SFD.005.REV7 - Personal Protective Equipment.pdf

Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Chief’s Signature: Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 PURPOSE This guideline provides specific guidance concerning the selection, maintenance, initial issue, use, repl...

Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Chief’s Signature: Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 PURPOSE This guideline provides specific guidance concerning the selection, maintenance, initial issue, use, replacement, inspection and cleaning program for Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles that is used by members of the Spring Fire Department. This guideline will follow the latest adoption of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851. It is the objective of the program to reduce the safety and health risks associated with improper selection, poor maintenance, inadequate care, excess wear and improper use of PPE. This guideline will also establish what levels of protective clothing are acceptable in most situations. The NFPA 1851 program consists of:          Selection Record Keeping Protecting the public and personnel from exposure of contaminated PPE Inspection Cleaning and Decontamination Repair Issue and Storage Retirement and disposition Special incident procedures for events involving firefighter injury or death SCOPE All Spring Fire Department Personnel are responsible for knowing and complying with this guideline. REVIEW The Command Staff is responsible for reviewing this guideline annually and assuring its accuracy. DEFINITIONS Hazard Area: An area where members may be struck by flying/falling objects. This area would include the immediate area around a structure or operation. Hazardous atmospheres, particular substances, devices, events, circumstances or conditions that present a safety hazard to members of the fire department or public. Hazardous Atmosphere: Any atmosphere that is deficient of oxygen, contains toxins or diseaseproducing contaminants. A hazardous atmosphere may or may not be considered an IDLH atmosphere. Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere: An atmosphere which is immediately dangerous to life and health. This atmosphere is likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment. Incident Commander (IC): The fire department member in overall command of an emergency incident. Page 1 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Personal Protective Ensemble (PPE): Department issued structural firefighting helmet, hood, coat, pants, boots, and gloves. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with face piece is also part of this ensemble and is to be worn anytime a member enters an IDLH atmosphere or it is deemed necessary by the Incident Commander (IC). Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): a device worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in an IDLH atmosphere. Primary Eye Protection: Primary eye protection is considered safety glasses or goggles meeting A.N.S.I. Z87.1 Standard. Helmet face shields and Scott face pieces without the regulator in place are not considered primary eye protection. Universal Precautions: At a minimum, individuals in contact with contaminated gear shall wear examination gloves that are used for routine medical incidents. The gloves can be found on each apparatus. GUIDELINE **Incidents that may arise that are not covered by this guideline shall be fully evaluated with the safety of all personnel in mind. When in doubt wear full PPE with SCBA utilized.** Personal Protective Equipment Selection Spring Fire Department will only purchase, provide, and maintain PPE that is compliant with the current NFPA 1851 standard. The gear will be inspected by the issued member prior to any use. Any PPE that is found defective or unsatisfactory will be returned to the vendor. Record Keeping Gear records will be locally maintained by the District. The Quartermaster will be responsible for record-keeping pertaining to PPE. Record-keeping applies to all PPE owned by Spring Fire Department as well as rental and/or loaner gear, primary issued set, secondary issued set, and any approved non-issued PPE owned by an individual. Each garment will have an associated record on file that will contain the following information: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Person to whom the element is issued. Date and condition when issued. Manufacturer and model name or design. Manufacturer’s ID number, lot number, or serial number. Month and year of manufacture. Dates and findings of advanced inspections. Dates of advanced cleaning or decontamination. Reason for advanced cleaning or decontamination and who performed the cleaning or decontamination. Page 2 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 9) Dates of repairs, who performed the repairs, and a description of repairs. 10) Date of retirement. 11) Date and method of disposal. 12) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) exposure. Risk Assessment In determining risk, Spring Fire Department will consider the frequency or likelihood of exposure to a hazard along with its potential severity (consequence) if exposure occurs. In performing the risk assessment, Spring Fire Department will consider the following:        Type of duties preformed. Frequency of ensemble elements. Organization’s experiences. Incident operations. Geographic location and climate. Specific physical area of operation. Likelihood of or a response to CBRN terrorism incident. Issued PPE It is the responsibility of Spring Fire Department to purchase, provide, and maintain a complete set of protective clothing for all fire protection personnel who would be exposed to hazardous conditions from fire or other emergencies or where the potential for such exposure exists. A complete set of protective clothing shall consist of garments including bunker coats, bunker pants, boots, gloves, helmets, and protective hoods, worn by fire protection personnel in the course of performing fire-fighting operations. Spring Fire Department shall only purchase NFPA compliant protective clothing. The applicable NFPA edition is the one in effect at the time Spring Fire Department contracts for or purchases the protective clothing for regulated personnel, and the clothing must be compliant with the duties performed by the personnel. Replacement components shall also comply with the current standard at the time of contract or purchase. Note: Members are not permitted to add accessories to PPE without approval from the Deputy Chief of Support Services. Every member of Spring Fire Department who can potentially operate at an emergency incident will receive the following items on their initial visit to the Quartermasters Department and these items will be referred to collectively as PPE. All members will be issued the following: 2 - Structural Firefighting Coats Page 3 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 2 - Structural Firefighting Pants with belt 1 - Structural Firefighting Boots 1 - Structural Firefighting Helmet 2 - Structural Firefighting Hoods 2 - Pair of Structural Firefighting Gloves 1 - Scott SCBA Mask 1 - Scott Voice Amplifier 1 - Set of Rescue Gloves 1 - Reflective Traffic Vest 1 - Gear Bag 1 - Department issued helmet camera (Officers only) Rescue Team PPE and Ensemble 1 – Equipment Bag 1 – Harness 1 – Dry suit 1 – Pair of water shoes 1 – Life Jacket 1 – Helmet with light 1- Pair of rope gloves Personal non-issued PPE can only be worn with written permission for the Deputy Chief of Support Services. Approved Wildland Gear    Department issued upon availability wildland gear. Any Wildland garment meeting or exceeding NFPA or United States Forest Service Standards. Members who wear pull on style boots should be aware of the reduced ankle support and the added danger of ankle injuries. Steel toes and insoles are not recommended. Soles must be of a nonskid rubber work sole and not a thin dress style sole. It is recommended to have boots that are at least eight (8) inches high and lace up style. Page 4 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Approved Non-Issued PPE: The following items are approved to be worn in place of or in conjunction with issued PPE: Helmets         Bullard UST Series Cairns N6A Sam Houston Cairns Classic 1000 and 1010 Cairns 1044 Cairns 660 (Orange Helmet Only) Morning Pride Ben Franklin 2 Honeywell EV1 Honeywell 660 (Orange Helmet Only) Hoods  Only department issued hoods will be permitted Helmet Placards  Helmet Placards are intended to indicate rank (i.e. Cadet, Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Senior Captain, District Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and Fire Chief.) Any other type of helmet placard is strictly prohibited. If a member chooses to purchase one, the member will adhere to the current color scheme as dictated by the Spring Fire Department. District Chief approval shall be given prior to placing the non-department issued placard on a member’s helmet. Inspection All PPE shall be inspected upon issue, at the beginning of your work shift, after every use, and on a periodic basis. A more thorough inspection will also be required to be performed annually. NFPA 1851 identifies Routine and Advanced as the two primary types of PPE inspection. The organization shall report all PPE health and safety concerns, if caused by a known or suspected element failure, to the element manufacturer and certification organization. Routine inspection The member shall conduct a routine inspection of their PPE each time the element(s) is exposed or suspected to have been exposed to damage or contamination. Routine inspection shall include the following: A. Coat and pants 1. Soiling 2. Contamination from hazardous materials or biological agents 3. Physical damage Page 5 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 a. Rips, tears, and cuts b. Damaged/missing hardware and closure systems c. Thermal damage d. Damaged Velcro e. Damaged Clasps 4. Drag Rescue Device (DRD) inspection B. Hood 1. Soiling 2. Contamination from hazardous materials or biological agents 3. Physical damage a. Rips, tears, and cuts b. Damaged/missing hardware and closure systems c. Thermal damage C. Helmet 1. Soiling 2. Contamination from hazardous materials or biological agents 3. Physical damage a. Cracks, crazing, dents and abrasions b. Thermal damage to shell (bubbling, soft spots, warping, or discoloration 4. Damage to Ear Flaps a. Rips, tears, cuts b. Thermal Damage 5. Suspension and retention system a. Missing or damaged components 6. Eye protection systems a. Discoloration b. Crazing c. Scratches limiting visibility 7. Reflective trim a. Damaged or missing D. Gloves 1. Soiling 2. Contamination from hazardous materials or Biological agents 3. Physical Damage a. Rips, tears, cuts b. Thermal damage (charring, burn holes, melting) c. Damaged inner lining d. Shrinkage 4. Operation of retention system and strap E. Footwear 1. Soiling 2. Contamination from hazardous materials or biological agents 3. Physical damage a. Cuts, Tears and punctures b. Thermal damage (charring, burn holes or melting) c. Exposed or deformed steel toe, shank or mid sole. Page 6 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 4. Leaks (water tight integrity) Advanced Inspection 1. Advanced inspection of PPE ensembles shall be conducted at a minimum of twice every 12 months or whenever routine inspection indicate a problem may exist. 