Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Vehicle Inspection Procedure PDF

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT INSPECTION AND CHE...

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT INSPECTION AND CHECK OUT PPM #: FR-O-301 ISSUE DATE EFFECTIVE DATE January 30, 2023 February 27, 2023 PURPOSE: To ensure that all in-service emergency response vehicles and equipment are properly maintained, equipped and functioning. UPDATES: Future updates to this PPM are the responsibility of the Deputy Chief of Operations, in conjunction with the PPM Committee, under the authority of the Fire Rescue Administrator. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator, SCOPE: This policy applies to all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists. POLICY: All Emergency Apparatus and equipment shall be checked at the beginning of each shift and after every major incident where equipment from the unit is utilized so as to maintain operational readiness and assure that all assigned equipment is accounted for and functioning properly. All daily and weekly check lists and sign offs are located on the home page of Target Solutions under the Daily/Weekly Quick Links section. PROCEDURE: 1. General: At the beginning of each shift the Lieutenant and Operational Captain shall ensure that each emergency response vehicle has been inventoried and that all equipment is operational. The daily emergency vehicle checkout shall be completed, unless delayed by an incident, by 0900 hours. Reserve apparatus shall be checked out as soon as possible after the primary units (including when a spare apparatus is put in service as front line).If delayed by an emergency, the vehicle checkout shall be completed as soon as possible upon return to the station. 2. Accountability: a. The Operational Captain is responsible for ensuring all Fire Rescue vehicles in their station are checked out daily. The appropriate documentation must be completed by filling out a Daily or Weekly Check found on the home page of Target Solutions under the Quick Links section. All necessary repairs shall be entered into the Fleet FR-O-301/Page 1 of 4  Maintenance system AssetWorks; missing equipment shall be reported or accounted for; all entries shall be logged into station logbook. b. The Operational Captain shall report all missing or damaged equipment to the Battalion Chief and make every effort to locate the equipment. c. The assigned Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day is responsible for the operational condition, cleanliness, and equipment assigned to the vehicle. d. Each Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day shall conduct the checkouts and inventories of the vehicle to which they are assigned and report any mechanical problems or missing equipment to the Lieutenant or Operational Captain. e. Employees shall refer to Property Damage and Bodily Injury Reports (PPM-T-302) for any loss, damage, or theft of Fire Rescue property. All Property Damage Tracking Numbers shall be recorded in the station logbook. 3. Vehicle Checkout: a. At a minimum, each emergency vehicle shall be checked daily in accordance with the Daily Check found in Target Solutions. b. At a minimum, once a week the Advanced Life Support (ALS) gear, patient compartment and cab should be cleaned and disinfected. c. A more thorough detailed inspection shall be conducted on a weekly basis. The detailed weekly check list shall also be found on Target Solutions. d. The Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day shall complete the weekly extended check of each emergency vehicle at the station. e. Rescue Detailed Inspection and Aerial Inspection shall be utilized for a weekly check- out. f. In addition, a vehicle inventory shall be completed as part of the weekly vehicle check- out. Inventory forms for each vehicle shall be laminated and carried on that vehicle. g. This inventory shall list all equipment assigned to the vehicle and shall be in accordance with Standards for Emergency Response Vehicles (PPM FR-O-302). 4. Aerial Apparatus a. Weekly Aerial Inspection All aerial apparatus drivers shall complete the weekly extended check of each Aerial and all components every Tuesday. The sign off is located on home page of Target Solutions under the Daily /Weekly Quick Links section b. 25-hour Inspection i. The Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day, on each aerial apparatus, shall review the 25-hour Inspection Log, posted on ALL aerial apparatus to determine when the last inspection was completed. ii. When appropriate, a request for service shall be placed in AssetWorks every 25-hours (from the last inspection) to be completed by an apparatus technician. c. Annual Inspection i. An annual UL testing of the ladder shall be completed by a 3rd party vendor to certify the ladder meets or exceeds the manufacturer’s specifications. ii. A “C inspection” shall be completed on each aerial apparatus on an annual basis which consists of a detailed inspection of the ladder and all components. iii. All records associated with the UL testing and the “C Inspection” shall be maintained on file with the Apparatus Superintendent during the life of the apparatus. FR-O-301/Page 2 of 4 5. Vehicle Exchange: a. Prior to turning in a vehicle for maintenance, the interior of vehicle compartments shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to assure employee and public safety. b. A complete vehicle inventory shall be completed when changing into or out of a reserve vehicle. c. This inventory shall assure that all equipment is returned to the appropriate vehicle after maintenance has been completed. d. The crew shall document all missing equipment and notify their appropriate or Battalion Chief. 