SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in partnership with several key fire service organizations, has introduced a new sample standard operating guideline (SOG) aimed at improving safety and effectiveness during structure fire operations.

Developed in collaboration with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA), and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System-Illinois (MABAS-Illinois), the SOG outlines protocols for incident command, accountability, and mayday procedures.

While IL OSHA mandates that fire departments performing interior firefighting have such guidelines in place, the use of this specific SOG is not required. Instead, the three-page sample is designed as a flexible tool—departments can adopt it outright, adapt it to their needs, or use it to evaluate their existing procedures.

“This sample SOG fills a critical gap,” said IL OSHA Chief Erik Kambarian. “During inspections, we continue to find departments without these essential safety policies.”

The initiative targets the reduction of the “NIOSH 5″—a set of five recurring causes of firefighter injuries and fatalities. By offering a streamlined and practical resource, the effort aims to ensure that departments, regardless of size or resources, can maintain safety standards on the fireground.

State Fire Marshal James Rivera emphasized the significance of the joint effort: “This collaboration ensures that firefighters across Illinois are better prepared, safer, and more effective during emergencies.”

IFSI Director James Keiken added that the partnership showcases how multiple agencies can come together to deliver best practices. IFCA President Chad Hoefle echoed that sentiment, noting the guideline’s adaptability and its potential to improve fireground outcomes across the state.