2. Findings of advanced inspection shall be documented by the vendor and the records will be given to the Spring Fire Department. 3. Advanced inspection should only be conducted by the manufacture or a manufacturer trained organization. 4. Universal precautions shall be used when handling contaminated gear. 5. Advanced Inspection include at minimum the criteria outlined in NFPA 1851 4.3.2.1 through 4.3.2. 6. Complete liner inspection shall be conducted annually and whenever a routine inspection determined potential damage. Complete liner inspection findings shall be documented. Cleaning All members who are assigned PPE are responsible for the routine cleaning of soiled or contaminated PPE. NFPA 1851 defines three types of cleaning for PPE. The three types are: Routine Cleaning, Advanced Cleaning, and Specialized Cleaning. Ensembles shall be evaluated by the wearer or a designated individual within he organization for application of preliminary exposure reduction, cleaning, disinfection or sanitization after each use based on NFPA 1851 Ch. 7.1.2.     Any form of cleaning shall always follow the manufactures recommendation. Chlorine bleach, or Chlorinated solvents shall not be used to clean or decontaminate PPE. Heavy scrubbing or spraying with high velocity water jets (pressure washer) shall not be used. Contaminated PPE shall be evaluated at the incident scene to determine if isolation is required. Routine Cleaning: After each use, any elements that are soiled shall receive routine cleaning. This does not require the PPE to be removed from service and is the responsibility of the assigned member. When possible, routine cleaning should be completed at the incident scene, the process for routine cleaning includes:      Brushing off loose debris with broom or soft bristle brush Using a gentle spray of water to rinse off debris and soil. A mild detergent is permitted to be used to aid in removal of soil. Should routine cleaning fail to sufficiently clean for service, advanced cleaning is required. Drying of cleaned gear shall follow manufacture’s recommendation. Page 7 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Advanced Cleaning: Does require the PPE to be taken out of service temporarily to perform this process. This process must be done by dedicated washing machine or the manufacture to clean the PPE so that heavy soils and debris can be removed. Advanced cleaning shall be in accordance with manufacture’s recommendations. This process can be performed at the firefighter level with proper knowledge of the use of the specialized washing machine.           Soiled PPE shall receive advanced cleaning prior to reuse. All PPE that is issued and used shall receive advanced cleaning at least every six months, resulting in a minimum of two advanced cleanings in a 12-month period, with one of the two advanced cleanings occurring at the time of annual advanced inspection. Only approved gear extractors may be used for the washing process. Soiled gear shall not be washed in home laundries, or washed in public laundries. Only specialized detergent may be used in the cleaning process. Universal precautions shall be used during the washing process. Outer shell and inner liner should be washed in separate loads. Hoods should not be washed with outer shell, as the Velcro will damage the material. DRD may be washed with the outer liner. All closures including pocket closures, hooks, clasps, snaps shall be fastened while in the extractor. During the drying process, gear should not be dried in direct sunlight. Specialized cleaning: Requires PPE that is contaminated with hazardous materials or bodily fluids and not able to be removed by routine or advanced cleaning, to be taken out of service until decontamination can be completed by a trained representative. This process will be handled by the Quartermasters department. Biannual PPE Cleaning and Inspection: It is the responsibility of each member to maintain the cleanliness and ensure proper care of all issued PPE according to manufacturer’s recommendations. The Quartermaster will be responsible for the scheduling of the required biannual PPE cleaning and inspections, the member will be responsible for adhering to that scheduled cleaning and inspection. If a member fails to comply with the annual PPE cleaning and inspection, they will be subject to disciplinary action. Preliminary Exposure Reduction: Members shall carry out preliminary exposure reduction immediately after exiting the emergency scene at any incident where their protective ensemble or ensemble elements could have become soiled or contaminated. The only exception is PPE exposed to CBRN, or hazardous contaminants, in which case the PPE will be deemed out of service. It is the responsibility of the wearer to ensure the application of preliminary exposure reduction cleaning, disinfection or sanitization.    