1. Personal Safety System 1. Do we have to have this equipment issued by Sept. 29 2007 to be compliant with the new law ? The effective date of the law is Sept 30 2007. Since we haven’t promulgated the rule and regulation as of this date and more the likely will not have it out for another 6 months its hard to begin enforcement on 9/30. We are looking at extending the abatement period by rule and reg. to allow for the training that is necessary The effective date of the law is Sept 30 2007. Since we haven’t promulgated the rule and regulation as of this date and more the likely will not have it out for another 6 months its hard to begin enforcement on 9/30. We are looking at extending the abatement period by rule and reg. to allow for the training that is necessary

2. Personal Safety System 2. Will there be a grace period to allow us to get the equipment and train our people? Ans: Yes see Question 1. 3. If the answer to question two is yes how long will you give us? 3. If the answer to question two is yes how long will you give us? Ans. See question 1. I would expect if all goes according to plan ( which it seldom does in government) no enforcement till March of 08

3. Personal Safety System 4. Does everyone in the fire Department need to be issued this equipment? (fire police, non interior firefighters) Ans. The law states the employer must provide life safety ropes and systems components each firefighters “Appropriate for the Risk”. I would suspect that we would be very hard pressed to find a duty on the fire ground other than interior structural fire fighting where a bailout rig is necessary. The proposed rule will require the employer to perform a hazard assessment to determine who need is equipment and what that equipment will consist of.

4. Personal Safety System 5. Is the State Firefighter Survival program going to be required training for all interior firefighters? Ans. We will not require the State Firefighter Safety & Survival Course. OFPC could never meet the demand. The employer will be required to train firefighters in the use of the provided equipment.

5. Personal Safety System 6. Is the body belay going to be continued to be a approved method of escape? (taught in Firefighter Survival) Ans. Yes 7. Will your office approve systems for Fire Departments to pick form? see next slide see next slide

6. Personal Safety System Ans. We will not approve nothing or recommend nothing. Life Safety Ropes and System Components provide for this purpose must meet the requirements of NFPA 1983 the 2006 edition. The manufacturer is required under that rule to have and independent Lab certify that the equipment conform to the requirements of 1983. The employer will be required to produce evidence that the ropes and system components conform I. E.; don’t buy anything that the supplier cannot provide documentation on. ( And no we will not require that you remove form service and destroy any NFPA compliant equipment that met and earlier standard that is still serviceable)

7. Personal Safety System 8.Are your inspectors going to look at record keeping for these systems? Ans. Yes. They have to be periodically inspected. We will want to see records of some kind.

8. Personal Safety System 9. Will your inspectors ask to see a firefighter demonstrate the proper use of their system? Ans. We will examine training records and lesson plans, as well as interview firefighters. Unless we are there during a drill we will not as a firefighter to demonstrate their proficiency.

9. Personal Safety System 10. Are all the systems going to have to NFPA compliant or approved? Ans. Yes. NFPA issues specifications for the equipment and requires the manufacturer to have and independent lab certify it complies. NFPA doesn’t certify anything.

10. Personal Safety System 11. Are you going to allow these systems to be mounted on SCBA’s or must they be assigned to each firefighter. Ans. You may mount them on your boots as long as it meets NFPA 1983-2006. Mounting on the SCBA may require additional approvals. Check with the manufacturer to make sure the device you are mounting won’t effect the certification of the SCBA. You don’t have to assign it to an individual but there is a requirement that the equipment be properly fitted

11. Personal Safety System Questions