As a Fairfax County taxpayer and retired firefighter, I would like to know how many times in the past 5 years that Fairfax County has transferred units to Prince Georges County when they have a working incident. It seems that Fairfax County is transferring there on a regular basis. I know that there is a mutual aid agreement with COG, but I never hear Prince Georges County transferring to Fairfax County because they don’t have the manpower to do it. It’s a one way situation. They are taking advantage of Fairfax County because of their low staffing levels.
A Concerned Fairfax County Taxpayer
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Louder Named Contra Costa Fire Chief
By Rick Radin
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 04/20/2010 05:16:50 PM PDT
Updated: 04/20/2010 05:16:51 PM PDT
Contra Costa supervisors Tuesday chose Daryl Louder, assistant fire chief for the Fairfax County, Va., Fire and Rescue Department, as fire chief of the Contra Costa Fire District.
The appointment is tentative pending agreement on salary and benefits, said Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond.
Interim Fire Chief John Ross, a candidate for the job, probably will return to an assistant fire chief position if Louder agrees to terms, said Ted Cweik, the county's human resources director.
"Chief Louder brings a broad range of experience from a very similar fire department in Virginia," Gioia said. "He's going to be a strong team builder who will think outside the box."
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 04/20/2010 05:16:50 PM PDT
Updated: 04/20/2010 05:16:51 PM PDT
Contra Costa supervisors Tuesday chose Daryl Louder, assistant fire chief for the Fairfax County, Va., Fire and Rescue Department, as fire chief of the Contra Costa Fire District.
The appointment is tentative pending agreement on salary and benefits, said Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond.
Interim Fire Chief John Ross, a candidate for the job, probably will return to an assistant fire chief position if Louder agrees to terms, said Ted Cweik, the county's human resources director.
"Chief Louder brings a broad range of experience from a very similar fire department in Virginia," Gioia said. "He's going to be a strong team builder who will think outside the box."
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Caussin Named Operations Chief
From: Ron Mastin
To: FIRE
Subject: Operations Assistant Chief
Sent: Apr 8, 2010 19:28
As we all thank Chief Rohr for his years of dedicated service and wish him well as the Fire Chief in the City of Fairfax, I want to let everyone know that Assistant Chief Caussin will be taking over the Operations Bureau. They will be working together over the next several weeks to make this a smooth transition. Please join me in wishing both of them great success in their new positions.
Thank you,
Ronald L. Mastin
Fire Chief Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Office : (703) - 246- 3959
Fax : (703) -246 - 1049
To: FIRE
Subject: Operations Assistant Chief
Sent: Apr 8, 2010 19:28
As we all thank Chief Rohr for his years of dedicated service and wish him well as the Fire Chief in the City of Fairfax, I want to let everyone know that Assistant Chief Caussin will be taking over the Operations Bureau. They will be working together over the next several weeks to make this a smooth transition. Please join me in wishing both of them great success in their new positions.
Thank you,
Ronald L. Mastin
Fire Chief Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Office : (703) - 246- 3959
Fax : (703) -246 - 1049
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Work Performance Evaluation Editorial - By Karrie L. Boswell
First, this is not a women’s issue this is a firefighter issue. I feel very comfortable saying that because I do station visits. I was in a fire house not long ago and a male hard core “truckle” told me “Leigh I hate that freaking test, I stress out about it every year. I think about it weeks in advance. Last year I got notified on the day I had to take it and only had the drive up to CPAT facility to think about it, and I was glad”. His time was like 7 minutes. This anxiety is driven not because anyone is afraid to do their job it’s because your fire department administration has sharpened the rules that govern the test to the point of a knife and they are holding it to each one of your throats. No one rolls down the road ready to drop a brick the size of Volkswagen bug because they have a working fire and are worried they have to throw a ladder. Quite the opposite they are ready to rock. Nor does anyone feel like they are going to puke because they have a physical at OHC. They want to go. They want to see the ladies of OHC and find out how they have done this year. Those same people are the ones asking me what I am going to do Leigh if I have a bad day and they jerk me out of the field. This is plain and simple an unnecessary pressure cooker. I hear these comments all the time from guys who are all too willing to talk with me because it’s safe, they know I struggle with it, and it’s out of the earshot of their peers.
