Spring Fire Department/Harris County ESD No. 7 Uniforms PDF

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 ## Standard Operating Line SFD.055.a - Revision No: 0 - Issue Date: 4 Jan. 2024 - Effective Date: 8 Jan. 2024 - Review Date: 1 Jan. 2025 - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert - Reviewed by: Support Services ## Uniforms ### 1. Executive Summary - Memb...

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 ## Standard Operating Line SFD.055.a - Revision No: 0 - Issue Date: 4 Jan. 2024 - Effective Date: 8 Jan. 2024 - Review Date: 1 Jan. 2025 - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert - Reviewed by: Support Services ## Uniforms ### 1. Executive Summary - Members should maintain an appearance that positively reflects the department. - Members should wear uniforms correctly and when appropriate. - There are multiple levels of uniform, including Dress, Class A, Class B, and Class C. - Each uniform has specific components which should be worn completely and correctly. - Devices and insignia on the uniform should be worn correctly. - Non-uniformed personnel may wear other types of designated business attire. - Operations Support personnel may wear approved attire. - Class B or business attire should be worn when attending outside training, except for hands-on training, where Class C may be worn. - The department provides initial uniform and recurring allowances to ensure that members have adequate uniforms. - Raincoats, winter coats, job shirts, ball caps, and shorts may be worn as approved. ### 2. Purpose Spring Fire Department takes pride in the appearance of its employees and members. A standard uniform for staffing personnel will assist the department with standardization throughout the service area. Your personal appearance reflects the department ### 3. Policy Statement - All members are required to report to work neatly dressed in a clean and correct uniform. - Operational members are always required to wear department uniforms when on duty. If you report to duty inappropriately dressed, the result may be discipline up to and including termination. - This guideline provides guidance to non-uniformed and operational support members in relation to proper workplace attire. ### 4. Scope This guideline applies to all members. ### 5. Definitions See *Glossary*. ### 6. Procedures and Responsibilities #### a. Dress Uniform - The dress uniform should be worn on all Line of Duty Death funerals whether internal or external, ceremonies, and court appearances. Any other events that a dress uniform is requested should be approved by a Deputy Chief or above. - This uniform should always be kept pressed/ironed and ready for wearing. #### b. Class A Uniform - The Class A uniform should be worn on all Line of Duty Death funerals whether internal or external, ceremonies, and court appearances when personnel have not been issued a dress uniform. - This uniform should always be kept pressed/ironed and ready for wearing. #### c. Class B Uniform - The Class B Uniform is a semi-formal attire that should be worn at public relations events unless otherwise instructed by a Deputy Chief or above. All members attending a public relations event should dress in the same uniform. - Class B Uniforms can be worn at fire department events at the discretion of the station officer. - Members should wear Class B uniforms to training as stated in this guideline. - This uniform should always be kept pressed / ironed and ready for wearing. #### d. Class C Uniform - The Class C Uniform should be worn by all members while on duty conducting normal shift assignments. - Firefighters and Apparatus Operators should wear a department issued navy t-shirt with a white outlined Spring Fire Department badge above the left chest. The rank should be in white lettering above the right chest. 'Spring Fire' should be on the back of the T-shirt in white outlined lettering. - Captains should wear a department issued navy T-shirt with a gold outlined Spring Fire Department badge above the left chest. The rank should be in gold lettering above the right chest. 