Final answer:
Firefighters must read and understand new policies to ensure they have the needed knowledge and strategies to safely and effectively carry out their duties, which are characterized by high risk and require specialized training.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is required for all firefighters to read new policies and sign off that they understand because their job carries significant responsibility and risk. Firefighting demands a high level of skill, training, and the ability to react appropriately to emergencies.
According to Davis and Moore, firefighting is a profession with great importance and, therefore, requires the incentive of higher pay and better benefits to ensure that individuals are motivated to take on the risks associated with the job.
Reading and understanding the new policies ensures that firefighters are equipped with the most recent and efficient strategies to save lives, property, and to ensure their own safety. If firefighters were not properly informed about new policies, mistakes could be made that risk lives, including their own.
This process is also tied to accountability, as firefighters must demonstrate that they have received, comprehended, and agreed to abide by the new standards, further promoting a culture of safety and professionalism within their ranks.