This issue has not been brought about in the last several weeks. It has been a topic of debate for a long time and it’s just been ignored. Listen closely because I’m going to do something that many of you may not be used to hearing. I take ownership over driving this issue. I will deny emphatically that I am anti-WPE. I have a crap load of documents to prove that. I have no desire to lower the fitness standards for our profession it’s quite the opposite. Your assertions are completely inaccurate as it relates to the relief that is being sought for all firefighters. You did a fairly accurate job at tracking some of the changes associated with the WPE and completed ignored some of the others. You have done a great job of arguing to what I refer to as rhetorical extreme. I coined that phrase because I had to have something to call it when my 10 year old does it. Mommy can I go outside and ride my bike. Not until you finish your homework. Fine I’ll never ride my bike again. That’s rhetorical extreme and so is suggesting that, “Maybe we need to run fires in private” Sami Bear’s argument is weak and so is yours.
As far as your notion that an issue that is brought to a battalion representative must rise to a certain level in terms of how many it effects before it deserves the full force of your local. I have to tell you that most grievances would never be addressed. Rarely does a disciplinary letter or action involve more than one person just like a grievance over a leave day being denied is usually one person. I will tell you though that certain members of your executive board definitely stick their little fingers up in the air to check the political wind before they determine the amount of enthusiasm they will have for a particular issue. I’ll just say a little prayer right now that your next request for assistance from this local has broad and far reaching impact throughout the organization so we can get behind you. See how I slid that rhetorical extreme argument in there.
The WPE was born out of the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative. This document contains some very specific pillars for very specific reasons. The entire thing was put together to create a long overdue culture shift in the fire service. It was put together to save firefighter lives. It was put together not to address the firefighter who wants to add 50 lbs to his bench press but to help those who have historically not viewed fitness as a priority or seen it wholly or partially as a punitive weapon of administration.
There was not enough support towards incumbent testing that is why it did not make it into the final document. Other union presidents who did not have faith in their FRD administration to not use this as a weapon rejected it. Others rejected it for logistical reasons. Your union leadership and the management of the FRD at that time felt that the positive working relationship that existed at that time between labor and management would prevent a disaster such as using it as a weapon against employees from happening this is why then President Mike Mohler, Pat Morrison and others pursued it. It was pursued using the same guidelines as all the fitness assessment tools in the WFI, holistic and non punitive.
You want to impress me:
1. Sign on to the IAFF website and read the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative and then quote it in your arguments
2. Produce an argument that doesn’t solely focus on women but instead includes those brothers who never do a damn thing to take care of themselves and still pass. Those are the ones we are going to have to put our Class A uniform on for and hand a medal to their family.
3. Get upset not because people are trying to hold the labor and management to a promise they made but instead because both labor and management were swimming in the middle of lake indifference as it relates to that promise.
4. Stop drinking the chicken blood……..
I am reminded of an old grade school lesson that says, “God is love, love is blind, therefore Ray Charles is God. This overarching faulty syllogism demonstrates what we do with the WPE.
WPE Syllogism
Failure of the WPE is caused by equipment failure, injury, or de-conditioning. No injury or equipment failure existed; therefore the OHC must find you to be de-conditioned.
There is no provision for this to be a training problem.
If management continues to tie the hands of the OHC in this fashion it places them at great risk to be viewed as nothing more than a “Company Doc”. This would be devastating to the entire concept that the OHC works to serve the members of the organization. It begins to erode the long held belief that there is genuine confidentiality and advocacy associated with the OHC. I for one would be profoundly saddened, given my personal knowledge of how hard Local 2068 worked to put together such a ground breaking endeavor as the OHC, to be faced with the knowledge that it has become nothing more than a tool for management to use against employees.
Syllogisms are arguments that take several parts, typically with two statements which are assumed to be true (or premises) that lead to a conclusion. In this case it takes the following form:
Major premise: Failure can only be as a result of one of three things
Minor premise: If 1 and 2 aren’t present then 3 is the cause of failure
Conclusion: Employees are de-conditioned based on the two premises.
