Township of Upper Chichester, PA Fire Department

It shall be the responsibility of the Fire Department to provide a safe, healthy work environment for its members. The Fire Department shall research, develop, implement and enforce a safety and health program that recognizes and reduces the inherent risks involved in the operations of a fire department.

The Fire Department shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and legal requirements with respect to member safety and health.

The Fire Department shall establish and enforce rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures to reach the objectives of this standard.

Each individual member of the Fire Department shall cooperate, participate, and comply with the provisions of the safety and health program.

It shall be the right of each member to be protected by an effective safety and health program and to participate or be represented in the research, development, implementation, and enforcement of the program.

Fire Department Safety Officer.

The Fire Company Chief shall appoint on a yearly basis one Fire Safety Officer and one Deputy Safety Officer. The requirements for this position shall be established by Township resolution adopted from time to time.

The Fire Department Safety Officer shall be responsible for the management of the safety and health program.

Safety and Health Committee. A Safety and Health Committee shall be established and serve in an advisory capacity to the Township Fire Marshal. The Committee shall include one Commissioner, the Township Fire Marshal, two Safety Officers from each company. The Township Fire Marshal shall have the final authority on all matters in the event of a tie.

Records.

The Fire Department shall establish a data collection system and maintain permanent records of all injuries or deaths that are or might be Fire Company related. All reports of such injuries or deaths will be submitted to the Township Fire Marshal's office.

The Fire Department shall maintain training records for each member indicating dates, subjects covered, and certifications achieved.

The Fire Department shall maintain inspection, maintenance, repair, and service records for all vehicles and equipment used for emergency operations.

The Fire Department shall maintain confidential health records for each member and a health database for members.

§ 34-7 Training and education.

General requirements.

The Fire Department shall establish and maintain a training and education program with a goal of preventing accidents, injuries, deaths, and illnesses.

The training and education provided to members shall address all of the applicable provisions of this standard.

The Fire Department shall provide training and education for all Fire Department members commensurate with the duties and functions that they are expected to perform.

The Fire Department shall provide training and education for all members to ensure that they are able to perform their assigned duties in a safe manner that does not present a hazard to themselves or to other members.

All training and education shall be provided by individuals who are knowledgeable in the subjects covered.

Training frequency.

Training shall be provided for all members as often as necessary to meet the requirements. There will be two drills a year for the Department. Also, there will be the required 24 hours' training for the year.

Whenever changes in procedures or technology are introduced or new hazards are identified in the work environment, appropriate training and education shall be provided for all affected members.

Basic training and requirements.

Members shall be provided with training and education appropriate for their duties and responsibilities before being permitted to engage in emergency operations.

All members who engage in structural firefighting shall meet the minimum requirements of Basic Fire Fighting/Fire I, Fire II by 1991.

All members who wish to become Fire Suppression Officers must meet the qualifications for line officers, by the year 1991. See attached for qualifications.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See § 34-13.

Training for structural firefighting.

Members engaged in structural firefighting shall participate in training for at least 14 hours per year.

Training exercises shall be conducted by knowledgeable personnel in the subject matter.

Smoke-generating devices that produce a hazardous atmosphere shall not be used in training exercises.

Special hazards. Specialized training and education shall be provided to members that describe the actions to be taken in situations involving special hazards and shall include these in the training and education program.

§ 34-8 Vehicles and equipment.

General. The Fire Department shall consider health and safety as primary concerns in the specification, design, construction, acquisition, operation, maintenance, inspection, and repair of all vehicles and equipment.

Drivers/operators of Fire Department vehicles.

Drivers of Fire Department vehicles shall have valid driver's licenses and authorization card signed by the Chief of the Company listing each vehicle that the driver is qualified to drive/operate. This card is to be carried at all times.

Vehicles shall be operated in compliance with all traffic laws, including sections pertaining to emergency vehicles.

Drivers of Fire Department vehicles shall be directly responsible for safe and prudent operation under all conditions. When the driver is under the direct supervision of an officer, that officer shall also assume responsibility for the actions of the driver.

Drivers shall not move Fire Department vehicles until all persons on the vehicles are properly secured. Until such time that new equipment is purchased, all personnel riding rear step will be in full protective turn out clothing and safety belts secured.

