The IAFC Safety, Health, and Survival Section compiled this information and sample documents
to assist with the development and implementation of an annual medical evaluation program.
Thousands of hours of work have been committed to the development of this implementation
guide and special thanks goes to Kim Favorite, Occupational Health and Fitness Coordinator for
the Seattle, WA Fire Department and Fire Chief Jake Rhoades of the Edmond, OK Fire
Department who were tasked with spearheading this effort. Their commitment to firefighter safety
is alive in these pages.
Too often, Fire Chiefs find themselves at the crossroads of understanding their responsibility to
ensure the safety of their members and finding a way to actually make it happen. This document
represents a roadmap for success. It can be used in part or in whole but most importantly it is
designed to be used. Safety is no accident. It is the conscious mindset of humans created by the
establishment of regulations and policies based upon general accepted industry practices. These
policies take into considerations such practices and are designed to provide the highest practical
degrees of personal safety. The prevention and reduction of accidents, injuries and occupational
illnesses is not simply an objective, but a way of life.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Safety, Health, and Survival Section stand
with you in our combined effort to reduce, and eventually eliminate, every preventable Line of
Duty Death among firefighters. May it serve as the unity of purpose that guides our actions.