SCBA Operational Use PDF - Chesapeake Fire Department

Procedure 302 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department SCBA Operational Use - 1 SCBA Operational Use 302.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and on-scene proced...

Procedure 302 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department SCBA Operational Use - 1 SCBA Operational Use 302.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides arrival and on-scene procedures for Chesapeake Fire Department units responding to an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) environment that requires the use of a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Corresponding Policies: 303 On-Deck Operations 404 Structure Fire Response 908 Respiratory Protection Program 302.2 FIRST FIVE MINUTES The first arriving Chesapeake Fire Department unit should: #Contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide the following information: • Unit on-scene • Initial scene size-up • Unit assuming incident command (IC) The IC should: #Notify the Emergency Communications Center and incoming units of Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) conditions that may require responding units to stage away from the scene or go on air before or immediately upon arrival. These conditions may include, but are not limited to: • Hazardous materials leaks, fumes or vapors • Potential explosion • Excessive smoke #Perform or direct another member to perform a 360 assessment and report back to the IC. The 360 assessment should, in part, reveal whether potential or actual IDLH conditions exist. #Establish the department accountability system. #Before entering an IDLH environment, take reasonable steps to ensure that the practice of two-in/two-out is being followed and that an On-Deck crew is established. When there is an imminent rescue, first arriving crews may initiate a rescue operation without an established On-Deck crew. A thorough risk analysis must be performed before entry. (See procedure 404 for risk analysis.) #Call for any additional required resources, including units with air refill capabilities. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual SCBA Operational Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department SCBA Operational Use - 2 #Establish a rehabilitation (rehab) area and assign members to rehab duties. 302.3 PROCEDURES (a) Apparatus 1. Apparatus should be placed according to procedures for the specific event. Follow the Traffic Incident Management System and Roadway Incidents Procedure for roadway incidents. 2. Apparatus Operators should keep their SCBA close enough to don quickly if needed. (b) Personnel 1. Personnel should: • Be in full personal protective equipment (PPE) until otherwise advised. • Remain with their assigned apparatus until directed by the IC. 2. In deciding whether to go on air, personnel should consider: • Timing. • Size-up. • Wind direction. • Location. • Hazardous conditions, current and future. • Atmospheric monitoring. • Conditions unique to the IDLH. 3. The Incident Commander (IC) should consider establishing operating zones. 302.4 OPERATIONS (a) Suppression Team 1. Personnel entering the IDLH atmosphere should do so in teams of two or more and remain in visual or voice contact with each other at all times. 2. Personnel should operate using the practice of two-in/two-out. 3. All teams should enter, operate and leave together. 4. Personnel should be on air whenever they are: (a) Investigating smoke conditions. (b) Engaged in suppressing any size fire with the possible exception of a vegetation fire. (c) Entering an area that may be oxygen deficient such as: o Confined spaces. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual SCBA Operational Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department SCBA Operational Use - 3 o Trenches. o Unventilated structures. o Septic tanks. (d) Entering the hot zone at a hazardous material incident. (e) Entering any area where contaminant levels may become unsafe without warning. (f) Operating in any situation where exposures cannot be identified or reasonably estimated. (g) Ordered by the Company Officer or IC to be on air. (b) Emergency Procedures 1. The Fireground Accountability and Mayday procedures should be used whenever: • A sounding Personal Alarm (or Alert) Safety System (PASS) or low-air alarm that cannot be associated with a firefighter outside the IDLH area is reported. • A member is reported to be missing. • A PAR reveals missing members. • A member calls a Mayday. 2. All malfunctioning SCBA should be removed from service and tagged for later inspection. (c) On-Deck Crew 1. When functioning as the initial On-Deck crew, members should be in full PPEincluding SCBA. 302.5 UNIVERSAL PRACTICES 1. Assigned personnel should use their SCBA during all phases of the fireground operation, including overhaul, until otherwise advised by the IC. 2. Crews on air should enter only with a full tank and monitor time and air use according to the Chesapeake Fire Department’s Rule of Air Management (ROAM). 3. To maintain situational awareness in the hazard zone, crews should: • Look for changing fire behavior and structural hazard conditions. • Communicate face-to-face and/or via radio the conditions they observe and any change in conditions. • Have two or more escape routes out of their work area. • Create a safety zone to work between the fire and their exit so that the fire cannot prevent their exiting. Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual SCBA Operational Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department SCBA Operational Use - 4 4. Crews on air should continually monitor air use so adequate time and air supply will be available to exit the structure safely. 5. Personnel must exit the IDLH environment before activation of the low-air alarm. 6. The Company Officer, IC, Incident Safety Officer or designated member should refer to the Respiratory Protection Program Policy for exposure and stress monitoring and reevaluation of personnel. 302.6 AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Members shall follow this procedure when Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is being used in an environment Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). It will enhance the Incident Commander’s ability to monitor air consumption and provides additional safety features Although the MSA Air Management System is designed to function as a standalone accountability system, it will NOT replace our current accountability system. 302.6.1 SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT/OPERATIONS (a) Note: Mutual-Aid personnel with SCBAs that have MSA telemetry may appear on our air management system. (b) The department has a total of seven systems deployed as follows: 1. Battalion 1 2. Battalion 2 3. Battalion 3 4. Training 5. HazMat 5 (cannot read/write tags) 6. Command 9 7. Battalion 10 (c) Incident Command (IC) should assign an Air Management Officer (AMO) to monitor this system on incidents that require the use of SCBAs (in the absence of an AMO, the IC maintains responsibility for performance of the procedures below). (d) While firefighters are working in an IDLH environment, and a temperature, pressure or manual alert sounds, the AMO will immediately attempt to make radio contact with the crew that the firefighter is assigned. If contact is unsuccessful after two attempts, the AMO will immediately advise the Incident Commander. A May Day will be called and the Evacuation Command will be transmitted to the entire crew. (e) When an Evacuation Command is given, the crew will acknowledge the alert, exit the IDLH environment, and complete a PAR. (f) Each member is responsible for his or her own air management. However, while monitoring air readings, the IC has discretion to remove crews based on information provided by the air management system. Consequently, it is of the utmost importance that each firefighter uses the harness that he or she tagged.