065 Fire Departments and Brigades
065.01 Scope
065.02 Definitions Applicable to this Section
065.03 General Requirements
065.04 Requirements for Fire Fighter's Protective Clothing

065. FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND BRIGADES. (7-1-97)

01. Scope: (7-1-97)

a. This section contains information and basic requirements common to all fire departments and fire brigades, but does not intend to specify specific requirements for specific operations. (7-1-97)

b. This section provides basic guidance with regard to operational safety, training, and protective equipment. (7-1-97)

02. Definitions: For definitions of other terms used in this section, see sub-section 010 of this standard. (7-1-97)

a. Fire Brigade is a private fire department usually made up of an organized group of employees who are knowledgeable, trained, and skilled in at least basic fire fighting operations. (7-1-97)

b. Fire Department is an organized group of professional fire fighters, volunteer fire fighters, or a combination of professional and volunteer fire fighters who are knowledgeable, trained, and skilled in advanced fire fighting operations. (7-1-97)

03. General Requirements: (7-1-97)

a. The fire department or the employer of a fire brigade shall prepare and maintain a statement or written policy which establishes the basic organizational structure; the type, amount, and frequency of training to be provided fire fighters; and the functions that the department/brigades to perform. (7-1-97)

b. The employer shall assure that employees who are expected to fight fires, perform rescues, or work on hazardous materials incidents are physically capable of performing the duties which may be assigned to them during emergencies. The employer shall not permit employees with known heart disease, epilepsy, or emphysema, to participate in emergency activities unless a physician's certificate of the employees' fitness to participate in such activities is provided. (7-1-97)

c. The employer shall provide training and education for all employees who are expected to fight fires, perform rescues, or work on hazardous materials incidents. Such training and education shall be provided to employees before they perform duties which may be assigned to them during emergencies. Fire department/brigade leaders and training instructors shall be provided with training and education which is more comprehensive than that provided to the general membership of the department/brigade. (7-1-97)

d. The employer shall assure that training and education is conducted frequently enough to assure that each employee is able to perform their assigned duties and functions satisfactorily and in a safe manner so as not to endanger other employees or the public. All fire department/brigade members shall be provided with training at least annually. In addition, fire department/brigade members who are expected to perform interior structural fire fighting shall be provided with an education session or training at least quarterly. (7-1-97)

e. The quality of the training and education shall be similar to that conducted by nationally recognized fire training schools. (7-1-97)

f. The employer shall inform fire department/brigade members of special hazards to which they may be exposed during fire and other emergencies. Fire department/brigade members shall also be advised of any changes that occur in relation to the special hazards. The employer shall develop, maintain, and make available for inspection by fire department/brigade members, written procedures that describe the actions to be taken in situations involving the special hazards and shall include these in the training and education program. (7-1-97)

g. The employer shall maintain and inspect, at least annually, equipment to assure the safe operational condition of the equipment. Fire fighting equipment, rescue equipment, hazardous material cleanup equipment, and personal protective equipment that is in a damaged or unserviceable condition shall be removed from service and replaced. (7-1-97)

h. The employer shall provide at no cost to the employee and assure the use of protective clothing and equipment that complies with the requirements of this standard. The employer shall assure that protective clothing and equipment protects the head, body, and extremities, and consist of at least the following components: foot and leg protection; hand protection; body protection; eye, face, respiratory, face, and head protection. Protective clothing and equipment shall protect against special hazards that fire department/brigade members may be exposed during fire and other emergencies. (7-1-97)

04. Requirements for Fire Fighter's Protective Clothing: (7-1-97)

a. Foot and leg protection may be achieved by either of the following methods: fully extended boots which provide protection for the legs; or protective shoes or boots worn in combination with protective trousers that meet the requirements of sub-section 065.04.b of this section. Protective footwear shall meet the requirements of sub-section 050.12 of this standard and ANSI Z41 "American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear" for Class seventy five (75) footwear. In addition, protective footwear shall be water-resistant for at least five (5)-inches above the bottom of the heal and shall be equipped with slip-resistant outer soles. Protective footwear shall be listed and shall provide protection against penetration of the mid sole by a size eight penny (8d) common nail when at least three hundred (300)-pounds of static force is applied to the nail. (7-1-97)

b. Body protection shall be coordinated with foot and leg protection to ensure full body protection for the wearer. This shall be achieved by one of the following methods: wearing of a fire resistive coat meeting the requirements of this sub-section in combination with fully extended boots meeting the requirements or sub-section 065.04.a of this section; or wearing of a fire resistive coat in combination with protective trousers both of which meet the requirements of this sub-section. The performance, construction, and testing of fire resistive coats and protective trousers shall be at least equivalent to the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1971 "Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting". (7-1-97)

c. Hand protection shall consist of protective gloves or glove system which will provide protection against cut, puncture, and heat penetration. Gloves or glove system shall be tested in accordance with the test methods contained in the National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health, NIOSH, publication "The Development of Criteria for Fire Fighter's Gloves, Test Methods". (7-1-97)

d. Head protection shall consist of a protective head device with ear flaps and chin strap which meet the performance, construction, and testing requirements of the National Fire Safety and Research Office of the U. S. Fire Administration, U. S. Department of Commerce, which are contained in the "Model Performance Criteria for Structural Firefighters' Helmets. (7-1-97)

e. Protective eye and face protection shall be used when performing operations where the hazards of flying or falling materials which may cause eye and face injuries are present. Protective eye and face devices provided as accessories to protective head devices (face shields) are permitted when such devices meet the requirements of sub-section 050.04. of this standard. Full face pieces, helmets, or hoods of breathing apparatus which meet the requirements of sub-section 050.04 of this standard shall be acceptable as meeting the eye and face requirements of this sub-section. (7-1-97)

f. Respiratory protection devices which comply with the requirements of this sub-section and sub-sections 050.05, 050.06, 050.07, and 050.08 of this standard and certified under 30 CFR part 11, shall be provided at no cost to employees and their use shall be assured. An approved self-contained breathing apparatus with full-face piece, or with approved helmet or hood configuration, shall be provided to and worn by employees while working inside buildings or confined spaces where toxic products of combustion or an oxygen deficiency may be present. Such apparatus shall also be worn during emergency situations involving toxic substances. (7-1-97)

g. Approved self-contained breathing apparatus may be equipped with either a "buddy-breathing" device or a quick disconnect valve, even if these devices are not certified by NIOSH. If these accessories are used, they shall not cause damage to the apparatus, or restrict the air flow of the apparatus, or obstruct the normal operation of the apparatus. (7-1-97)

h. Self contained breathing apparatus shall have a minimum service life rating of thirty (30) minutes in accordance with the methods and requirements of the Mine Safety Administration and NIOSH. EXCEPTION: Escape self-contained breathing apparatus used only for emergency escape purposes. (7-1-97)

i. The employer shall assure that self-contained breathing apparatus for use by firefighters performing interior structural fire fighting operations, are of the pressure demand or other positive pressure type. This sub-section does not prohibit the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus where the apparatus can be switched from a demand to a positive pressure mode. However, such apparatus shall be in the positive pressure mode when performing interior structural fire fighting operations. A negative pressure self-contained breathing apparatus with a rated service life of more than two (2) hours and which have a minimum protection factor of five-thousand (5,000), as determined by an acceptable quantitative fit test performed on each individual, is acceptable for use only during those interior structural fire fighting situations for which the employer demonstrates that a long duration breathing apparatus is necessary. (7-1-97)

066 - 069. (RESERVED)