Further qualifications of drivers shall be established by Township resolution adopted from time to time.

Persons riding on Fire Department vehicles.

All persons riding on Fire Department vehicles shall be seated and secured to the vehicle by seat belts or safety harnesses at any time the vehicle is in motion. Riding on the tailsteps or in any other exposed position shall be prohibited. [See Subsection B(4) of this section.]

Helmets and eye protection shall be provided for and used by persons riding in cabs or tiller seats that are exposed.

All new Fire Department vehicles shall be specified and ordered with sufficient number of seats in an enclosed area as specified by NFPA 190221, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, for the maximum number of persons who may ride on the vehicle at any time. This will be effective in the year 1991 and not affect existing Fire Department vehicles.

Inspection, maintenance and repair of vehicles.

All Fire Department vehicles shall be inspected at least weekly and within 24 hours after any use or repair to identify and correct unsafe conditions. A preventive maintenance program shall be established and records shall be maintained as specified in § 34-6E(3) of this standard. Maintenance, inspections, and repairs shall be performed in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.

Any Fire Department vehicle found to be unsafe shall be placed out of service until repaired. After being repaired, the vehicle shall be inspected prior to being placed back in service.

Fire pumps on all vehicles shall be service tested at least on a monthly basis and recorded in the maintenance records.

All aerial devices shall be inspected and service in accordance with the frequency and procedures specified in NFPA 1904, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Ladders and Elevating Platforms.

Portable equipment.

All equipment carried on Fire Department vehicles designated for training shall be visually inspected at least weekly and within 24 hours after any use. Inventory records shall be maintained for the equipment carried on each vehicle. Records shall be maintained for equipment designated for training.

All equipment carried on Fire Department vehicles or designated for training shall be tested at least annually in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and applicable standards.

Firefighting equipment found to be defective or in unserviceable condition shall be removed from service and repaired or replaced.

All ground ladders shall be inspected and service tested as specified in NFPA 1932, Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of Fire Department Ground Ladders.

All fire hoses shall be inspected and service tested as specified in NFPA 1962, Standard on Care, Maintenance, and Use of Fire Hose Including Connections and Nozzles.

All fire extinguishers shall be inspected and tested as specified in NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

The hearing conservation objectives of § 34-9H(3) of this article shall be taken into account in the acquisition of new power tools and equipment.

§ 34-9 Protective clothing and protective equipment.

General.

The Fire Department shall provide each member with the appropriate protective clothing and protective equipment to provide protection from the hazards of the work environment to which the member is or may be exposed. Such protective clothing and protective equipment shall be suitable for the tasks that the members are expected to perform in that environment.

Protective clothing and equipment shall be used whenever the member is exposed or potentially exposed to the hazards for which it is provided.

Members shall be fully trained in the care, use, inspection, maintenance and limitations of the protective clothing and protective equipment assigned to them or available for their use.

Protective clothing and protective equipment shall be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. A maintenance and inspection program shall be established for protective clothing and protective equipment. Specific responsibilities shall be assigned to the safety officer, for the inspection, and maintenance.

Protective clothing for structural firefighting.

All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided with both protective coats and protective trousers that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting. An overlap of not less than eight inches (203 mm) of protective coat and protective trousers shall be required.

All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided with helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1972, Standard on Helmets for Structural Fire Fighting.

All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided with gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1978, Standard on Gloves for Structural Fire Fighting.

Fire Departments that provided protective coats with protective resilient wristlets secured through a thumb opening may provide gloves of the gauntlet type for use with these protective coats. Fire Departments that do not provide such wristlets attached to all protective coats shall provide gloves of the wristlet type for use with these protective coats.

All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided with footwear that meet the requirements of NFPA 1974, Standard on Protective Footwear for Structural Fire Fighting.

All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided with approved protective hoods or combination of ear flaps and collar that provide protection for the ears and neck and interface with the SCBA facepiece, protective coat and helmet.

The Fire Department shall require all members to wear all the protective clothing specified in Subsection B(1) through (6) of this section at all times when involved in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting.

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Provision and use.

(a)

SCBA shall be provided for and shall be used by all personnel working in areas where:

[1]

The atmosphere is hazardous.