Syllogisms are particularly interesting in persuasion as they include assumptions that many people just accept. This allows false statements or (often unspoken) conclusions to appear to be true. In this case everyone assumes because you can’t do the WPE in 10:47 or less you are not worthy of being in the field. Why? Because the administration says so and therefore everyone in Operations “drinks the Kool-aid”. The organization therefore creates (intended or otherwise) an extremely volatile situation for all employees. Where else in the fire department would I be forced to endure judgment and embarrassment for failure without first having the privacy of my shift leader and/or battalion management team available to correct the problem? Good Lord I’ve seen people who can’t tie a diaper seat during a dish game! Never once seen a rig put down and anybody sent home on S/L for it though.
Step back and look at this from a big picture view.
If someone tries to simplify this down to the women they just do not possess any knowledge of the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative this is particular sad to me when some of those people are working in positions that exist because of the guidelines established by the gosh darn thing.
Karrie L. Boswell
This issue has not been brought about in the last several weeks. It has been a topic of debate for a long time and it’s just been ignored. Listen closely because I’m going to do something that many of you may not be used to hearing. I take ownership over driving this issue. I will deny emphatically that I am anti-WPE. I have a crap load of documents to prove that. I have no desire to lower the fitness standards for our profession it’s quite the opposite. Your assertions are completely inaccurate as it relates to the relief that is being sought for all firefighters. You did a fairly accurate job at tracking some of the changes associated with the WPE and completed ignored some of the others. You have done a great job of arguing to what I refer to as rhetorical extreme. I coined that phrase because I had to have something to call it when my 10 year old does it. Mommy can I go outside and ride my bike. Not until you finish your homework. Fine I’ll never ride my bike again. That’s rhetorical extreme and so is suggesting that, “Maybe we need to run fires in private” Sami Bear’s argument is weak and so is yours.
As far as your notion that an issue that is brought to a battalion representative must rise to a certain level in terms of how many it effects before it deserves the full force of your local. I have to tell you that most grievances would never be addressed. Rarely does a disciplinary letter or action involve more than one person just like a grievance over a leave day being denied is usually one person. I will tell you though that certain members of your executive board definitely stick their little fingers up in the air to check the political wind before they determine the amount of enthusiasm they will have for a particular issue. I’ll just say a little prayer right now that your next request for assistance from this local has broad and far reaching impact throughout the organization so we can get behind you. See how I slid that rhetorical extreme argument in there.
The WPE was born out of the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative. This document contains some very specific pillars for very specific reasons. The entire thing was put together to create a long overdue culture shift in the fire service. It was put together to save firefighter lives. It was put together not to address the firefighter who wants to add 50 lbs to his bench press but to help those who have historically not viewed fitness as a priority or seen it wholly or partially as a punitive weapon of administration.
There was not enough support towards incumbent testing that is why it did not make it into the final document. Other union presidents who did not have faith in their FRD administration to not use this as a weapon rejected it. Others rejected it for logistical reasons. Your union leadership and the management of the FRD at that time felt that the positive working relationship that existed at that time between labor and management would prevent a disaster such as using it as a weapon against employees from happening this is why then President Mike Mohler, Pat Morrison and others pursued it. It was pursued using the same guidelines as all the fitness assessment tools in the WFI, holistic and non punitive.
You want to impress me:
1. Sign on to the IAFF website and read the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative and then quote it in your arguments
2. Produce an argument that doesn’t solely focus on women but instead includes those brothers who never do a damn thing to take care of themselves and still pass. Those are the ones we are going to have to put our Class A uniform on for and hand a medal to their family.
3. Get upset not because people are trying to hold the labor and management to a promise they made but instead because both labor and management were swimming in the middle of lake indifference as it relates to that promise.
4. Stop drinking the chicken blood……..
I am reminded of an old grade school lesson that says, “God is love, love is blind, therefore Ray Charles is God. This overarching faulty syllogism demonstrates what we do with the WPE.