6. Vehicle Waxing Schedule: a. Each emergency vehicle shall be washed and dried as necessary to assure a clean and professional image. This shall include cleaning the cab interior, mirrors, tires and rims. The interior of all Rescue vehicles’ patient compartments shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to assure employee and public safety. b. A schedule for waxing vehicles shall be established in each Battalion. This assures that each vehicle is waxed as often as necessary. c. Fire Rescue supplied waxing products shall be utilized for waxing Fire Rescue vehicles only. 7. Extrication Rescue Tool Inspection: a. The Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day shall inspect the extrication rescue tools in accordance with the weekly check and after each use. 8. Repair of Extrication Rescue Tool: a. In the event that a tool is in need of repair or service, a replacement tool or components shall be provided by the Shop personnel and the appropriate Fixed Asset Transfer forms completed by the Battalion Chief. b. The tool should be tagged with the problem, station, and person reporting the problem. c. Once repairs are completed, the front line tool will then be transferred back to the station and the spare tool retrieved for reserve use. 9. Daily Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Inspection: a. It is the responsibility of each individual to complete, at the beginning of each shift a daily SCBA Inspection on the unit to which the employee is assigned. The checklist and sign off is located on Target Solutions under the Daly/Weekly Quick Link section. After each use, the employee shall visually re-inspect the SCBA to ensure it is cleaned and operational. b. The SCBA inspection shall entail the entire SCBA unit, including the harness, backpack, face piece, regulator, air cylinder and integrated Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device. c. An SCBA daily check is to be completed on all unassigned SCBA units by the Driver Operator or person assigned to drive a unit that day, of each vehicle or apparatus. d. A separate SCBA daily check shall be initiated for each SCBA. e. SCBA cylinders shall be changed out when they are less than 90% full (for 4,500 psi cylinders, this is at 4050 psi). FR-O-301/Page 3 of 4  f. Any air cylinder with a hydrostatic test date that shall expire within 3 months, or is within 3 months of its 15-year service life shall be tagged and sent to the SCBA shop. 10. Periodic Inspection and Testing: a. Each SCBA shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the Manufacturer’s recommendations or applicable regulations. 11. Repair of SCBA: a. Operational personnel are authorized to replace batteries as needed on the SCBA or PASS device. Refer to the operational manual on Target Solutions or contact SCBA Shop with any questions (616-6967). Replacement batteries must be Duracell or Energizer and are available on the County Warehouse Catalog. b. Stations or other facilities who have SCBA related equipment in need of repair shall enter a service request in AssetWorks, fill out and attach a repair tag to the equipment. c. Repair tags can be ordered from the PBC Graphics Department in accordance with Purchasing and Payables (PPM-FR-F-202). d. All equipment requiring repair shall be cleaned and decontaminated by Operations Personnel prior to being sent to the SCBA Technician for repair. The entire SCBA should be sent in as a complete assembly (i.e. do not send the regulator separately). e. SCBA’s, face pieces, and air cylinders needing repair shall be sent to the SCBA shop located at Headquarters. A loaner unit shall be provided when deemed necessary. 12. Breathing Air Compressor (BAC) Maintenance and Repairs: a. When a repair is necessary, the SCBA Shop shall be notified and a service request entered into AssetWorks. b. A sign shall be posted at all BAC locations with instruction on the operation of the compressor. c. All compressors shall be operated by personnel properly trained in the use of that specific compressor. d. Personal SCUBA bottles shall not be filled utilizing Fire Rescue BAC’s. ______________________________ PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR Supersession History 1. PPM#FR VI-12, issued 07/07/1986 2. PPM#FR VI-12, issued 03/07/2014 3. PPM#FR O-301, clerical 03/01/2018 4. PPM#FR O-301, clerical 08/06/2021 5. PPM#FR O-301, issued 01/30/2023 FR-O-301/Page 4 of 4