SAMatters Radio

Most workers know, intuitively, that having strong situational awareness is important, but very few actually understand the process involved with how to develop and maintain situational awareness while working in high-risk, high-consequence environments. This episode discusses deadly situational awareness barriers and offers tips, tricks and hacks for improve awareness.   Show Notes   Contact Us w...

  Most workers know, intuitively, that having strong situational awareness is important, but very few actually understand the process involved with how to develop and maintain situational awareness while working in high-risk, high-consequence environments. This episode explains the full process and includes tips and hacks for improving situational awareness.   Show Notes   Contact Us www. SAMatter...

On June 30, 2015, the Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to a multi-family structure fire. The first-arriving officer reported heavy smoke showing and there was a possibility of people trapped. The crew started an interior operation, climbing a long set of stairs to the second floor. Conditions changed quickly and during the ensuing chaos the captain became separated from his crew.  This epis...

On June 30, 2015, the Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to a multi-family structure fire. The first-arriving officer reported heavy smoke showing and there was a possibility of people trapped. The crew started an interior operation, climbing a long set of stairs to the second floor. Conditions changed quickly and during the ensuing chaos the captain became separated from his crew.  This epis...

The brain does not like confusion and in the absence of factual information it can make up its own reality, notwithstanding what true reality is. This episode explains how it happens and shares one police officer's story of how he almost shot an unarmed man.   Show Notes Contact Us www. SAMatters.com www. RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell)   SAMatters Social Media Facebook.c...

Firefighter Jonathan Hancock and his partner made entry into a single-family residential dwelling fire.  They were advancing a hose line when the face piece on his partner's breathing apparatus become dislodged. His partner left abruptly. Until the safety officer tugged on this hose line from the doorway, Jonathan had no idea he was inside alone.   Show Notes   Contact Us www. SAMatters.com www. R...

  On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever.   Show Notes   Contact Us www. SAMatters.com www. RichGasaway.com 6...

On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever.   Show Notes Contact Us www. SAMatters.com www. RichGasaway.com 612-5...

  On August 5, 2014 Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Middlebrook of New Carlisle Fire Department (Indiana) died after being trapped under a roof collapse while fighting a fire at a commercial storage building.   A defensive fire attack was initiated. The assistant fire chief was one of three fire fighters who had entered Side A of the structure to stretch a 2½-inch hoseline to protect equipment and acet...

Disclaimer: The comments shared during this interview are of the individual and do not represent the views of any company, employer or agency. On August 6, 2012, the Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Refinery in Richmond, California, experienced a catastrophic pipe failure in the #4 Crude Unit. The pipe ruptured, releasing flammable, hydrocarbon process fluid which partially vaporized into a large vapor cloud t...

On August 6, 2012, the Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Refinery in Richmond, California, experienced a catastrophic pipe failure in the #4 Crude Unit. The pipe ruptured, releasing flammable, hydrocarbon process fluid which partially vaporized into a large vapor cloud that engulfed nineteen Chevron employees. All of the employees escaped, narrowly avoiding serious injury. The flammable portion of the vapor clo...

Like many of you, I do my best work when I am not interrupted. Whether it's someone trying to carry on a conversation, a phone ringing or a text message, an interruption disrupts my train of thought. And when the train of thought is disrupted, situational awareness can be adversely impacted.   Our Sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Contact Us www. SAMatters.com www. RichGasaway.com 612-548-44...

On this episode (Part 2 of 2) I interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy. At the time of the fire Doug had served on the Indianapolis Fire Department for four years. While this was a near-miss event for Doug, the incident resulted in the death of two of his comrades, Corporal Ellwood (Woody) Gelenius and Private John Lorenzano.   Our sponsor: Midwest Fire www. MidwestFire.c...

On this episode (Part 1 of 2) I interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy. At the time of the fire Doug had served on the Indianapolis Fire Department for four years. While this was a near-miss event for Doug, the incident resulted in the death of two of his comrades, Corporal Ellwood (Woody) Gelenius and Private John Lorenzano.   Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com  ...

On this episode (Part 2 of 2) I interview with Captain John Lightly. At the time of the recording of this episode John had served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John's married and has twin daughters. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John's life is. I really appreciate him sitting do...

  On this episode (Part 1 of 2) I interview with Captain John Lightly. At the time of the recording of this episode John had served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John's married and has twin daughters. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John's life is. I really appreciate him sitting...

I titled the original episode (#18) "What I learned in two minutes." This is an interview with Lieutenant Sean Dolan from the Aurora Fire Department. On January 7, 2013 Sean, then serving as a firefighter on Engine 7 became a near-miss  survivor when he entered a structure fire at 16562 East Asbury Place, a single story residential fire with confirmed people trapped.   Our sponsor: Midwest Fire Mi...

It's not something talked about often, especially in high-risk work environments – overstaffing. Far more often the focus is on issues of understaffing which, coincidentally, can be a significant barrier to situational awareness and can have a catastrophic impact on safety. There can be, on occasion, scenarios where a worksite or an emergency scene can end up having too many people and that can ca...

Some people confuse tunnel vision and task fixation.  This episode explains the difference and provides best practices for developing and maintaining situational awareness.     Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music   Situational Awareness Matters! website www. SAMatters.com   Firefighter Near Miss Rep...

On May 5, 2015, Chicopee Fire Deputy Chief Dave Beauregard responded to a report of an electrical fire – reported to already be out –  at an industrial facility on Meadow Street in Chicopee. Chief Beauregard discusses how his complacency contributed to a near-miss that if circumstances were just slightly different it could have killed him.   Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Intro music...

On May 5, 2015, Chicopee Fire Deputy Chief Dave Beauregard responded to a report of an electrical fire – reported to already be out –  at an industrial facility on Meadow Street in Chicopee. Chief Beauregard discusses how his complacency contributed to a near-miss that if circumstances were just slightly different it could have killed him.   Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Intro music...

On March 20, 2003, Twinsburg Firefighter-Paramedic Jim Woolf responded on Engine 4 to a reported electrical fire in an apartment building under construction.  The fire was reported to have been extinguished by workers on-site. On arrival there was nothing showing and the crews went to the second floor to investigate. What happened next was entirely unexpected and, as Jim stated, could have easily...

On March 20, 2003, Twinsburg Firefighter-Paramedic Jim Woolf responded on Engine 4 to a reported electrical fire in an apartment building under construction.  The fire was reported to have been extinguished by workers on-site. On arrival there was nothing showing and the crews went to the second floor to investigate. What happened next was entirely unexpected and, as Jim stated, could have easily...

In 2007, Situational Awareness Matters was founded, initially, to help first responder improve high-risk decision making. From a single program delivered at a conference a movement was started that now includes over 100,000 program attendees, newsletter subscribers and social media followers.  This episode shares personal reflections from Dr. Gasaway and others who have been impacted by his teachi...

This was my 20th year presenting at the Fire Department Instructors Conference. This is the first time I've dedicated an episode of the podcast to observations I made from the classes I attended and the attendees I talked with. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com   Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music   Situational Awareness Matters! web...