WPE Syllogism
Failure of the WPE is caused by equipment failure, injury, or de-conditioning. No injury or equipment failure existed; therefore the OHC must find you to be de-conditioned.
There is no provision for this to be a training problem.
If management continues to tie the hands of the OHC in this fashion it places them at great risk to be viewed as nothing more than a “Company Doc”. This would be devastating to the entire concept that the OHC works to serve the members of the organization. It begins to erode the long held belief that there is genuine confidentiality and advocacy associated with the OHC. I for one would be profoundly saddened, given my personal knowledge of how hard Local 2068 worked to put together such a ground breaking endeavor as the OHC, to be faced with the knowledge that it has become nothing more than a tool for management to use against employees.
Syllogisms are arguments that take several parts, typically with two statements which are assumed to be true (or premises) that lead to a conclusion. In this case it takes the following form:
Major premise: Failure can only be as a result of one of three things
Minor premise: If 1 and 2 aren’t present then 3 is the cause of failure
Conclusion: Employees are de-conditioned based on the two premises.
Syllogisms are particularly interesting in persuasion as they include assumptions that many people just accept. This allows false statements or (often unspoken) conclusions to appear to be true. In this case everyone assumes because you can’t do the WPE in 10:47 or less you are not worthy of being in the field. Why? Because the administration says so and therefore everyone in Operations “drinks the Kool-aid”. The organization therefore creates (intended or otherwise) an extremely volatile situation for all employees. Where else in the fire department would I be forced to endure judgment and embarrassment for failure without first having the privacy of my shift leader and/or battalion management team available to correct the problem? Good Lord I’ve seen people who can’t tie a diaper seat during a dish game! Never once seen a rig put down and anybody sent home on S/L for it though.
Step back and look at this from a big picture view.
If someone tries to simplify this down to the women they just do not possess any knowledge of the IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative this is particular sad to me when some of those people are working in positions that exist because of the guidelines established by the gosh darn thing.
Karrie L. Boswell
Monday, April 5, 2010
Work Performance Evaluation Rumors
We have been hearing a number of rumors in the field recently regarding the Work Performance Evaluation (WPE). One of our readers submitted an editorial based on the rumors that were circulating. We contacted Local 2068, to give them the opportunity to review the rumors, and provide feedback on their validity. Local 2068 2nd Battalion Representative Ron Gemsheim has provided a detailed response to the rumors.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Ian Wytia, and Local 2068 for working with us to use this site as a vehicle to clarify the rumors.
Brother Big Eye
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted to The Big Eye From Ian Wytia
President Niemiec Leads Contingent Of Women Firefighters Into Wel-Fit Center To Discuss/Encourage "Private" WPE Testing For Females....True??.
The word on the street is that within the past several weeks leading up to the start of the now-annual Work Performance Evaluation, L-2068 President Niemiec, flanked by some of our more outspoken, anti-WPE female firefighters, went to the Wel-Fit/CPAT/WPE Center for a tour and some discussion about the feasibility of affording ONLY female firefighters the ability to take the WPE (Note...I did not say "pass." I said "take" for a reason.) in private, or at least not in view of anyone other than the WPE evaluator(s). Reminds me of the days when we used to go to the FRA and wait in the holding area by the vending machines with the windows covered with brown paper, and no one was allowed to see what happened in "the magic box." Then, we progressed to having to stand behind the bus or other equipment, and could only emerge when summoned, so that the person going through the test was audible, but not visible. Finally, we moved to the Wel-Fit Center, and lo and behold, the concept of Brotherhood/Sisterhood, crew unity, and support dawned on people, and the veil of darkness was lifted for all to see. Gee...how hard was that??