'Spring Fire' should be on the back of the T-shirt in gold outlined lettering. - Chief Officers should wear white polos with the embroidered patch above the left chest and name/rank above the right chest. Chiefs can wear white T-shirts when deemed appropriate. - Captains riding up as District Chief should wear navy polos with the embroidered patch above the left chest and name/rank above the right chest. Captains can wear the department navy t-shirt when deemed appropriate. - Spring Fire Department issued t-shirts for special events may be worn at a Chief Officer's discretion. This includes but not limited to Breast Cancer Awareness or Astros themed Spring Fire Department shirts. #### e. Uniform Contents - **Dress Uniform** consists of the following: - Long sleeve button-down shirt, shirt color dependent on rank, with Spring Fire Department patch sewn on both sleeves. - Dress navy coat with the Spring Fire Department patch sewn on both sleeves and markings indicative of rank and years of service (A Maltese cross will be added to the wearer's left lower sleeve for every 5 years of service, to include time served at other departments, Example: 20 years of service = 4 Maltese crosses) - Dress navy pants - Badge - Dress Coat disk-style collar brass - Collar brass on shirt - Name plate - Medal(s) - Dark navy tie - Dress cap with insignia device - Black dress belt - Black dress shoes - **Class A Uniform** consists of the following: - Long sleeve button-down shirt, shirt color dependent on rank, with Spring Fire Department patch sewn on both sleeves. - Dress navy pants - Badge - Collar brass - Name plate - Commendation bar(s) - Shoulder boards - Dark navy tie - Black dress belt - Black dress shoes - **Class B Uniform** consists of the following: - Short or long sleeve button-down shirt, shirt color dependent on rank, with Spring Fire Department patch sewn on the left sleeve and EMS certification patch sewn on the right sleeve. - Navy pants - Badge - Collar brass - Name plate - Commendation bar(s) - Black leather belt with no buckle - Duty boots - **Class C Uniform** consists of the following: - Navy t-shirt - Navy/White polo shirt - Navy pants - Black belt with no buckle - Duty boots #### f. Devices, Rank Markings, and Insignia Placement - Nameplates should be centered above the wearer's right pocket, 1/8" above the seam. Names plates should be silver for Firefighters and Apparatus Operators, and should be gold for Captains and Chief Officers. - Commendation bar(s) and medal(s) should be worn in accordance with the latest version of SFD.020 – Awards and Medals. - **Firefighters:** - Badge - silver - **Collar brass - silver SFD insignia** and should be placed centered to the collar tip, ¼" from the edge of the collar, just inside the stitching. - **Shoulder boards - dark navy boards** with silver firefighter scramble - **Dress coat – wide silver band** on each sleeve - **Dress cap - navy** in color, no band with a silver firefighter scramble insignia - **Apparatus Operators:** - Badge - silver - **Collar brass - silver SFD insignia** and should be placed centered to the collar tip, ¼" from the edge of the collar, just inside the stitching. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with silver firefighter scramble - Dress coat - wide silver band and a thin silver band on each sleeve - Dress cap - navy in color, no band with a silver firefighter scramble insignia - **Captains:** - Badge - gold with a single bugle - **Collar brass - single gold bugle**, placed centered to the collar tip, 1½" from each edge of the collar with the bell of the bugle downward toward the point of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with a single gold bugle - Dress coat - wide gold band on each sleeve - Dress cap - navy in color, gold band with a single gold bugle insignia - **Senior Captains** - Badge - gold with two (2) parallel bugles - **Collar brass - two (2) parallel gold bugles**, placed centered to the collar tip, 1/4" from each edge of the collar with the bells of the bugles downward toward the point of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with two (2) parallel gold bugles - Dress coat - wide gold band and a thin gold band on each sleeve - Dress cap - navy in color, gold band with two (2) parallel gold bugles insignia - **District Chiefs:** - Badge - gold with two (2) crossed bugles - **Collar brass - two (2) crossed gold bugles**, placed centered to the collar tip, ¼" from each edge of the collar with the bells of the bugles downward toward the point and edges of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with two (2) crossed gold bugles - Dress coat - two (2) wide gold bands on each sleeve - Dress cap - black in color with a white top, gold band with two (2) crossed gold bugles insignia - **Deputy Chiefs:** - Badge - gold with three (3) crossed bugles - **Collar brass - three (3) crossed gold bugles**, placed centered to the collar tip, ¼" from each edge of the collar with the bells of the bugles downward toward the point and edges of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with three (3) crossed gold bugles - Dress coat - three (3) wide gold bands on each sleeve - Dress cap - black in color with a white top, gold band with three (3) crossed gold bugles insignia - **Assistant Fire Chief:** - Badge - gold