Hey...
In a surprising (whadya expect?!) move this evening,
the Mayor of Charleston decided to release the DRAFT version of the NIOSH report on the Super Store Fire where those 9 CFD Firefighters gave their lives. As we said, it's kinda hard to keep score as far as what will happen next from Charleston City Hall ...and the past week has more than proven that.
In almost every case, the NIOSH DRAFT report of any LODD is sent to the agency having jurisdiction and in many cases, the Union local. This allows the two to review and provide factual input for the NIOSH LODD Investigators to consider. It is simply input for consideration. Changes are not automatically made but it is a chance for factual verification. Then, once that input is provided, NIOSH generally provides the DRAFT report to outside fire service expert reviewers-for an outside technical perspective. Once that is done, the report is compiled and the final is released. There are other steps internally, but that's generally what happens.
Unless I missed something, this may be the first time any Mayor has decided to release a DRAFT NIOSH LODD Report, prior to the entire process being fulfilled, But, that's what's been done and now it is available for anyone to read. As you will see, the report identifies some very serious and significant facts. Either way-the DRAFT is out and as you will read, there are no recommendations for changes listed yet. The City of Charleston and the IAFF Local in Charleston will still have the chance to make suggestions before NIOSH releases their final report as a part of the above outlined process.
DRAFT NIOSH CHARLESTON LODD REPORT: http://static.wciv.com/niosh.pdf