Yet, if rumor is indeed fact (as it often becomes in the fire service), President Niemiec is at least lending marginal endorsement to the concept of again permitting "the magic box" to reappear, and for any female member who wants to climb into it for 10:47 or less (or longer) she will get the veil of darkness, the cloak of mistrust, and the mantle of secrecy cast over her in her PPE and SCBA while she does what we are all expected to do. IF THIS IS TRUE, then shame on the FRD if it is indeed entertaining the idea. Shame on any member who feels they are entitled to privacy rights over and above any other "Brother" or "Sister." (Terms used way too loosely and without any real meaning by most who utter them any more). And SHAME ON L-2068 and it's leadership for even entertaining or advancing the concept.
Maybe we need to run fires in private! The probie (or 23 year "firefighter") that can't stretch a hoseline or properly operate a nozzle should be allowed to fumble behind a curtain so no one can see. The medic who can't find a patient's vein for IV access without creating a bloodbath should have the windows covered in the Medic unit so no one can observe. The chief that can't command a room and contents fire without still using terms like "sector" and "sides 1, 2, and 3" should be under a car cover in their buggy so that no one can stare. The whole thing is a JOKE! And, if it is true that L-2068 is wasting its time and our dues money on such a single-point non-issue, then I have to wonder what the hell else our dues money is being wasted on. The Local President does not earn a starting FF's pay solely to advance the cause of a vocal minority on an issue that the Local fought so hard to implement!! We might as well go back to the mile-and-a-half run....but it's harder to put a drape over a high school track...and we'd lose about 150 employees every 6 months now. At least Callback would return!
Oh, and further word is that Captain Ralph Pisani walked out of this "meeting" stating he would not be a part of any such farce. GOD BLESS YOU, RALPH!!
Inquiring minds want to know.....
There Is No More Time "Limit" For the WPE??
Recently heard at OARS, as stated by one of the presenters/instructors, is that if a member completes the WPE, but exceeds a time of 10:47, "the member is taken out of service and sent to OHC for a determination by Dr. Stewart for a medical evaluation whether the member can continue to work in the field or not." Exact words...I assure you. Does this mean that we are no longer removing people from the field who cannot pass the WPE in the allotted time?? It sounds to me like those who "fail" by going over time get a free check-up from the doc, and can conceivably be sent right back to work. In other words, if the doc says the member who goes over 10:47 is neither injured, ill, nor medically incapable of remaining on duty, they stay on duty regardless of the "failure."
If this is true, why bother any longer? Surrender the lease on the Wel-Fit Center, sell off the silly WPE equipment, and end the charade. We'll save a boatload of money, restore some positions, and carry on with business as usual. I have been told by those in the know that the other departments who joined with us in formulating the WPE (Indianapolis, Charlotte, FDNY, and others) gave up the time limitation years ago, and only members who DNF are removed from duty status. Only Fairfax County and Fairfax City (who take the test twice a year, and have for some time now) have maintained the 10:47 bar. The WPE has little to do with fitness and everything to do with technique, so what's the real point? Perhaps if we trained once a tour like we worked for 10:47 or less every couple of years, we'd be in much better shape. I'd also be real curious to know if we have really and truly cut down on injuries related to PT since we got away from exercise activities that actually fostered crew unity as opposed to individualism. Boasting that you can do 20 reps of 225 on the bench press is nice if you are dropping a pick-up line at a bar, but can you take a wallyball in the chops, bleed a little, and then high five the guy who did it to you 'cause he's your Brother in Arms and would go to hell and back to save your ass in the next fire?? Hmmmmmm....we have definitely lost something along the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ron Gemsheim, Local 2068 2nd Batt. Rep
I have heard some rumors going on throughout the field about the Work Performance Evaluation (WPE) and would like to try to clear up any misconceptions anyone may have. I know that there was a group of dues paying members who raised the issue about some members (both male and female) who experience test anxiety, otherwise known as "white coat syndrome", and would like the opportunity to go to the WelFit Center on their own time to be tested on an individual basis instead of in front of an audience. The Local 2068 Executive Board did discuss this matter (they are elected and paid to discuss any matter/concern brought up by dues paying members) and my personal opinion is that there should be a few days scheduled for individuals who want this type of test environment to be allowed to attend on their own time and take the WPE. Keeping that in mind, those tests must be administered in the same capacity as any other test date with the proper number of proctors and all other testing criteria exactly the same. I have personally seen many individuals, some that are very respected senior fire officers, who experience this "white coat syndrome" and have their test results affected. I feel the test environment should be focused on testing the individual’s ability to perform the WPE, not performing the WPE in front of an audience.
