NFPA 1500 and Firefighter Responsibility Firefighter I

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General Overview of NFPA 1500 NFPA 1500 contains the minimum requirements for safety and health programs Life-safety factor – stems from natural desire to prevent needless suffering from Physical pain Emotional stress Economic factor – includes legal expenses and expenses caused by loss of manpower, apparatus, equipment, tools, property, or systems. Key concept – to apply the same degree of safety throughout the fire service Fire departments may also set safety standards unique to their stations

General Overview of NFPA 1500: Employee Interest The success of a safety program begins at the top of the fire department administrative chain and trickles down The administration's attitude about safety is reflected in the attitudes of the supervising officers The main goals are to Prevent Human suffering Deaths Injuries Illnesses Exposures to hazardous atmospheres and contagious diseases Prevent damage/loss of equipment Reduce the number and severity of incidents, accidents, and hazardous exposures

General Overview of NFPA 1500: Firefighter Health Considerations Firefighters must be in good physical condition to handle the physical demands of the profession To stay healthy firefighters must Stay informed about job-related health issues Follow recommendations for vaccination against hepatitis B Use precautions to avoid exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Learn proper lifting techniques to avoid muscle strains and other related injuries Use tools designed to assist with lifting heavy objects

General Overview of NFPA 1500: Firefighter Health Considerations (continued) To stay healthy firefighters must (continued) Properly clean and store tools and equipment used in patient care Maintain a regular exercise program to sustain physical fitness Maintain a diet that reduces cholesterol, fat, and sodium intake Be aware of cardiovascular and cancer risks, such as Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol levels Have regular physicals and medical checkups

NFPA 1500: Equivalency Levels of qualifications are established (e.g. basic, intermediate, master, etc.) Training, education, competency, and safety standards are set so that all fire personnel are held to the same standard

NFPA 1500: Organization All departments must have the following in place: Written statement of policy Operational response criteria (Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)) Written risk management plan (coverage and components) Written fire department occupational safety and health policy Compliance with local laws and guidelines for all activities Accident investigation procedures An occupational safety and health committee Recordkeeping for accidents, exposures, training, and deaths An appointed health and safety officer (to perform the functions of NFPA 1521)

NFPA 1500: Training, Education, and Professional Development Establish and maintain safety and health training Training and education programs are in place for new members Restrict the duties of the new members until they have proven their knowledge of the procedures Training for all members on Risk management plan Department’s written procedures Emergency medical services Personal protective equipment (PPE) Safe exiting and accountability

NFPA 1500: Member Qualifications All structural firefighters must meet the following qualifications before being allowed to work in the field Firefighters must meet NFPA 1001 Drivers/operators must meet NFPA 1002 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) firefighters must meet NFPA 1003 Fire officers must meet NFPA 1021 Wildland firefighters must meet NFPA 1051 Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) firefighters must meet NFPA 472 or higher Members must practice their assigned skill sets on a regular basis (annually at a minimum)

NFPA 1500: Fire Apparatus and Equipment New fire apparatus meets NFPA 1901 New wildland apparatus meets NFPA 1906 New marine firefighter vessels meet NFPA 1925 Tools, equipment, and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) are properly secured within all apparatuses Restraints and harnesses are in place and used (e.g. seatbelts) All drivers undergo an approved training course

NFPA 1500: Fire Apparatus and Equipment (continued) All traffic laws are followed including possession of a valid driver’s license with an appropriate rating (Class B in the state of Texas) Apparatus comes to a complete stop at red lights, stop signs, and railroad crossings, even when responding priority one to an incident Riding on the outside of an apparatus is prohibited Apparatus and equipment are disinfected per NFPA 1581 Hearing protection is provided when operating tools and riding in apparatus Powered rescue tools meet NFPA 1936

NFPA 1500: Fire Apparatus and Equipment (continued) All apparatuses are tested per NFPA 1911 Ground ladders tested per NFPA 1932 Hoses inspected per NFPA 1962 Fire Extinguishers inspected per NFPA 10

NFPA 1500: Protective Clothing and Equipment Fire departments provide PPE for all staff All protective equipment meets NFPA 1971 PPE is cleaned every six months per NFPA 1851 Laundry service is available for contaminated clothing Damaged or unsafe clothing is taken out of service Gloves have proper interface (no skin shows) Minimum two-inch overlap of all protective clothing layers Programs in place for selection, care, maintenance, and use of protective clothing

NFPA 1500: Protective Clothing and Equipment (continued) SCBA is provided and protected Members are provided emergency medical gloves and body and face protection Infection control programs meet NFPA 1581 When involved in HAZMAT ops, members are supplied vapor protective garments that meet NFPA 1991 and are given a safe method of disposal for used garments Special ops safety equipment provided for: Wildland firefighting Technical rescue operations (Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)) Surface water operations (boats)

NFPA 1500: Life Safety Ropes Are only used appropriately Are taken out of service if ever damaged or below standards Have documentation throughout the duration of their use Are tested/checked and approved only by qualified people

NFPA 1500: Emergency Operations Use emergency risk management, accountability, and rapid intervention teams (RIT) for the rescue of members and rehabilitation for personnel Have a plan in place to handle civil unrest or terrorism Have a post-incident review process to ensure that lessons learned are shared in an attempt to diminish future accidents and injuries

NFPA 1500: SCBA Breathing air meets NFPA 1989 Quantitative fit test annually Nothing passes through the seal No beard or facial hair is in the area of the seal Helmet does not interfere with the seal Facepiece can be worn under protective hood Cylinders are hydrostatically tested In-service air cylinders are stored while charged Personnel are protected during SCBA air cylinder filling

NFPA 1500: Wellness Member Assistance Program (MAP) or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is provided to assist members and their families with substance abuse, stress, and family or personal problems that may affect a member's work performance Wellness program is provided to address physical fitness levels (aerobic conditioning, strength, and flexibility), along with smoking cessation, nutrition, and how to cope with stress Guidance for the management of problems resulting from critical incident stress is also provided

NFPA 1500: Other Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) Devices Members are provided with a PASS device PASS devices are tested at least once a week Hearing Protection Is provided when noise decibels exceed 90 dB in apparatus and/or when using tools Communications An incident clock is used to mark key time landmarks (e.g. call arrives, units dispatch, unit arrive) Dispatch and responding companies use clear communication Procedures are in place for emergency traffic (e.g. mayday, code red)

Resources 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) NFPA 1500 Guidelines version 2013 http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=1500 Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) http://www.tcfp.texas.gov/