[2]

The atmosphere is suspected of being hazardous.

[3]

The atmosphere may rapidly become hazardous.

(b)

In addition to the above, all personnel working below ground level or inside any confined space shall be provided with SCBA and shall use SCBA unless safety of the atmosphere can be established by testing and continuous monitoring.

Sources of a compressed gaseous breathing air, such as compressors, cascade systems, storage receivers, etc., used for filling SCBA cylinders shall be tested at least every three months to assure their compliance.

SCBA cylinders shall be emptied per the instructions of the manufacturer if not utilized within a three-month period.

SCBA cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested within the periods specified by the manufacturers and applicable governmental agencies.

Member using SCBA shall operate in teams of two or more who are in communication with each other through visual, audible, physical, safety guide rope, electronic or other means to coordinate their activities, and are in close proximity to each other to provide assistance in case of an emergency.

When members are involved in operations that require the use of SCBA or other respiratory protection protective equipment, at least one member shall be assigned to remain outside the area where respiratory protection is required. This member shall be responsible for maintaining a constant awareness of the number and identity of personnel using SCBA, their location and function, and time of entry. Members with SCBA shall be available for rescue.

The facepiece seal capability of each member qualified to use SCBA shall be verified by qualitative fit testing on an annual basis and any time that new types of SCBA are issued. Each new member shall be tested before being permitted to use SCBA in a hazardous atmosphere. Only members with a properly fitting facepiece shall be permitted by the Fire Department to function in a hazardous atmosphere with self-contained breathing apparatus.

(8)

Beards or facial hair that interfere with the facepiece seal shall be prohibited for members required to use SCBA. If eyeglasses are worn, the member shall use frames that do not pass through the seal area of the facepiece.

Personnel Alert Safety System (PASS).

Each member involved in rescue, firefighting, or other hazardous duties shall be provided with and shall use a PASS device. Each PASS device shall be tested at least weekly and prior to each use, and shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.

All PASS devices used by the Fire Department shall meet the requirements of NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for firefighters.

Life safety ropes, harnesses, and hardware.

All safety ropes, harnesses, and hardware used by Fire Departments shall meet the requirements of NFPA 1983, Standard of Fire Safety Rope, Harnesses, and Hardware.

(a)

Class 1 life safety harnesses shall only be used for firefighting attachment to ladders and aerial devices.

(b)

Class 2 and Class 3 life safety harnesses shall be utilized for all fall arrest and rappelling operations.

Rope used to support the weight of members or other persons during rescue, firefighting, other emergency operations, or during training evolutions shall be life safety rope. Life safety rope used for any other purpose shall be removed from service and destroyed.

Life safety rope used for rescue at fire or other emergency incidents shall be previously unused and shall be destroyed after each use.

Life safety rope used for training evolutions shall be designated as training rope and may be reused if inspected before and after each use in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. Training ropes shall be destroyed if subject to impact loading, or if signs of weakness or wear are detected. Records shall be maintained to record the use of each life safety rope used for training.

New and existing protective clothing and protective equipment.

All new protective clothing and protective equipment shall meet the current edition, as specified in UCFD 051.

Existing protective clothing and protective equipment shall have met the edition of respective NFPA standard that was current when the protective clothing or protective equipment was purchased.

Eye and face protection. Face and eye protection shall be provided for and used by members engaged in fire suppression and other operations involving hazards to the eyes and face at all times when the face is not protected by the full facepiece of self-contained breathing apparatus.

Hearing protection.

Hearing protection shall be provided for and used by all members operating or riding on fire apparatus when subject to noise in excess of 90 DBA.

Hearing protection shall be provided for and used by all members when exposed to noise in excess of 90 DBA from power tools or equipment, exception situation where the use of such protective equipment would create an additional hazard to the user.

The Fire Department shall engage in a hearing conservation program to identify and reduce or eliminate potentially harmful sources of noise in the work environment. Where audiometric testing indicates a significant hearing loss for a member, the Fire Department shall address these conditions on an individual basis, as well as take steps to control potentially harmful noise exposure to any or all other members.

§ 34-10 Emergency operations.

Organization.