Another rumor that is floating around is that individuals who fail the test are evaluated by Doctor Stewart and may be sent back to the field without passing the WPE. The standard procedure for someone who fails the WPE is to be sent to the OHC to be evaluated by a physician there. The Doc will determine if the failure was due to a medical issue, a fitness issue, or a training issue. After that determination, the appropriate referral will be made; for a medical issue - OHC, for a fitness issue - Ralph, Beth or a Peer Fitness Trainer, for a training issue – a Field Training Officer. The individual will work with who they are assigned to until they can successfully pass the WPE and return to the field. I personally don't know of anyone who has been allowed back in the field without successfully completing the WPE but Doctor Stewart will have to validate that.
The third rumor deals with the WPE and the IAFF/IAFC Wellness Fitness Initiative. It is important to note that there are no standards for incumbent testing discussed in the WFI. The reason for that has to do with the fact that the WFI is a national standard and there are so many different laws in different states dealing with workers rights and some states have collective bargaining and contracts and others don't, and it was far too difficult to come up with a standard that allowed for all of these variables to be taken into consideration. Fairfax County developed the WPE by ourselves here in Fairfax and many other jurisdictions around the country have implemented our exact test or a very similar one in their areas. Our test was validated by an independent validation company and we ran over 250 individuals of all genders, races, ages, and work assignments through the validation process to come up with a fair test that does not discriminate against anyone.
Last, the rumor that Ralph Pisani walked out of the meeting. I spoke to President Niemiec, and according to him, he contacted Ralph prior to the meeting, since it was to take place at the WelFit Center. He went on to say that Ralph indicated that, given that it was just a preliminary meeting, and he had other plans that day, he did not see any reason that he needed to be there. President Niemiec also contacted Bob Konczal, whose responsibility the WelFit Center falls under. He also chose not to attend.
Please keep in mind that the WPE is not a fitness test, it's a work performance test that measures ones ability to perform tasks encountered on a fireground in a safe, efficient manner while achieving a moderate level of intensity. Yes, you have to maintain a certain level of fitness to successfully complete the test, but this test is not intended to be a measure of that fitness level. That is measured during your annual physical/stress test.
If you would like any more information on the history of the WPE, clarification of any rumors about the WPE, or information on how to train for and pass the WPE, please contact Ralph Pisani, Beth Shepherd, or myself.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Ian Wytia, and Local 2068 for working with us to use this site as a vehicle to clarify the rumors.
Brother Big Eye
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted to The Big Eye From Ian Wytia
President Niemiec Leads Contingent Of Women Firefighters Into Wel-Fit Center To Discuss/Encourage "Private" WPE Testing For Females....True??.
The word on the street is that within the past several weeks leading up to the start of the now-annual Work Performance Evaluation, L-2068 President Niemiec, flanked by some of our more outspoken, anti-WPE female firefighters, went to the Wel-Fit/CPAT/WPE Center for a tour and some discussion about the feasibility of affording ONLY female firefighters the ability to take the WPE (Note...I did not say "pass." I said "take" for a reason.) in private, or at least not in view of anyone other than the WPE evaluator(s). Reminds me of the days when we used to go to the FRA and wait in the holding area by the vending machines with the windows covered with brown paper, and no one was allowed to see what happened in "the magic box." Then, we progressed to having to stand behind the bus or other equipment, and could only emerge when summoned, so that the person going through the test was audible, but not visible. Finally, we moved to the Wel-Fit Center, and lo and behold, the concept of Brotherhood/Sisterhood, crew unity, and support dawned on people, and the veil of darkness was lifted for all to see. Gee...how hard was that??
