201.04 2 In / 2 Out

What is the primary function of the dedicated member of the 2 in / 2 out pair?

When is the 2 in / 2 out standard met?

Who is responsible for managing the accountability of the 2 in / 2 out team members?

What is the purpose of the 2 in / 2 out procedure?

What is the requirement for the 2 in / 2 out team members in a Mayday situation?

What is the primary objective of the 2 in / 2 out procedure?

According to OSHA, when is the atmosphere assumed to be IDLH?

When is the 2 in / 2 out procedure not required?

What is the reason for establishing the 2 in / 2 out procedure?

What is the acceptable reason for not meeting the 2 in / 2 out standard?

During the initial deployment of the first in company, what is the only necessary radio communication with regards to 2 in / 2 out?

2 In / 2 Out Procedure

The purpose of the 2 in / 2 out procedure is to meet the OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4)) and ensure the safety of firefighters during interior structural fires.
The objective is to have fully equipped firefighters in position to react in case of a Mayday situation.

OSHA Standard

OSHA states that fire fighters begin the interior attack on an interior structural fire, the atmosphere is assumed to be Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) and the 2 in / 2 out procedure applies.

Exceptions to the 2 in / 2 out Requirement

Reported or suspected life hazard where immediate action could prevent the loss of life.
Fire is in an incipient stage (defined as a fire which can be controlled or extinguished by portable fire extinguishers, Class II standpipe or small hose systems without the need for protective clothing or breathing apparatus).

Operational 2 in / 2 out

A temporary two-person tactical reserve assigned at the outset of an incident to allow teams to enter an IDLH, or potential IDLH atmosphere.
One primary member of the 2 in / 2 out pair must be solely dedicated to tracking interior personnel.
The second member of the 2 in / 2 out team may be engaged in other activities within the hazard zone.

Implementation of 2 in / 2 out for a Four-Person Crew

The plug person assumes the primary 2 in / 2 out position and the engineer assumes the secondary 2 in / 2 out position.
Rescue efforts should be initiated as a team (2 members) and well communicated prior to action.
Mayday response should be managed with the Risk Management Plan by the incident commander and acted upon based on the capabilities of the 2 in / 2 out team.

This procedure outlines the considerations for meeting the 2 in / 2 out requirement based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4) for the Phoenix Regional Dispatch System. It aims to meet OSHA standards while catering to tactical needs in hazard zones.