Toronto Fire Services Training Note 106.11 (PDF)

Fire Services Professional Development and Training Training Note FROM: Fire Chief EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2018 FILE IN TFS TRAINING MANUAL UNDER:...

Fire Services Professional Development and Training Training Note FROM: Fire Chief EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2018 FILE IN TFS TRAINING MANUAL UNDER: GROUP: 100 Firefighter Knowledge and Skills SECTION: 106 Fireground Operations SUB-SECTION: 106.11 Post Incident Decontamination UNIT: REFERENCE: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................... 2 2. RESPONSIBILITIES......................................................................................................................................... 2 3. LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION..................................................................................................................... 2 4. DECONTAMINATION KITS............................................................................................................................. 3 5. ON SCENE DECONTAMINATION................................................................................................................. 3 6. CONTAMINATED BUNKER GEAR................................................................................................................ 4 6.1 UPON RETURNING TO THE STATION............................................................................................. 4 6.2 FIRE INVESTIGATORS......................................................................................................................... 5 7. FIREFIGHTER GROSS DECONTAMINATION CHECKLIST.................................................................... 5 Toronto Fire Services Training Note:106.11 Central H&S Com Date Prepared: February 2019 Page 1 of 5  1. INTRODUCTION Maintaining the cleanliness of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and equipment is of critical importance. Research studies have shown that contaminants are hazardous to a firefighter’s health. Officers and firefighters are required to engage in post-fire exposure mitigation for the protection of personnel. This mitigation or decontamination may be required prior to leaving the emergency scene. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES a. It is the responsibility of all personnel to use and or wear the equipment, protective devices and or clothing that the employer requires to be worn when necessary. b. It is the responsibility of every supervisor to ensure personnel understand and adhere to this standard operating guideline and the procedures described within it. c. It is the responsibility of every supervisor to ensure personnel work in a manner and with the protective devices, measures and or clothing that the employer requires to be used and or worn. d. It is the responsibility of every supervisor to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of all personnel. e. Platoon and/or their District Chiefs will monitor the timeliness of the decontamination process for the purpose of returning crews to a ready-to- respond as expeditiously as possible. 3. LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION The escalation from one level to the next will be at the discretion of the IC in consultation with the on-scene ISO Level 1 – Minor Incident minimum exposure to VOCs and PAHs i.e. Pot on a Stove (Officer in charge of each apparatus will determine need for PPE decontamination and each individual firefighter is to engage in hygiene appropriate to the level of exposure) Level 2 – A small outside fire involving a vehicle or garbage dumpster etc. Command to determine need for decontamination. Each firefighter will be responsible to ensure their individual requirements to mitigate post fire exposure. Level 3 – Large scale, or any incident as determined by Command in conjunction with Safety or other Command Staff, whereby large numbers of personnel have been exposed to VOCs or PAHs where the requirement for decontamination and complete firefighter hygiene will require time and resources. Toronto Fire Services Training Note:106.11 Central H&S Com Date Prepared: February 2019 Page 2 of 5  4. DECONTAMINATION KITS That each apparatus be supplied with a post incident decontamination kit comprised, but not limited to the following equipment: Uline 5 Gallon (22.7 litre) Bucket 25-foot ½ inch Decontamination Hose Turret Pistol Nozzle 38 mm Adapter Bannister Brush Dish soap Action Wipes Rags Five XXXL Tyvek suits will be available on Air/Light Units and may be donned as an alternative to undertaking on scene decontamination and personnel hygiene procedures when circumstances or weather conditions present a barrier to doing so. TFS personnel should consider taking their safety shoes aboard the apparatus and assembling a back-up set of station wear to be placed on one’s apparatus each shift that could be worn at the screen once on-scene decontamination has taken place. Subzero temperatures complicate proper and effective post fire