Yet, if rumor is indeed fact (as it often becomes in the fire service), President Niemiec is at least lending marginal endorsement to the concept of again permitting "the magic box" to reappear, and for any female member who wants to climb into it for 10:47 or less (or longer) she will get the veil of darkness, the cloak of mistrust, and the mantle of secrecy cast over her in her PPE and SCBA while she does what we are all expected to do. IF THIS IS TRUE, then shame on the FRD if it is indeed entertaining the idea. Shame on any member who feels they are entitled to privacy rights over and above any other "Brother" or "Sister." (Terms used way too loosely and without any real meaning by most who utter them any more). And SHAME ON L-2068 and it's leadership for even entertaining or advancing the concept.
Maybe we need to run fires in private! The probie (or 23 year "firefighter") that can't stretch a hoseline or properly operate a nozzle should be allowed to fumble behind a curtain so no one can see. The medic who can't find a patient's vein for IV access without creating a bloodbath should have the windows covered in the Medic unit so no one can observe. The chief that can't command a room and contents fire without still using terms like "sector" and "sides 1, 2, and 3" should be under a car cover in their buggy so that no one can stare. The whole thing is a JOKE! And, if it is true that L-2068 is wasting its time and our dues money on such a single-point non-issue, then I have to wonder what the hell else our dues money is being wasted on. The Local President does not earn a starting FF's pay solely to advance the cause of a vocal minority on an issue that the Local fought so hard to implement!! We might as well go back to the mile-and-a-half run....but it's harder to put a drape over a high school track...and we'd lose about 150 employees every 6 months now. At least Callback would return!
Oh, and further word is that Captain Ralph Pisani walked out of this "meeting" stating he would not be a part of any such farce. GOD BLESS YOU, RALPH!!
Inquiring minds want to know.....
There Is No More Time "Limit" For the WPE??
Recently heard at OARS, as stated by one of the presenters/instructors, is that if a member completes the WPE, but exceeds a time of 10:47, "the member is taken out of service and sent to OHC for a determination by Dr. Stewart for a medical evaluation whether the member can continue to work in the field or not." Exact words...I assure you. Does this mean that we are no longer removing people from the field who cannot pass the WPE in the allotted time?? It sounds to me like those who "fail" by going over time get a free check-up from the doc, and can conceivably be sent right back to work. In other words, if the doc says the member who goes over 10:47 is neither injured, ill, nor medically incapable of remaining on duty, they stay on duty regardless of the "failure."
If this is true, why bother any longer? Surrender the lease on the Wel-Fit Center, sell off the silly WPE equipment, and end the charade. We'll save a boatload of money, restore some positions, and carry on with business as usual. I have been told by those in the know that the other departments who joined with us in formulating the WPE (Indianapolis, Charlotte, FDNY, and others) gave up the time limitation years ago, and only members who DNF are removed from duty status. Only Fairfax County and Fairfax City (who take the test twice a year, and have for some time now) have maintained the 10:47 bar. The WPE has little to do with fitness and everything to do with technique, so what's the real point? Perhaps if we trained once a tour like we worked for 10:47 or less every couple of years, we'd be in much better shape. I'd also be real curious to know if we have really and truly cut down on injuries related to PT since we got away from exercise activities that actually fostered crew unity as opposed to individualism. Boasting that you can do 20 reps of 225 on the bench press is nice if you are dropping a pick-up line at a bar, but can you take a wallyball in the chops, bleed a little, and then high five the guy who did it to you 'cause he's your Brother in Arms and would go to hell and back to save your ass in the next fire?? Hmmmmmm....we have definitely lost something along the way.
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From: Ron Gemsheim, Local 2068 2nd Batt. Rep
I have heard some rumors going on throughout the field about the Work Performance Evaluation (WPE) and would like to try to clear up any misconceptions anyone may have. I know that there was a group of dues paying members who raised the issue about some members (both male and female) who experience test anxiety, otherwise known as "white coat syndrome", and would like the opportunity to go to the WelFit Center on their own time to be tested on an individual basis instead of in front of an audience. The Local 2068 Executive Board did discuss this matter (they are elected and paid to discuss any matter/concern brought up by dues paying members) and my personal opinion is that there should be a few days scheduled for individuals who want this type of test environment to be allowed to attend on their own time and take the WPE. Keeping that in mind, those tests must be administered in the same capacity as any other test date with the proper number of proctors and all other testing criteria exactly the same. I have personally seen many individuals, some that are very respected senior fire officers, who experience this "white coat syndrome" and have their test results affected. I feel the test environment should be focused on testing the individual’s ability to perform the WPE, not performing the WPE in front of an audience.
Another rumor that is floating around is that individuals who fail the test are evaluated by Doctor Stewart and may be sent back to the field without passing the WPE. The standard procedure for someone who fails the WPE is to be sent to the OHC to be evaluated by a physician there. The Doc will determine if the failure was due to a medical issue, a fitness issue, or a training issue. After that determination, the appropriate referral will be made; for a medical issue - OHC, for a fitness issue - Ralph, Beth or a Peer Fitness Trainer, for a training issue – a Field Training Officer. The individual will work with who they are assigned to until they can successfully pass the WPE and return to the field. I personally don't know of anyone who has been allowed back in the field without successfully completing the WPE but Doctor Stewart will have to validate that.
The third rumor deals with the WPE and the IAFF/IAFC Wellness Fitness Initiative. It is important to note that there are no standards for incumbent testing discussed in the WFI. The reason for that has to do with the fact that the WFI is a national standard and there are so many different laws in different states dealing with workers rights and some states have collective bargaining and contracts and others don't, and it was far too difficult to come up with a standard that allowed for all of these variables to be taken into consideration. Fairfax County developed the WPE by ourselves here in Fairfax and many other jurisdictions around the country have implemented our exact test or a very similar one in their areas. Our test was validated by an independent validation company and we ran over 250 individuals of all genders, races, ages, and work assignments through the validation process to come up with a fair test that does not discriminate against anyone.
Last, the rumor that Ralph Pisani walked out of the meeting. I spoke to President Niemiec, and according to him, he contacted Ralph prior to the meeting, since it was to take place at the WelFit Center. He went on to say that Ralph indicated that, given that it was just a preliminary meeting, and he had other plans that day, he did not see any reason that he needed to be there. President Niemiec also contacted Bob Konczal, whose responsibility the WelFit Center falls under. He also chose not to attend.
Please keep in mind that the WPE is not a fitness test, it's a work performance test that measures ones ability to perform tasks encountered on a fireground in a safe, efficient manner while achieving a moderate level of intensity. Yes, you have to maintain a certain level of fitness to successfully complete the test, but this test is not intended to be a measure of that fitness level. That is measured during your annual physical/stress test.
If you would like any more information on the history of the WPE, clarification of any rumors about the WPE, or information on how to train for and pass the WPE, please contact Ralph Pisani, Beth Shepherd, or myself.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Dave Rohr New Fairfax City Fire Chief
From: Ron Mastin
To: FIRE
Subject: Congratulations
Sent: Apr 1, 2010 2:22 PM
Please join me in congratulating Assistant Chief Dave Rohr on his appointment as Fire Chief for the City of Fairfax. Dave has served in a number of keys positions during his 31 year career with the Fire and Rescue Department to include Operations, Training, and Administration. He will be a great asset to the City of Fairfax and continues the tradition of over a dozen members that have been appointed to Fire Chief positions. My goal will be to fill his position prior to his departure at the end of April.
Thank you,
Ronald L. Mastin
Fire Chief Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Office : (703) - 246- 3959 Fax : (703) -246 - 1049
To: FIRE
Subject: Congratulations
Sent: Apr 1, 2010 2:22 PM
Please join me in congratulating Assistant Chief Dave Rohr on his appointment as Fire Chief for the City of Fairfax. Dave has served in a number of keys positions during his 31 year career with the Fire and Rescue Department to include Operations, Training, and Administration. He will be a great asset to the City of Fairfax and continues the tradition of over a dozen members that have been appointed to Fire Chief positions. My goal will be to fill his position prior to his departure at the end of April.
Thank you,
Ronald L. Mastin
Fire Chief Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Office : (703) - 246- 3959 Fax : (703) -246 - 1049
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