with four (4) crossed bugles - **Collar brass - four (4) crossed gold bugles**, placed centered to the collar tip, 1/4" from each edge of the collar with the bells of the bugles downward toward the point and edges of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with four (4) crossed gold bugles - Dress cap – black in color with a with a white top, gold band with four (4) crossed gold bugles insignia - **Fire Chief:** - Badge - gold with five (5) crossed bugles - **Collar brass - five (5) crossed gold bugles**, placed centered to the collar tip, 1/4" from each edge of the collar with the bells of the bugles downward toward the point and edges of the collar. - Shoulder boards - dark navy boards with five (5) crossed gold bugles - Dress coat - five (5) wide gold bands on each sleeve - Dress cap - black in color with a white top, gold band with five (5) crossed gold bugles insignia. #### g. Under Shirts - Under shirts are allowed and should be either navy or white. Under shirts should be worn with Class A and B uniform shirts and should match the color of the Class A or B uniform. #### h. Non-Uniformed Personnel - Non-uniformed personnel include but are not limited to, Human Resources, Administrative Assistant(s), Information Technology, and office personnel. Non-uniformed members may wear business casual attire (non-form-fitting jeans, polo-shirts, shirts with collars or department issued collared shirts). Open-toed shoes and sandals are not permitted. Non-uniformed personnel are expected to maintain a clean appearance while representing the Spring Fire Department. Department T-shirts may be worn. During the month of October, Breast Cancer T-shirts may be worn all month. #### i. Operations Support Personnel - Support Services personnel include but are not limited to, Logistics, Apparatus Maintenance, Facility Maintenance, and Training. Due to the nature of the variety types of activities, a specific uniform is not defined. The attire for these personnel should be approved by their respective Division Head. #### j. Outside Training Uniforms - Spring Fire Department members should wear a Class B uniform, or business casual attire, while representing the department at outside training opportunities conducted in a classroom setting. Members participating in hands-on training may wear the Class C uniform. #### k. Internal Training Uniforms - Spring Fire Department members should wear Class C polo, a Class B uniform, business casual attire, or attire appropriate to the class setting while representing the department at inside training opportunities conducted in a classroom setting. Members participating in hands-on training may wear the Class C uniform. #### I. Department Issued Uniforms - Spring Fire Department will provide the members of the department with the following uniforms. These items can be issued/ordered when the member is cleared to sign up for staffing shifts. - **Volunteer / Part Time** - (3) Navy T-Shirts - (2) Navy Pants - (1) Navy Blue Dress Pants (Not issued to Recruits) - (1) Black Belt - (1) Class B Uniform Shirt (Not Issued to Recruits) - (1) Class A Uniform Shirt (Not Issued to Recruits) - (1) Silver Name Plate (Not Issued to Recruits) - (1) Navy Tie (Not Issued to Recruits) - (1) Raincoat (Not Issued to Recruits) - (1) Jacket (Not Issued to Recruits) - **Full Time** - (6) Navy T-Shirts - (4) Navy Pants - (1) Dress Pant - (1) Black Belt - (1) Class B Uniform Shirt - (1) Class A Uniform Shirt - (1) Jacket - (1) Silver Name Plate - (1) Navy Tie - (1) Raincoat #### m. Uniform / Boot Allowance - An individual should receive the above for the first initial issuance. Each year after, a discretionary uniform / boot allowance will be given to uniformed personnel. In January of each year, a notification will be sent defining the amounts for each employment classification. Yearly uniforms allowances will not be transferred from person to person or from year to year. The yearly allowance will be used for uniforms only. This includes t-shirts, pants, belts, Class A shirt, Class B shirt, hats, collar brass, and winter job shirt. Yearly uniform / boot allowances will be released February 1 of each year. Uniform / boot allowances are active until November 30 of each year. Only emergency purchases approved by the Deputy Chief of Support Services will be allowed between December 1 and January 31 of each year. If a department wide uniform change occurs, the department has the authority to lower or eliminate an annual uniform allowance. - Boots purchased must meet the requirements in this policy. Each member is responsible for submitting their receipt to receive reimbursement. #### n. Jackets / Raincoats - Spring Fire Department provides a yellow