Upon exiting the emergency scene, the end user shall remain on self-contained breathing apparatus air. If returning to the emergency scene after an air cylinder change, any dry debris shall be brushed off the helmet, facepiece, and SCBA prior to changing out the cylinder. If the end user is completing their time on scene, dry or wet mitigation techniques shall be conducted prior to the removal of any ensemble or ensemble elements. Page 8 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07      Dry mitigation techniques shall be performed by brushing debris from the exterior of ensembles with a soft bristle brush prior to removal. Wet Mitigation techniques shall be performed by gently rinsing the exterior ensemble elements using low pressure, low volume flow water. A mild detergent (Dawn soap) is permitted to aid in wet mitigation. If using wet and dry techniques in combination, dry mitigation shall precede mitigation. Following mitigation, all ensemble elements shall be isolated and bagged. Where possible, ensemble elements shall not be transported in the passenger areas of the apparatus. Ensembles exposed to the following contaminants shall be subjected to preliminary Exposure Reduction: Bulk chemicals, Asbestos, Bodily substances, Microbial contamination, Products of combustion from a structural or other fire or any ensemble soiled but not contaminated. If the Ensemble and ensemble elements have been subjected to soiling, the ensemble shall be subjected to advanced cleaning. Approach for Deciding the Handling, Cleaning and Disposition of Ensemble Elements: Ensemble and Ensemble elements shall be evaluated by the wearer or a designated individual (Company Officer, District Chief, or Quartermaster) for application of preliminary exposure reduction, cleaning, disinfection or sanitization after each use based on the flow charts below. Ensembles contaminated by CBRN terrorism agents: shall be immediately retired after confirmed exposure and shall not be subjected to cleaning. CBRN contaminated ensemble elements shall be doffed as soon as possible, bagged, and disposed of as hazardous waste in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. Ensembles used in hazardous materials incident: The ensemble shall be subject to preliminary exposure reduction and then assessed by a Company Officer, District Chief, or Quartermaster with knowledge about the specific exposures that took place. Information gained from the quartermaster shall be used to determined if cleaning is possible. If cleaning is not possible, the ensemble must be disposed of as hazardous waste in accordance with federal, state and local regulations. General Decontamination: Where the form of contamination can not be identified, contaminated ensembles and ensemble elements shall be subject to preliminary exposure reduction, isolated and removed from service until the contaminant can be identified and the elements can receive advanced or specialized cleaning, as necessary to remove it. Where multiple forms of contamination are present, the hierarchy of actions for handling, cleaning and disposition of the ensemble and ensemble elements shall be according to the contamination posing the highest risk. For more information on decontaminating PPE refer to flow chart(s) below. Page 9 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Incident/response CBRN event? Yes Condemn, retire, and dispose of PPE No No HazMat Incident? Yes Apply preliminary exposure reduction; have PPE assessed by Captain, District Chief or Quartermaser. Cleaning possible? Yes Apply appropriate specialized cleaning. No Contamination? Yes Apply preliminary exposure reduction; classify type of contamination. See figure 2 No Yes Soiling? Apply preliminary exposure reduction. No Apply advanced cleaning as needed Conduct routine inspection of PPE. Page 10 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Contamination Suspected Bulk Chemicals Yes Preliminary reduction, Isolate/contain PPE Apply appropriate specialized cleaning for contaminant type Have PPE assessed by Quartermaster Yes Cleaning/ Decontamination possible? No Yes Asbestos Preliminary reduction, Isolate/contain PPE Determine if exposure permits cleaning and reuse No Condemn, retire and dispose No Disinfection/ sanitization possible? Yes Bodily Fluids Preliminary reduction, Isolate/contain PPE Yes No Products of combustion Conduct routine inspection Yes Preliminary reduction, Isolate/contain PPE Apply advanced cleaning Page 11 of 15 No Apply disinfection or sanitization Conduct routine inspection of PPE Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Maintenance and Repair The Quartermaster division will coordinate and manage all basic PPE and advanced repairs utilizing manufactured approved techniques, equipment, and materials. All elements shall be subjected to an advanced or specialized cleaning before any repair work is done. Loaner PPE will be issued to members while repairs are being made. All repairs must meet NFPA 1971. Maintenance Maintenance or repairs will be done by a specially trained person(s) with parts designed for the PPE. No attempt will be made to replace components or to make repairs beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations Training Upon issue, all members shall be provided with the manufacturer written