The Fire Department Safety Officers Association is again accepting nominations for its annual Safety Officer of the Year award. Nominations can be submitted until November 10, with the winner being announced at FDSOA’s annual Health and Safety Conference.
“Safety officers are often the unsung heroes of their departments,” says FDSOA Executive Director Rich Marinucci. “They are quietly making sure our firefighters go home in one piece after every call or shift. And they are building policies and procedures to ensure they can live the longest, healthiest life possible.”
Casey Jones, the 2023 Safety Officer of the Year, said in his acceptance speech that the unknown was the most dangerous thing facing the fire service today. “There are a lot of unknowns, but it is really ourselves, because we are the ones who fear the unknown.” Preparedness, he said, is not a destination, but an ongoing effort to learn and improve.
FDSOA’s Safety Officer of the Year award is about honoring the best of the best, Marinucci said. “And it is also about setting the bar high for others to strive for. That means staying educated, innovating and constantly preparing.”
This year’s winner will be honored at FDSOA’s Health and Safety Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Jan. 14 – 18, 2024 and have her or his travel expenses to the conference paid.
To nominate someone for this award, visit https://www.fdsoa.org/page-18152 for rules and a link to the nomination form.
About FDSOA
The Fire Department Safety Officers Association was established in 1989 as a non-profit association. Its mission is to promote safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue and emergency services community. The association is led by a volunteer board of directors and has a small staff to handle the day-to-day operations. The association is dedicated to the issues that affect the critical role of the safety officer in protecting and promoting the safety and health responsibilities of fire departments, communities and first responders. FDSOA can be found on the web at www.fdsoa.org. Please follow FDSOA on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
