[quote name='Crossbronxxpress' timestamp='1357090798' post='506689']
I understand your point, and I respect your time on the job, but i'm going to respectfully disagree with you............I'll take the risk
[/quote]
Marc - you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but when you come to work you are expected to follow the policies that are established by the fire department that pays you to ride in its vehicles. I am quite sure that official FDNY policies require you to be seated and to fasten your seatbelt whenever your apparatus is in motion. I don't think that Commissioner Cassano or Chief of Department Kilduff are going to give you an exemption from that policy because you disagree with it.
Lieutenant Wilbur has succeeded in having a much more user-friendly seatbelt system developed and installed in almost every vehicle in the FDNY fleet to make it easier for you to comply with the official policy. He, along with a lot of old guys like Chief Reeves and myself, has also been working hard to change the safety culture of fire departments and firefighters so that fastening seatbelts and many other safety measures will become accepted practices instead of inconveniences. We would like you to think that it is important to fasten your seatbelt for your own safety, but for now we will be satisfied if you just follow the rules so we won't have to deal with another LODD that could have been avoided.
Back when we started SCBAs were a novelty and reserved for "emergency use only" - now you wouldn't think of going into a fire without one. We used to ride on the outside of the apparatus and hold on tight. The limits of acceptable risk behavior are continually evolving and there will always be guys who disagree, but at some point you have to comply or stay home.
If you were a member of my fire department and you told me that you don't use your seatbelt I would remind you that you had better comply with the policy or be prepared to take some unscheduled vacation. That doesn't mean that I don't like you and respect your opinion - - - in fact I like you enough to insist that you don't take stupid risks.
Please be safe so I can see you next time I am in the Bronx.
I understand your point, and I respect your time on the job, but i'm going to respectfully disagree with you............I'll take the risk
[/quote]
Marc - you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but when you come to work you are expected to follow the policies that are established by the fire department that pays you to ride in its vehicles. I am quite sure that official FDNY policies require you to be seated and to fasten your seatbelt whenever your apparatus is in motion. I don't think that Commissioner Cassano or Chief of Department Kilduff are going to give you an exemption from that policy because you disagree with it.
Lieutenant Wilbur has succeeded in having a much more user-friendly seatbelt system developed and installed in almost every vehicle in the FDNY fleet to make it easier for you to comply with the official policy. He, along with a lot of old guys like Chief Reeves and myself, has also been working hard to change the safety culture of fire departments and firefighters so that fastening seatbelts and many other safety measures will become accepted practices instead of inconveniences. We would like you to think that it is important to fasten your seatbelt for your own safety, but for now we will be satisfied if you just follow the rules so we won't have to deal with another LODD that could have been avoided.
Back when we started SCBAs were a novelty and reserved for "emergency use only" - now you wouldn't think of going into a fire without one. We used to ride on the outside of the apparatus and hold on tight. The limits of acceptable risk behavior are continually evolving and there will always be guys who disagree, but at some point you have to comply or stay home.
If you were a member of my fire department and you told me that you don't use your seatbelt I would remind you that you had better comply with the policy or be prepared to take some unscheduled vacation. That doesn't mean that I don't like you and respect your opinion - - - in fact I like you enough to insist that you don't take stupid risks.
Please be safe so I can see you next time I am in the Bronx.
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