raincoat with reflective trim and a navy winter coat. These are the only two approved coats/jackets allowed to be worn on duty. #### o. Job Shirts - Spring Fire Department provides job shirts to members. A job shirt can also be purchased with the member's yearly uniform allowance. Only job shirts purchased from the approved vendor can be worn unless prior approval is given by the Deputy Chief of Support Services. Job shirts may be worn as part of Class B, and Class C uniforms. #### p. Station T-Shirts/Apparel - Each individual station may create and purchase station t-shirts/apparel. Any design created for a station t-shirt/apparel should be approved by the Fire Chief or designee. These t-shirts/apparel should not be worn on duty #### q. Ball Caps / Hats - Only approved Spring Fire Department ball caps will be worn on duty. If a member chooses to purchase their own hat, it should be approved by the Deputy Chief of Support Services prior to purchase. Navy beanie hats with the Spring Fire Department patch/name are allowed during cold weather. Hats should be worn with the bill to the front. Hats should have a natural curved bill; no flat bills are permitted. Hats that are frayed, faded, or worn out should be replaced. Ball caps and hats are prohibited from being worn while wearing a Dress, Class A or Class B uniform. #### r. Shorts - Shorts may be worn on duty in place of navy pants with Class C uniforms only. The approved short is the Navy Blue 5-11 short with cargo pockets. These shorts are not standard issue and can be purchased through the member's uniform allowance. If a member does not have a uniform allowance, that member can purchase the approved shorts on his or her own. There will be no reimbursement for shorts purchased by the member. - While wearing shorts, black tennis shoes and black ankle socks are required. No other color should be visible on the shoe or sock. These items are not provided by the fire department and are the responsibility of the individual member. - The decision of wearing shorts or pants as the members' choice of uniform for the shift is up to the individual. Not all crew members have to wear the same type of pants/shorts. - Shorts should not be worn during public relation events or during other events described in this guideline. #### s. Miscellaneous - Shorts and tennis shoes are allowed during workout sessions. The proper uniform should be donned prior to any responses. - Appropriate work out attire does not include form fitting clothing, swimwear, halter tops, bare midriffs and inappropriate shorts. Proper workout attire includes clothing that is comfortable to exercise in and is respectable to other participants (i.e. the chest and midriff should be covered at all times, shorts should be of acceptable length, no yoga pants/shorts (form fitting) and vulgar and/or offensive screenings on attire will not be tolerated). Bare feet, sock-only, sandals, open-toe shoes, crocs, dress shoes, and boots are prohibited while working out. - Firefighters should sleep in appropriate attire. Minimum: t-shirts, gym wear, shorts, sweatpants, etc. Wearing inappropriate clothing in common spaces like bunkrooms, hallways, lounge areas, dayrooms, apparatus bays, etc. is not acceptable. - All department issued uniforms except pants will be returned to Human Resources upon separation from the department. Failure to return department property may result in payroll deduction and/or criminal charges. - All uniform orders should be purchased online utilizing the approved uniform vendor link on the Spring Fire Department personnel home page at: - https://springfd.sharepoint.com/sites/home - Any request that cannot be fulfilled through the uniform order page should be requested through the Logistics Office. A Purchase Order should be approved by the Administrative Assistant prior to ordering. ### 7. References & Related Policies This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. | Applicable State or Federal Statutes | OSHA | Spring FD | |---|---|---| | NFPA | ISO | TFCA | | TCFP | | | ### 8. Contact Office The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: - Company Officer - District Chief - Deputy Chief of Support Services - Assistant Chief - Fire Chief ### 9. List of Changes | Revision No. | Description of Changes | Approve d by | Effective Date | |---|---|---|---| | 05 | Updated to include Crown Act requirements and Outside Training uniform standards. | Logan | 11/21/2023 | | 06 | Updated allowance section and minor policy changes regarding use of shorts. | Schoonover | 1/4/2024 | ### 10. Errors See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member's legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline.