The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently published its findings on the Dec. 3, 1999, cold-storage warehouse fire in Worcester, Mass., that claimed the lives of six firefighters.

The firefighters died after they became lost in a maze-like six-floor cold-storage warehouse building while searching for two homeless people and fire extension. It's presumed that the homeless people had accidentally started the fire on the second floor and then left the building.

niosh investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should:

* Ensure that inspections of vacant buildings and pre-fire planning are conducted that cover all potential hazards, structural building materials, and renovations which may be encountered during a fire, so that the incident commander will have the necessary structural information to make informed decisions and implement an appropriate plan of attack.

* Ensure that the Incident Command System is implemented at the fire scene.

* Ensure that a separate incident safety officer, independent from the incident commander, is appointed when activities, size of fire or need occurs, such as during multiple-alarm fires, or responds automatically to pre-designated fires.

* Ensure that standard operating procedures and equipment are adequate to support the volume of radio traffic at multiple-alarm fires.

* Ensure that incident command always maintains close accountability for all personnel at the fire scene.

* Use guide ropes and tag lines securely attached to permanent objects at entry portals and place high-intensity floodlights at entry portals to assist lost or disoriented firefighters.

* Ensure that a rapid intervention team is established and in position.

* Implement an overall health and safety program such as the one recommended in nfpa 1500, Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program.

* Consider using a marking system when conducting searches.

* Identify dangerous vacant buildings by affixing warning placards to entrance doorways or other openings where firefighters may enter.

* Ensure that officers enforce and firefighters follow the mandatory mask rule per administrative guidelines established by the department.

* Explore the use of thermal imaging cameras to locate lost or downed fire fighters and civilians.

In addition, manufacturers and research organizations should conduct research into refining existing and developing new technology to track the movement of firefighters on the fireground.

Additional investigations niosh also has released its findings in the Jan. 17, 2000, death of a 53-year-old male volunteer firefighter who died after the extension ladder he was descending slipped out from under him. The victim had been working on replacing a garage door opener before the incident occurred.

niosh investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should:

* Ensure that ladders are used in accordance with existing safety standards;

* Designate an individual as the fire station safety officer for all in-house maintenance to identify potential hazards and ensure that those hazards are eliminated; and

* Consider the use of mobile scaffolding, personnel lifts, scissor lifts or boom lifts, instead of the top surface of a fire truck.

In addition, niosh has released their findings in the Sept. 13, 1999, death of a 29-year-old male volunteer firefighter who was killed as a result of injuries sustained in a motor-vehicle incident. The incident occurred while he was responding to a residential kitchen fire. It's believed that he was proceeding to the fire station in his own vehicle to obtain the apparatus when his car collided with a tandem dump truck turning onto the road he was traveling.

niosh investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar incidents, fire departments should:

* Develop standard operating procedures as they relate to responding to or returning from an alarm and monitor to ensure their use;

* Provide defensive driver training to all emergency vehicle operators; and

* Ensure all drivers are trained and certified in emergency vehicle operations.