decontamination. While full disrobing of PPE is easily performed in temperatures above freezing, it can be more difficult when ice accumulation on PPE becomes a factor. For privacy and protection from the elements, station uniforms can be disrobed in the TFS Rehab Unit. 5. ON SCENE DECONTAMINATION It is the responsibility of each individual firefighter to initiate decontamination procedures when they, their supervisor, post incident decontamination officer, ISO or the Incident Commander feel it is required. Prior to transport, contaminated personal protective equipment shall be contained. At no time shall contaminated PPE, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or other equipment be transported in the cab area of any fire department vehicle unless contained and secured. Contaminated bunker gear shall be contained at the scene in the following manner: Personnel will have initial debris removal conducted prior to dis-connecting their Mask Mounted Regulator (MMR) and going "off air", before beginning the removal of their personal protective equipment. Toronto Fire Services Training Note:106.11 Central H&S Com Date Prepared: February 2019 Page 3 of 5  Dry mitigation shall begin by brushing debris from helmet, facepiece, SCBA, bunker gear, gloves and boots prior to removal. Hands and face shall be washed prior to entering rehab for rest, rehydration and nourishment or being released. The rehab vehicle has water and towels available for this. Wet mitigation shall begin using a fine mist from the decontamination hose line to rinse debris from the helmet, facepiece, SCBA, bunker gear, gloves and boots. Personnel performing mitigation shall wear gloves, eye protection, and suitable PPE for the suspected contaminates. The firefighter can now come off of air by removing their MMR and step aside to let the next person into the gross decon area. All decontamination shall be done wearing Nitrile gloves to reduce exposure. Remove SCBA and using a fine mist, completely wet down, removing all excess debris. Place SCBA in clear plastic bag and seal. It will be returned to the SCBA holder in your apparatus. 6. CONTAMINATED BUNKER GEAR Contaminated bunker gear shall be handled in the following manner: Flash hoods shall be attached to bunker pants Empty all pockets and close Velcro flaps Remove bunker gear and place in a clear plastic bag and tie Return bag to your apparatus for transport 6.1 UPON RETURNING TO THE STATION Upon return to station, crews will adhere to the following procedure in the order listed: Don PPE: (Safety glasses as required; Nitrite medical gloves; N95 Mask) Remove all personal bagged PPE from the apparatus and set aside; Remove any equipment from the apparatus that requires decontamination and place it in an area for cleaning; Remove hose from TFS pick up that requires decontamination and place it in an area for cleaning; Remove PPE from plastic bags. (Place all other personal PPE in an area for cleaning); Personnel who were in the hazard zone are to shower. All station wear shall be placed in a clear plastic bag until it can be washed in the washing machine at a fire station. Personnel will then change Toronto Fire Services Training Note:106.11 Central H&S Com Date Prepared: February 2019 Page 4 of 5  into spare uniform; If the driver of the crew was not contaminated (in the hazard zone), they will start to conduct decontamination procedures on the apparatus and equipment; The crew once showered will clean their personal PPE and assist in decontamination of the apparatus and equipment; Crews will prepare their spare PPE for service and conduct station cleanup. All personnel performing any decontamination procedures shall ensure the following: All equipment and supplies required for the safe handling of contaminated PPE will be in place prior to the opening of the containment bags in which the PPE has been transported; Ensure the exhaust fan is turned on in apparatus bay and the doors to the living quarters are closed prior to the opening of the containment bags in which the PPE has been transported. 6.2 FIRE INVESTIGATORS Fire Investigators during fire investigations shall ensure that they have assistance to carryout decontamination procedures upon completion of their investigation. If required, a suppression crew will attend to assist with decontamination of Investigator. This will be requested through the Platoon Chief of the Command the fire is located. 7. FIREFIGHTER GROSS DECONTAMINATION CHECKLIST FF’s remove SCBA (set aside) FF’s remove helmets (place in bag) FF’s remove balaclavas (place in bag) FF’s remove face piece (set aside) FF’s remove FF gloves (set aside) FF’s DON NITRILE GLOVES FF’s DON N95 MASK and GLASSES FF’s remove bunker coat (place in bag) FF’s remove bunker pants (place in bag) Put on station footwear Tie bag and place on apparatus (Not in Cab) Set up wash stations for SCBA and Face pieces Decontaminate SCBA and Face Pieces Place SCBA and face pieces on apparatus Remove nitrile gloves / N95 and dispose of Toronto Fire Services Training Note:106.11 Central H&S Com Date Prepared: February 2019 Page 5 of 5