Toronto Fire Services Standard Operating Guideline: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus PDF

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS Date Issued: August 29, 2023 Rescinds: January 18, 2022 Section: Equipment File Code: E-SCBA PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for proficient inspecting, testing, maintaining, repairing, and...

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS Date Issued: August 29, 2023 Rescinds: January 18, 2022 Section: Equipment File Code: E-SCBA PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services (TFS) personnel with a guideline for proficient inspecting, testing, maintaining, repairing, and wearing of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for properly inspecting, maintaining, and using assigned personal protective equipment including SCBA. Company Officers are responsible for the safety of their crew and ensuring they are adequately equipped with respiratory protection equipment, inspect, and maintain that equipment, and follow this guideline. District Chiefs are responsible for administering this guideline in its entirety. The Mechanical Division is responsible for repairing all SCBA and maintaining records of such activities and reviewing records of minor field repairs conducted by Air/Light Unit personnel as described in the guideline. The Training Division is responsible for keeping records of the TFS Annual SCBA Certification Program through electronic records management. The Mechanical Division will maintain all service and test records on each SCBA and personal facepiece. GUIDELINES 1. General The Company Officer shall assign a SCBA to each crew member aboard the apparatus. This guideline shall also apply to Air Line Respirators (carried on Squads). All personnel expected to respond to emergency situations (Operations, Investigators, etc.) shall meet the criteria of the TFA Annual SCBA Certification Program. 2. Inspection and Test All personnel shall perform the daily inspection and test on (refer TN 103.2.4 MSA G1 Daily Inspection and Test) their assigned SCBA immediately upon relieving the off-duty shift. If relieving personnel at an incident, all personnel File Code: E-SCBA Page 1 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE shall perform the daily inspection and test on their assigned SCBA immediately upon relieving the Platoon on scene. All personnel on shall perform the daily inspection and test on their assigned SCBA after each use and shall be recorded in the respective unit’s SCBA Inspection Log. The Company Officer shall be responsible to ensure that SCBA inspections are carried out promptly at the beginning of each shift and after each use and shall ensure the respective user signs each SCBA Inspection Log. The Driver of the apparatus shall perform the daily inspection and test on spare SCBA units that are unassigned on the vehicle as well as any RIT Kits, and shall be recorded in the respective SCBA or RIT Kit Inspection Log. In the event an apparatus is out of service when a platoon reports for duty, an entry shall be made in the SCBA Inspection Log indicating the date and “Out of Service” on the line before the actual Daily Inspection. SCBA on trucks out of service do not have to be inspected until the respective apparatus goes back into service. Unassigned SCBA carried on the fireboats are to be inspected daily in accordance with this SOG by the Marine Fire Ops Captain. Each apparatus is assigned one battery charger and two spare SCBA batteries. 3. Inspection and Hydrostatic Testing All SCBA shall be tested annually by the Mechanical Division according to manufacturer’s published methods. The Mechanical Division shall conduct the following: (a) Inspection and testing of SCBA assigned to each apparatus, annually. (b) Inspection and flow testing of personally issued SCBA facepieces, every two years. (c) All repairs, firmware, maintenance, investigations deemed necessary and warranty claims. All MSA 4500 SCBA cylinders shall be hydrostatic tested every five years at an approved facility and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. MSA 3000 confined space escape cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested every five years at an approved facility and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. File Code: E-SCBA Page 2 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 4. Donning All personnel shall wear SCBA when entering any incident that requires respiratory protection. Where conditions have potential to become hazardous at a moment’s notice, personnel should be wearing SCBA and ready to don the facepiece as required. SCBA may be donned while responding to alarms provided that safety is not compromised. 5. Wearing the Facepiece and “On Air” SCBA shall be used anytime the environment has potential to become or may be hazardous, including but not limited to elevated temperatures, toxic atmospheres, oxygen deficient atmospheres, confined spaces, biologically hazardous atmospheres, or any area where the Officer In Charge deems that respiratory protection is or may be required. This shall include wearing SCBA and being “on air” at all times while inside any structure that has been on fire. SCBA shall be worn throughout overhaul and shall not be removed regardless of visibility or Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings. Whenever a facepiece is donned, the wearer will also don their flash hood. Firefighting personnel shall operate in accordance with the TFS Incident Management System. Sector Officers shall ensure personnel under their supervision wear SCBA as required. Sixty (60) minute (2491L) rated cylinders shall be used: (a) with a Level A – Totally Encapsulating Vapour-Protective Chemical Suit (b) when entering track level at subway stations (c) when performing decon procedures (d) any time the Officer In Charge deems that long duration cylinders will afford a greater margin of safety. It shall not be mandatory for Chief Officers to use SCBA while directing operations and maintaining radio communications as long as they are outside the controlled area. When no longer required, SCBA shall be immediately returned to the apparatus from which it was obtained. Persons required to wear a SCBA shall be free from interference of hair where the face piece seals to the skin of the face or neck. File Code: E-SCBA Page 3 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 6. Doffing SCBA may be doffed once outside of the controlled area following gross decon to remove heavy contamination of by-products of combustion (refer to 106.11 – Post Incident Decontamination). 