Emergency operations and other situations that present similar hazards, including training exercise, shall be conducted in a manner to recognize hazards and to prevent accident and injuries.

An incident command system shall be established with written procedures applying to all members involved in emergency operations. All members involved in emergency operations shall be familiar with the system.

The incident command system shall identify roles and responsibilities relating to the safety of operations. Safety responsibilities shall be assigned to supervisory personnel at each level of the organization.

The officer in command of an emergency incident shall be responsible for the overall safety of all members and all activities occurring at the scene.

The officer in command of an emergency incident shall establish an organization with sufficient supervisory personnel to control the position and function of all members operating at the scene and to ensure that safety requirements are satisfied.

A standard system shall be used to identify and account for the assignment of each member at the scene of the incident.

At incidents or situations where special hazards exist, the office in command shall assign qualified personnel with specific responsibility to identify and evaluate hazards and to provide direction with respect to the safety of operations.

Incident safety requirements.

Fire Department operations shall be limited to those that can be safely performed by the personnel available at the scene.

When inexperienced members are working at an incident, direct supervision shall be provided by more experienced officers or members. This requirement shall not reduce the training requirements contained in § 34-7 of this standard.

When members are operating at an emergency incident and their assignment places them in potential conflict with motor vehicle traffic, they shall wear helmets as specified in § 34-9B(2) of this standard, and a garment with fluorescent retroreflective material.

Incident involving special hazards.

When members are operating in hazardous areas, they shall work in teams of two or more. There shall be at one member specifically assigned to remain outside the hazardous area and maintain an awareness of the operations inside the hazardous area.

Whenever members are operating in positions or performing functions that include special hazards or that would subject them to immediate danger of injury in the event of equipment failure or other sudden event, backup personnel shall be standing by with equipment to provide assistance or rescue.

Whenever members are operating in positions or performing functions that involve an immediate risk of injury, qualified basic life support personnel shall be standing by with medical equipment and transportation capability.

§ 34-11 Facility safety.

Safety standards.

All Fire Department facilities shall comply with all legally applicable health, safety, building and fire code requirements.

All sleeping areas in fire stations shall be separated from vehicle storage areas by at least one-hour fire-resistive assemblies and shall be protected by smoke detectors.

Fire stations shall be designed and provided with provisions to ventilate exhaust emissions from fire apparatus to prevent exposure to firefighters contamination of living and sleeping areas.

Inspections.

All Fire Department facilities shall be inspected at least annually to provide for compliance with Subsection A of this section. Inspections shall be documented and recorded.

All Fire Department facilities shall be inspected at least monthly to identify the cause correction of any health or safety hazards.

Maintenance and repairs. The Fire Department shall have an established system to maintain all facilities, and to cause prompt correction of any health or safety hazards or code violations.

§ 34-12 Medical.

General.

Prior to becoming members, effective January 1989, individuals shall be examined and certified by a physician as being medically and physically fit. Members who will be certified for fire/ambulance activities shall meet the requirements set by each company.

All members engaged in emergency operations shall be reexamined by the physician on at least an annual basis and before being reassigned to emergency duties after a debilitating illness or injuries. Members who have not satisfied these requirements of the examination shall not be permitted to engage in emergency operations.

Health data base.

The Fire Department shall establish and maintain a permanent health file on each individual member that records the results of regular and medical and fitness tests; any illnesses or injuries; and any events that expose the individual to known or suspected hazardous materials, toxic products, or contagious diseases.

Health information shall be maintained as a confidential record for each individual member as well as a composite data base for the analysis of factors pertaining to the overall health and fitness of the member group.

If a member dies as a result of injury or illness, autopsy result, if available, shall be recorded in the health data base.

Contagious diseases. The Fire Department shall actively attempt to identify and limit the exposure of members to contagious diseases in the performance of their assigned duties. When appropriate, inoculations, vaccinations and other treatment shall be made available.

Fire Department physician.

The Fire Department shall have an officially designated physician who shall be responsible for guiding, directing and advising the members with regard to their health, fitness, and suitability for various duties.

The Fire Department physician shall provide medical guidance in the management of the safety and health program.

The Fire Department physician shall be a licensed medical doctor qualified to provide professional expertise in the areas of safety and health as they relate to emergency services.