Hoffman Estates Fire Department Safety Guidelines - 2022 PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SAFETY GUIDELINES – 008 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Post Incident...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SAFETY GUIDELINES – 008 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Post Incident Gross Decontamination Revision: 1 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2024 Fire Chief 3 PURPOSE All personnel are responsible to perform a post incident gross decontamination. This SOG is used to ensure that personnel are limiting prolonged exposure to harmful carcinogens and toxins that they may be exposed to in IDLH atmospheres. POLICY INCIDENT SCENE - It shall be the responsibility of the Incident Commander to establish the need for a specified gross decontamination site on incidents. All personnel on scene should be made aware of the location and perform a gross decon. - Gross decontamination equipment will be assigned to each engine. All apparatus will be supplied with decon wipes. This equipment should be used during the gross decon process. - All equipment, PPE, and tools should be gross decontaminated on scene. -Decontamination equipment may also be brought to the scene through outside resources as determined by incident command. AT THE FIRE STATION - All personnel are responsible to put their second set of gear into service, including a clean hood and gloves. The “dirty” gear should be washed using the specified gear washer(s). If turnout gear needs to be sent to another station it shall be bagged properly and transported in an outside compartment to ensure that personnel are not exposed to any off gassing coming from the PPE. - Consideration should be used to hold the change of quarters companies until our personnel have their second set of gear in service and are ready to respond. - All personnel are required to take a shower as soon as possible after returning to the fire house. PROCEDURE Before clearing an incident scene or any call involving IDLH atmosphere, personnel should complete gross decon which includes: 1  1) Companies exiting the IDLH atmosphere, while still on air, should brush off gross decontaminates with a supplied brush. 2) After getting brushed down, the company should go to the established decon area, while still wearing full PPE, and perform a decon using a hose line. NOTE: this is weather dependent and may not be an appropriate step. 3) Personnel should perform a gross decon using the provided decon supplies. Turnout gear, tools, and SCBA’s should be sprayed with Dawn soap and scrubbed down. The Turnout gear should then be rinsed clean and bagged. Personnel should not disassemble their gear in case they are dispatched to another call. 4) Personnel should use the provided decon wipes after being exposed to carcinogens and toxins of a structure fire. Personnel should make sure to wipe their hands, neck, face, and groin area. 5) If possible, the contaminated bagged gear should be transported back to the firehouse in an outside compartment. 6) All contaminated hose will have gross decontamination completed at the scene. Fire hose should not be transported in the cab of the apparatus. 7) A second set of gear should be placed into service after returning to quarters. Including a clean hood and gloves. 8) Personnel should take a shower (Shower within the hour) as soon as possible after returning to the firehouse. 9) Personnel should change into a clean uniform. 10) The “dirty” gear should be washed in the supplied gear washers at each station. 11) The cab of the apparatus should be properly cleaned as soon as possible. 12) Front line gear should be placed back in service after it has been properly washed and dried. ** AT NO TIME SHOULD ANY STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING GEAR ENTER THE LIVING QUARTERS ** EXCEPTIONS Companies will remain in service after their gear has been deconned unless otherwise instructed by the Incident Commander. If companies are dispatched, or advised by the B/C to respond to another call while returning to quarters, they may put their “dirty” gear back into service. It is understood that this may take extra time to put their “dirty” gear back in service. Weather considerations will be taken into consideration to determine if the wet decontamination is an appropriate step in the process. 2 REFERENCES NFPA 1851, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 DEFINITIONS Gross Decontamination Equipment Inventory: Bottle of Dawn Soap, blue brush head (pole in with hard suction or pike poles), black handle brush, 25' of flex garden hose, spray nozzle, 1 3/4" to garden hose adapter, 5 garbage bags (to bag gear after decon), bag with N95 masks and nitrile gloves (to be worn by the firefighter performing the decon) and package of decon wipes. End of Document 3