extremely useful before, during and after a fire emergency situation. For instance, a safety officer will provide useful support in special operations, which may include hazardous materials incidents, emergency medical incidents, and specialty rescue operations (Dodson, 2007). In addition, the officer is acquainted with the government regulations that to such special operations incidents such as OSHA and NFPA; hence, can provide effective guidance to the firefighting crew (Dodson, 2007). This ensures that the operations are successfully completed, while all risky situations are minimized or avoided. Additionally, the fire safety officer prepares and keeps several documents such as risk management plans that are essential during emergency operations (Smeby, 2006). Risk management plans can be utilized as an official departmental document that gives detailed information concerning the hazards existing in a built facility (Smeby, 2006). Hence, such information can assist the safety officer in coordinating the crew through the identification of high hazard and high risk zones, which may include sites with highly hazardous elements, barriers, and potential facilities for high loss of life (NFPA, 2010). For that matter, it is highly beneficial for the safety officer to keep relevant records and documentation for an effective operation. List of References City of Rancho. (n.d). Code Standards & Guidance. Retrieved February 5, 2012 from the City of Rancho Website: http://www.cityofrc.us/cityhall/fire_district/prevention/standards/ default.asp City of Rancho. (n.d). Fire Code Administration. Retrieved February 5, 2012 from the City of Rancho Website: http://www.cityofrc.us/cityhall/fire_district/prevention/admin/ default.asp Cook, J. (1998). Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines. Saddle Brook, NJ: Fire Engineering Books & Videos. Dodson, D. (2007). Fire Department Incident Safety Officer. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning. Fire Code and Administration of Fire Code. (2011). Fire Code and Administration of Fire Code. Retrieved February 5, 2012 from the Code Publishing Website:http://www.code publishing.com/Ca/vacaville/acaville14/vacaville1420270.html Nelson & Associates. (2010). Say “Goodbyye” to the Standard Building Code (SBC), Uniform Building Code (UBC), and the BOCA National Building Code. Retrieved February 6, 2012 from the Nelson & Associates Website: http://www.hazardcontrol.com/print.php? fs=premises&p=national-building-codes NFPA. (2010). Fire Officer: Principles and Practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. NJFSAB. (2007). International Residential Code (IRC). Retrieved February 6, 2012 from the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Website: http://njfsab.org/advocacy.html Smeby, C. (2006). Fire and Emergency Services Administration: Management and Leadership Practices. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. Read More