instructions on the care, use and maintenance of their PPE. New Firefighters will receive training on the care, use and maintenance of their PPE before participating in live fire training and responding to actual incidents. All members will receive training as needed when PPE elements are upgraded or changed. Storage and Transport            Issued PPE shall not be stored in direct sunlight or exposed to direct sunlight PPE should clean and dry before storage Not to be stored at temperatures below -40F or above 180F PPE shall be stored in areas that are not subject to sharp objects, tools or other equipment that could damage the ensemble or elements. Where ensemble or ensemble elements must be transported or stored in such environments, the ensemble shall be placed in a protective case. PPE shall not be stored or worn inside living quarters. Members of the public shall not be exposed at any time, except during emergency operations, to soiled or potentially soiled contaminated protective ensembles or ensemble elements Keep NON-CONTAMINATED PPE in a gear bag out of your vehicles interior compartment. Use of a tool box in a pick-up or trunk for equipped vehicles is preferred. Soiled or potentially contaminated ensembles or ensemble elements shall not be brought into the home, taken into public facilities, or transported in private vehicles. Contaminated or soiled clothing shall not be transported in the cab of the apparatus when not being worn for operational duties unless placed in an airtight protective case or bag to prevent cross contamination. PPE should never be stored in contact with hydraulic fluids, solvents, hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon vapors or other contaminates. PPE coat and trouser shall be stored by hanging to limit the damage caused by creasing and shall not be stored folded. Page 12 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Retirement Structural PPE will be retired when it is determined under the following conditions:      PPE is more than 10 years from the manufacture date. Ensemble is worn or damaged to the extent it is not possible or feasible to repair. PPE that is no longer NFPA compliant. PPE that has been contaminated with CBRN. Radiant Reflective outer shell is more than 5 years from manufacture date. The retired PPE will be disposed of in a manner ensuring that they will not be used in firefighting or emergency activities. The structural elements will be removed from service and the member will be issued a replacement item that is of the size, within the appropriate date of manufacturer, and has passed an advanced inspection by our third-party vendor. The Spring Fire Department will dispose of retired items once approved by the Emergency Service District #7. The items will either be destroyed and placed in a trash receptacle or if it is still decent equipment and just out of date, it will be donated to the Texas Forestry Service Helping Hands Program. Special Incident Procedure If any member(s) of the Spring Fire Department suffer(s) serious injury or death while wearing PPE: 1. The PPE will be immediately removed from service 2. The custody will be maintained by the Fire Chief or his/her designee and the PPE shall be kept in a secure location with controlled, documented access. 3. All PPE shall be nondestructively tagged and stored in paper or cardboard containers to prevent further degradation or damage. Plastic or airtight containers shall not be used. 4. The PPE will be made available to qualified members of the department, or outside experts as approved by the Fire Chief. 5. Retention for the custody of the PPE shall be determined by the Fire Chief. Replacement PPE PPE will be replaced when determined by a Quartermaster to be unserviceable due to normal wear and tear. Furthermore, replacement PPE will also be made available when it is accidentally damaged while performing various firefighting tasks through no fault of the fire fighter as determined by a Quartermaster. This also includes any gear that may be damaged during training sessions. If an individual discovers a piece of their issued PPE is damaged or needs replacement, they must immediately notify a Spring Fire Department Officer or District Chief on duty upon the discovery. The Officer or District Chief on duty will notify the Quartermaster group via email to obtain a replacement item(s). Lost or Misplaced PPE If an individual loses or misplaces any piece of their issued PPE they must immediately notify an Officer or District Chief on duty upon the discovery. The Officer or District Chief on duty will notify Page 13 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 the Quartermaster group via email to obtain a replacement item(s). It is the responsibility of each individual member to maintain control and proper maintenance of all issued gear. If an item is lost or misplaced, the member can be held responsible for the replacement cost of the item. The member can also be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination for not adhering to this guideline. During the time between the item(s) being lost and the issuance of replacement item(s), the firefighter will not be authorized to respond to any emergency incidents. After the individual, has been issued the replacement PPE needed, he/she will resume participation at emergency responses. Stolen PPE If an individual’s PPE is stolen from a residence, automobile, fire