7. After Use Each member of TFS required to wear SCBA shall be familiar with TFS Training Note 103.2.10 – Post Use Care and Cleaning, that addresses cleaning and sanitizing of SCBA. 8. SCBA Cylinders Four (4) spare 45-minute (1868L) SCBA cylinders should be carried aboard each fire vehicle. Air/Lights, Squads, and the Fire Boat may carry more spare cylinders. Fire stations should have a maximum of four (4) spare 45-minute (1868L) cylinders per vehicle. SCBA shall be refitted with a full cylinder immediately after use whether at an emergency scene or a training exercise in order to maintain the unit in a ready state. An inspection and test shall be performed after refitting a SCBA unit with a full cylinder. A cylinder is considered full at a pressure of 4,050 psi (27,579 kPa) or approximately 90% of the 4,500 psi (31,026 kPa) that a cylinder is rated to contain. All empty air cylinders shall be stored with the valve in the closed position with a minimum residual pressure of 690 kPa (100 psi) to prevent cylinder contamination. Spare cylinders shall be transported in a proper carrying device or designated cylinder tubes on vehicles and not loose in any compartment. Reusable dust caps shall be in position on the cylinder when the cylinder is not connected to an air supply or breathing unit. Dust caps protect cylinder valve couplings. The caps prevent moisture and dirt from entering the cylinder valve. Dust caps may be removed by twisting or squeezing the end. Dust caps shall NOT be blown off using air pressure. SCBA air cylinders that have not been used in any twelve (12) month period shall be slowly depressurized and refilled with compressed breathing air meeting the requirements of CSA Z180.1/13 (CSA Z94.4-2018). File Code: E-SCBA Page 4 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Dust caps shall be colour coded in accordance with the following, regardless of the month a SCBA cylinder was filled. (a) Red for odd number years. (b) Blue for even number years. Air in a SCBA cylinder shall not be used beyond the expiry date. All personnel shall make every effort to use cylinders prior to the expiry date taking effect. Air cylinders shall be filled only by personnel who have been trained on the proper procedures and equipment. SCBA cylinders should not be filled during a Smog Alert unless in support of training or a large incident. NOTE: MSA 3000 confined space escape cylinders shall only be refilled at the SCBA repair room. Spares are available on the North and South Air/Light. 9. Suspected Contamination The Division Chief of Mechanical is designated as the TFS Program Administrator (PA) of Air Management in accordance with CSA Z94.4-2018. In the remote chance of contamination or suspected contamination of a SCBA air cylinder, specific measures shall be followed regarding an air dump. During normal business hours, the PA shall be consulted before a cylinder air dump is initiated. If unavailable, the on-call Division Commander shall be consulted. A cylinder air dump shall be done when contaminated air is found or suspected in an air cylinder due to recent compressor station/air light refilling. A more localized dump may be possible if specific cylinders can be traced to a specific compressor. The PA or on-call Division Commander shall be consulted (refer to G-SENI – Senior Officers On-Call). If a cylinder air dump needs to be carried out either by Command or City- wide, then one Command shall be dumped and refilled at a time. Each cylinder air dump is to be controlled at a rate not more than 2,070 kPa (300 psi) per minute. A residual pressure of 690 kPa (100 psi) shall be maintained in each cylinder unless otherwise instructed by the PA or Division Commander. A dew point above the test criteria is another cause for a cylinder air dump, but only after an air quality retest is conducted to validate results. File Code: E-SCBA Page 5 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 10. Cold Weather Operations Although SCBA are worn in hostile environments on a regular basis with little or no negative effect on operation, some special problems encountered in cold weather may effect performance. These problems are primarily encountered when the SCBA is used in temperatures below freezing. Firefighters need to have an understanding of potential problems when using SCBA in cold weather operations and know the actions to take to address these problems (refer to TN 103.2.7 – Cold Weather Operation). 11. Reporting A SCBA Inspection Log shall be maintained for each SCBA unit. This log shall accompany the unit when sent to the Mechanical Division for repairs or maintenance. An entry shall be made by the Mechanical Division in the SCBA Inspection Log indicating when any service, annual maintenance, and flow tests are performed. The SCBA Inspection Log shall be completed each time SCBA are inspected or tested at the beginning of each shift and after each use. The SCBA Inspection log for each unit shall include the following: (a) Date (b) Time (c) Inspection period: i. Start of shift ii. Post-use (d) Initial cylinder pressure (e) User/Inspector’s name (f) Platoon SCBA Inspection Logs shall be periodically inspected by the Platoon and/or District Chief to ensure they are being properly maintained. Completed log books shall be kept on file in the fire station. 