Hoffman Estates Fire Department Safety Operations - Protective Clothing PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SAFETY OPERATIONS – 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Titl...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SAFETY OPERATIONS – 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Protective Clothing Revision: 3 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2025 Fire Chief 2 PURPOSE To establish a guideline to indicate the proper use of firefighter protective clothing in order to ensure the safety of fire department personnel operating in hazardous environments or hazard zones. POLICY Helmets are not required for personnel when riding in a closed cab or fully enclosed jump seats on apparatus. Whenever personnel ride in jump seats, hearing protectors will be worn at all times. It is the intent of this guideline that no member shall cause a delay in any firefighting operation by not being fully prepared to engage in these activities in a safe manner. When protective clothing is required, it shall be worn in the proper manner. Full protective clothing shall be worn at all times when operating on the fireground or other incidents requiring full protective clothing for personal protection. The Nomex hood shall be worn when engaged in firefighting or accident scenes, and any other situation where injuries to head and face are likely to occur. The use of turnout coats and Nomex hoods during overhaul operations will be at the discretion of Command. The face shield, eye shield or goggles shall be utilized at any time the need for eye protection seems apparent, such as during overhaul, when operating hand or power tools, and when fighting trash fires, grass fires and any other fires where the SCBA face piece is not being worn. Structural Firefighting Gloves shall be worn when engaged in firefighting, overhaul, training, or when using hand or power tools, and any other situation where injuries to the hand are likely to occur. Extrication gloves will not be worn during structural firefighting operations. While on the fireground, the helmet will be worn at all times. When the helmet is worn, the chinstrap will be in the down position under the chin. The face shield, eye shield or goggles will be 1 in the down position whenever working above the head and whenever the possibility of foreign particles or objects may come in contact with the eyes. Helmets shall be worn when operating near moving vehicles, such as EMS incidents on state and county highways, tollway and Village streets. Protective clothing may become soiled and/or exposed to potentially contaminating by-products during structural firefighting operations. Protective clothing shall be properly laundered after any potential exposure. Further, firefighters should refrain from wearing firefighting protective clothing when in contact with the public, i.e. during routine daily activities such as shopping, public education or ambulance/EMS calls where protective clothing would not be required. RESCUE OPERATIONS All members shall wear full protective clothing to afford complete personal protection while operating at rescue incidents. The Fireground Commander may use his discretion to regulate wearing of PPE in those situations where exemptions to the above policy appear necessary, such as when the use of protective clothing may compromise patient care, or when it is necessary to operate in close quarters where full protective clothing cannot be worn. If, operating conditions warrant a change, Company Officers may increase or decrease the level of protective clothing which is required for themselves and their personnel, but the responsibility to protect their personnel from injury remains with that officer. In specific situation for which no guidelines have been provided, the proper protective clothing to protect against all foreseeable hazards shall be worn. PROCEDURE DEFINITIONS EXCEPTIONS REFERENCES End of Document 2