station or any other place that the individual may store their PPE, they must immediately notify a Spring Fire Department Officer or District Chief on duty, and file an official police report. After the report has been filed with a local law enforcement agency, the case number must be given to the Spring Fire Department Officer or District Chief on duty. Spring Fire Department Officer or District Chief on duty shall turn in the Case number to the Quartermaster and Deputy Chief of Support Services. After the case number is received, the department will secure a copy of the report and, at that time, the individual will receive a replacement of the item(s) stolen. The Spring Fire Department Officer or District Chief on duty must make the request for replacement item(s) through the Quartermasters group, via email. During the time between the item(s) being stolen and the issuance of replacement item(s), the firefighter will not be authorized to respond to any emergency incidents. After the individual has been issued the replacement PPE needed, he/she will resume participation at emergency responses. If an individual does not have an official police report turned in, they will revert to the section titled Lost or Misplaced PPE. Misuse/Destruction of PPE or Equipment The Spring Fire Department will not tolerate any member misusing or destroying their department issued PPE or any other department issued equipment. The individual could face disciplinary action including, but not limited to suspension and/or termination. The individual that recklessly damages department issued PPE or equipment can be held responsible to pay for the cost of replacing the item(s). Appropriate PPE at Emergency Incidents Structure and Mobile Property Fires Operations: 1. Members shall wear full PPE with SCBA utilized for fire attack, search and rescue, mobile property fires and while in a hazardous atmosphere. 2. Members operating outside of a structure but still in the hazard area shall wear full PPE with SCBA at the ready, in the event that conditions change. Extrication and Entrapments: Members operating at these incidents will start with full PPE, Wildland Protective Clothing, or Rescue PPE. Primary eye protection for members operating tools within the vicinity shall be worn. Incident and Division Officers will evaluate the removal of protective clothing for special needs. Page 14 of 15 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Personal Protective Equipment Document Number: SFD.005 Date: 03/07/2020 Revision Number: 07 Members are urged to wear PPE pants and boots with their Wildland gear at motor vehicle accidents but this is Officer’s discretion. Wildland fires: Members who have been issued Wildland firefighting gear shall utilize that gear when available. Members must remember that should a wildland fire become an interior fire attack of a structure that members will revert to full PPE with SCBA utilized for fire attack. Members may protect structures in Wildland gear. It is recommended that all members keep full PPE readily available in the instance that the emergency incident changes. Members who are not issued wildland gear shall report with full PPE and adjustments made if possible. Hazardous Materials Incidents: Members operating at these incidents shall report with full PPE with SCBA at the ready. The Incident Commander will insure that the proper level of Chemical Protective Clothing is utilized by all personnel on scene. Members working at hazardous materials incidents in areas not requiring thermal or chemical protection members may wear wildland clothing to provide identification and limited thermal protection. Refer to SFD.004 for in-depth chemical protection. Emergency Medical Incidents: Members shall follow the Cypress Creek E.M.S. Guidelines for exposure to blood borne pathogens, body fluids and any other communicable diseases. Rope/High Angle/Rough Terrain Rescues: Members operating at these incidents should not wear full PPE. Department issued jumpsuit or regular station attire may be acceptable. The use of bulky structural firefighting clothing presents the hazard of improper fit of the rescue harness and the hazard of coats becoming entangled rescue equipment. Station boots are permissible for high/low angle rescues, so long as the member’s footwear cannot slip off the rescuer’s feet. When available protective knee and elbow pads should be used when ascending or descending on rope. Rough terrain rescue clothing should be comfortable yet provide protection against abrasive injuries. Footwear should be suitable for uneven terrain. Summer uniforms only (shorts and tee-shirts) should be avoided. Members wearing summer type uniform should don a department issued jumpsuit or pants as minimum PPE. Water rescue: Protective or heavy clothing should not be worn during water rescue activity such as swift water or vehicles in high water. Lightweight clothing or diving gear is recommended. Protective clothing when water logged would serve only in adding to the possibility of drowning. Footwear used for wading into water should be able to be kicked off if the need to swim arises. (NO FIRE BOOTS). Confined space entry: Members entering confined spaces that have the likelihood to be oxygen deficient shall utilize a SCBA. If the hazardous area is suspected to present a fire or explosion hazard members shall wear full PPE with SCBA utilized. Page 15 of 15