46 S.O.G.
SECTION: Alarms and Response Procedures
SUBJECT: Protective Clothing
REVISED: 05/2002
PURPOSE:
To provide policy and guidelines relative to the proper personal
protection, in the form of protective clothing, to all fire department members
exposed to dangerous situations and hazardous atmospheres and/or environments.
POLICY:
A.
Fire department members shall utilize and wear protective clothing and
safety gear as prescribed by these guidelines contained herein.
B.
Use of protective clothing as defined and prescribed within this policy
shall be considered mandatory during emergency operations and/or whenever the
chance or risk of personal injury to fire department members may exist.
C.
The fire department shall provide its members with the proper type of
approved protective clothing, which meets or exceeds NFPA standards and is
currently available in the safety clothing market.
D.
All protective clothing shall be inspected annually.
RESPONSIBILITY:
A.
The fire chief, and safety officer have the overall responsibility to
insure the members abide by the fire departments guidelines regarding the use of
protective clothing.
B.
All fire department members are directly responsible for their personal
safety and shall utilize proper protective clothing as prescribed within this
guideline.
DEFINITIONS:
All
fire department personnel shall wear and utilize full protective clothing as
defined herein.
A.
Helmet
B.
Gloves
C.
Turnout coat
D.
Nomex hood
E.
Turnout pants
F.
Bunker boots
GENERAL
PROCEDURES:
A.
Emergency Operations:
1.
Personnel actively engaged in fire fighting shall wear full protective
gear (except brush firefighting). Any
person without proper gear shall not enter the fire building or engage
themselves in activities in the immediate area.
2.
All members shall wear and utilize appropriate clothing during emergency
operations.
B.
During Priority One Response:
1.
Members responding in or on fire apparatus shall wear their protective
clothing.
2.
Drivers are not required to wear their protective clothing while driving.
Once arriving on the scene, drivers must put on their protective
clothing.
3.
Those members responding to calls in their personal vehicles will have
their protective clothing on before entering the scene.
4.
If, during a response to a call, an unusual condition or hazard presents
itself, the incident commander may, at his/her discretion, order all personnel,
including drivers, into any level of protective clothing, which may be
necessary, to protect said personnel from injury or death.
C.
During Training:
1.
Members engaged in training sessions shall wear full protective clothing
as deemed necessary.
2.
Officers or members conducting training sessions are responsible to
insure that adequate protective clothing is utilized properly by all personnel
involved. Full protective clothing
shall be worn during simulated hazardous environments.
3.
When on driver’s training, the protective clothing to be worn by those
participating in the exercise shall be at the discretion of the training
officer.
D.
During Hose Testing:
1.
When working around charged hose that is being tested, all members shall
wear Boots, bunker pants, gloves and helmet
E.
Maintenance:
1.
All protective clothing such as turnout clothing, helmets, and boots
shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
2.
All personnel will clean their protective clothing on a regular basis.
3. All helmets are required to have all designations and safety stripes as required by the chiefs.