Sisters Fire Hall passes health, safety inspection

Hit with a surprise health and safety inspection at Sisters Fire Hall, the department pulled through with flying colors.

On Tuesday, April 6, a senior health compliance officer from Oregon OSHA (Occupational Safety and Heath Administration) surprised staff with an inspection request at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department main station 701.

Fire district officials followed standard operating procedures and contacted the district's insurance carrier, who advised staff to allow the inspection.

The representative from OSHA informed staff the inspection process could take as long as 30 days. District staff provided all documents requested and accompanied the representative during inspections of specific areas of the fire station. After approximately five hours, staff was advised the inspection was complete, citations would not be issued and in many months of inspections by this officer, this was the only time a citation would not be issued.

Fire chief Taylor Robertson received a follow-up e-mail from the inspection officer who said, "I am sending this personal note so you and your staff know how proud I am of what has been accomplished at Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD. Your safety and health programs are superior to any places of business I have inspected to date."

Specifically, the OSHA representative was impressed with the district's policy manuals, extensive exhaust systems and sensors for eliminating/monitoring combustion fumes from apparatus, staff's quick response to requests for paperwork, and the quality of personal protective equipment. She said, "Your department clearly walks the talk of safety and health programs."

Chief Robertson credited the many hours of work by fire district staff to ensure a safe workplace for career and volunteer staff, and also cited the recent risk management program the district has undertaken as a significant factor in the very favorable

review.

"We have excellent firefighters and EMTs, and it is critical that we ensure a safe working environment for them in a very hazardous occupation," Robertson

said.