Accountability

Training
Union County SOG
2.04

Accountability Training
PURPOSE

To give Incident Commanders a fast and

efficient means to account for all
fire/rescue personnel that are working
within a small geographical area (Hazard
Zone) of an incident.
The system addresses the requirements
for firefighter accountability as
stipulated in NFPA 1500 and 1561

Accountability Training

OBJECTIVE
To establish a consistent approach to
maintaining personnel accountability within the
hazard zone of all incident in union county.
To provide training in the use of the Union
County accountability system using the
appropriate Nametags, Passports, and Status
Boards carried by all Union County Fire
Department personnel and on all Fire and EMS
Apparatus.

Accountability Training
Core

Elements of the Union County

Accountability System
Incident Command

Command will always maintain an accurate

tracking and awareness of where resources
are committed at an incident.
Command will always be responsible for
including accountability as a major element
in strategy and planning, and must consider
and react to any barriers to effective
accountability.
The Incident Commander will appoint an
Accountability Officer at any incident where
crews will be deployed into a hazard zone.
This will be done as soon as sufficient
command staff is available

Accountability Training
Core

Elements of the Union County

Accountability System
Division/Group Officers
Division/Group Officers will always maintain
accurate tracking and awareness of crews
assigned to them.
Division/Group Officers will remain in his/her
assigned area and maintain close
supervision of crews assigned to them

Accountability Training

Core Elements of the Union County

Accountability System
Crew Supervisors (Lieutenants, Senior FF)
Will insure that all crews work for Command
or Division/Groups. NO FREELANCING!!
Will insure that their crews remain intact, are
made up of two or more members, and that at
least one radio is assigned to the crew.
Will insure that they identify themselves as
the crew supervisor when he/she reports to
Command or Division/Groups.

Accountability Training
Core

Elements of the Union County

Accountability System
Crew Supervisors (Lieutenants, Senior FF)
Will insure that their crews go into the hazard
zone together, stay together, and come out
together.
Will insure that at least one radio is operational
at all times. If not, his/her entire crew must exit
the hazard zone
Will insure that his/her crews passport is
dropped off immediately prior to entering and
immediately after exiting the hazard zone .

Accountability Training
Passport

System

The passport system will be used at all

incidents in Union County which require crews
to be deployed into Hazard Zones.
The passport system requires specific
equipment and hardware to operate efficiently.
It is the responsibility of the administration of
each Fire Department in Union County to insure
that the proper passport system equipment
and hardware are available to their personnel
at all times.

Accountability Training
Passport

System

Passport System Hardware

Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT)
Passports
Status Boards
Large Status Boards
Helmet Markings

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT)

Each member of the Department will be
issued a PAT.
Each PAT will have the individuals Fire
Department unit number and name.
It will be each members responsibility to
maintain their PAT. A missing or damaged
PAT should be reported to his/her company
officer immediately.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT) (cont.)

Riders and Observers A PAT marked

observer should be maintained on each
station. When riders or observers are assigned
the observer PAT will be utilized by that
individual. All observers will be briefed on the
accountability system as part of their safety
briefing at the beginning of their observation
time.
When the PASSPORT system is activated, each
crew member will attach their PAT to the
PASSPORT assigned to the apparatus they are
riding.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT)

(cont.)

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Passports
Each emergency vehicle shall be equipped
with a PASSPORT.
The PASSPORT will consist of a plastic card,
2 x 3 inches, white in color, with
company designation (i.e. E=271) in black
lettering/etching at the top.
The PASSPORT will have a metal hook and
Velcro on the front and Velcro on the rear.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Passports (cont.)
The PASSPORT will be attached to a Velcro
strip located in each vehicle.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Passports (cont.)
The hook on a PASSPORT receives the PAT of
each crew member entering the hazard
zone.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Status Boards
A plastic board 12 x18 inches and white in
color.
The status board will be labeled with black
lettering/etching.
The status board will have Velcro stripes on the
front and large rings attached to the sides. It
will have Velcro on the back.
The status board will have positions for eight
(8) PASSPORTS.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Status Boards
Will be located so as to be easily accessible
to the apparatus driver/operator.
Will be used by the pump operator,
Division/Group officer, or accountability
officer to manage passports at the point of
entry into the Hazard Zone.

Accountability Training

Passport System Hardware

Large Status Boards

A plastic board 12 x16 inches and white in

color.
The large status board will have Velcro stripes
on the front and large rings attached to the
sides. It will have Velcro on the back.
The large status board will have positions for
twelve (12) PASSPORTS.
The large status board will be carried in Chief
officers vehicles and use by Chief officers or
accountability officers to manage passports at
the point of entry into the hazard zone.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Hardware

Helmet Markings
The shield on the front of each members
helmet will bear the department name,
Individuals rank, and individuals unit
number.

Accountability Training

Passport System Implementation

At any incident that requires the use of
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA).
At any incident where personnel are
working in a hazard zone.
At any incident where personnel are out
of sight of the commander, Division/Group
officer, or accountability officer.

Accountability Training
Passport

System Implementation

PASSPORTS never enter a hazard zone.

PASSPORTS
must be maintained on
a status board at the point of entry.
Status Boards must reflect only those
personnel presently in the hazard zone.

Accountability Training
Accountability

Levels

Level I Accountability
Single company incidents
PATs placed on PASSPORT
Pump operator assumes accountability

Accountability Training

Accountability Levels
Level II Accountability ( A Assignment)
All incoming units will report to the Incident
Commander with their PASSPORTS in hand for
assignment.
PASSPORTS will be organized at the command
post by utilizing the Large Status Board.
The Incident Commander will appoint one or
more Accountability Officers as the situation
demands and manpower allows to maintain a
reasonable span of control.

Accountability Training
Accountability Levels

Level III Accountability ( B Assignments

and greater/complex incidents)
The first piece of apparatus to arrive on a
geographical side of the incident sets up
Level I accountability for that area.
As Division/Group Officers or Accountability
Officers are assigned to each geographical
area they will set up Level II accountability
for that area.
Division/Group Officers working in a Hazard
Zone cannot be assigned accountability
responsibilities.

Accountability Training
Personnel

Accountability Report (PAR)

Tactical Benchmarks
Several accountability benchmarks are
included in tactical operations. A PAR will be
required at the following times:
Any MAYDAY
Any change of strategy (Offensive to
Defensive)
Any sudden hazardous event (flash over,
back draft, collapse, etc.)
Any time a crew reports an all clear
they should give a PAR.
Every 15 minutes of elapsed time
At the report of a Situation Contained.

Accountability Training

Terminating the PASSPORT System

PASSPORT accountability will be
maintained until Command has
determined that there is no longer a
hazard and all personnel have been
accounted for by a PAR.
It is each individuals responsibility to
insure their PASSPORT is returned to their
apparatus and all name tags are
accounted for.

Accountability Training
Summary

Hazard zone accountability is the

responsibility of every individual on the
emergency scene.
Maintaining crew integrity is the single
most important factor in good hazard
zone accountability.
If Command does not know who you are,
where you are, and what you are doing;
it cannot help you in an emergency.