12. Testing/Record Keeping Testing/certification of personnel using SCBA shall be conducted annually as per 13.1 of this document. The Training Division shall maintain electronic records of annual SCBA training through ELI. File Code: E-SCBA Page 6 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE 13. Training/Certification Company Officers shall ensure annual SCBA certifications are conducted for themselves and their respective crew members consisting of: (a) Firefighter self-directed theory and quiz (e-Learning based) (b) Company Officer guided practical demonstration (using Annual In-Station S.C.B.A. Certification – Attachment or under the Forms section on TFS intranet) (c) Individual firefighter confirmation of practical demonstration completion (e- Learning based) Company Officers shall ensure in-station annual SCBA certifications using the attachment identified in 13.1(b) are completed for their crew by the end of the second quarter of each calendar year. 14. Facepiece Testing Facepiece fit testing shall be conducted in accordance with the following: (a) Prior to initial use. (b) Every two years as per CSA Z94.4-2018. (c) Whenever changes to the user’s physical condition could affect the facepiece fit (CSA Z94.4-2018). 15. Spare SCBA NOTE: Spare SCBA shall be the responsibility of personnel aboard the Air/Light Units. Includes ensuring each spare SCBA assigned to their Air/Light is sent for its annual inspection when requested by the Mechanical Division. Personnel assigned to Air/Lights shall do the following: (a) Ensure all air and oxygen cylinders on hand are full, if not, proceed to a filling station at the earliest opportunity. (b) Ensure there are sufficient numbers of spare SCBA on the vehicle to replace defective units. (c) Exchange spare SCBA for defective units and record each transaction while ensuring: i. Defective unit has SCBA Repair Order accompanying it. ii. Blue SCBA Log and breathing apparatus numbers match. iii. Perform a function test on any spare SCBA returned to Air/Light. iv. After testing, seal the case with a plastic tie strap. v. Retain a minimum of six (6) functional spares of the twenty (20) that are assigned to the Air/Light for use by TFS Chief Officers and Police (if requested). File Code: E-SCBA Page 7 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE Maintain a logbook that tracks the movement of spare SCBA, the SCBA in for repair and the quantity of 45-minute (1868L) and 60-minute (2491L) cylinders available from their air filling station. Duty Officers at air fill stations shall ensure spare cylinders are filled and that the Air/Light Company Officer is advised when their air filling station is out of service. Personnel assigned to an Air/Light shall be aware of the location and potential numbers of additional resources in other Commands and how to access them. Additional resources in Commands are available as indicated by the following: (a) Fire Academy: i. 50 SCBA (without cylinders) ii. 100 – 45-minute (1868L) cylinders (b) SCBA Maintenance Facility: i. 50 SCBA (without cylinders) Personnel on an Air/Light are responsible for performing some limited repairs to SCBA units while out in the field. This includes repairs such as the following: (a) Removing and replacing: i. Harness straps ii. Chest straps iii. Trans-fill hose pouch iv. Facepiece hairnet Record repairs on a SCBA Repair Order and return the repair order and defective parts to the SCBA Maintenance Facility. Spare SCBA placed into service shall be subjected to a daily inspection and test prior to being placed on the vehicle by the individual to whom the SCBA unit is assigned. 16. SCBA Failure Resulting in MAYDAY, Close Call, Significant or Critical Injury SCBA malfunctions that occur during use shall be Red Tagged and sent for repairs. All components of the SCBA will be doubled bagged and shall be sent “AS IS”. For any failure of any SCBA, adhere to the following: (a) DO NOT clean the SCBA (b) DO NOT remove the cylinder or battery (c) DO NOT adjust the unit in any way File Code: E-SCBA Page 8 of 9  STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE (d) Include personal facepiece (e) Red Tag the unit describing the condition on the tag (f) Complete and attach a SCBA Repair Order (g) Send the unit to the Mechanical Division via the Platoon Chief’s office 17. Repairs Any SCBA or related component failing to pass an inspection shall be Yellow Tagged and sent to the Mechanical Division. A SCBA Repair Order shall be completed and shall accompany the defective unit when it is sent for repairs. All SCBA repairs and requests shall be recorded in the SCBA Fire Station Repair Log (Form TFS 03-06). Any SCBA with an air circuit related repair shall be sent to the Mechanical Division with the cylinder connected to the device. SCBA that are Yellow Tagged shall be washed and cleaned and battery removed prior to being sent for repairs, unless the repair is suspected to be battery related (i.e., damaged harness buckle used to remove battery). ONLY personnel designated by TFS SCBA Maintenance Facility and certified by the manufacturer of the SCBA shall perform repairs to SCBA other than designated duties assigned to Air/Light personnel. NOTE: All equipment being sent to the TFS SCBA maintenance facility for repairs (except for equipment involved in MAYDAY, Close Call, Significant or Critical Injury) shall be properly cleaned and decontaminated prior to being sent for inspection. 18. SOG Review The TFS Central Health and Safety Committee shall review this Standard Operating Guideline at a minimum of every two (2) years. ATTACHMENT(S) Monthly Crew In-Station Drill SCBA Certification RELATED SOGS A-SEAT – Seatbelts E-CHEM – Chemical – Protective Suits E-EQUI – Equipment – General E-EYEP – Eye Protection and Safety S-CANC – Prevention of Cancer by Limiting Exposure to By-Products of Combustion File Code: E-SCBA Page 9 of 9