Changing The Fire Service Culture

     b. Following information must be maintained

       1) Personnel files, medical

         a) Fit testing documentation

         b) Annual medical exam information regarding pulmonary tests

         c) Exposure reports

         d) Injury reports that involve respiratory injuries

       2) Personnel files, general

         a) Fit testing, pass or fail

         b) Documentation and required SCBA training

       3) SCBA and other respiratory equipment data

         a) Design and selection criteria

         b) Annual testing and inspection documentation

         c) Maintenance records on individual units

         d) Air-quality reports

       4) Monthly inspection - Hydrostatic test dates on cylinders

C. Personal Protective Clothing

   1. Structural Fire Fighting Clothing

     a. It consists of head and face protection in form of helmet, protective hood, and eye protection;

         upper body protection in form of a turnout coat; lower body protection in form of turnout pants;

         foot protection in form of waterproof boots; and gloves for hand protection

     b. As established in department's protective clothing policy, inspection of structural fire fighting

         ensemble occurs at time new clothing is received, periodically by health and safety officer or unit

         supervisor, and following its use

     c. Inspections include

       1) Periodical inspection - officer inspects clothing for proper condition and cleanliness

       2) Inspection following each use - individual firefighter inspects clothing, cleans it, makes minor

           repairs, or submits it for major repairs as needed

     d. Department should establish a replacement standard that allows entire inventory of protective

         clothing to be replaced on a specific schedule such as 5, 7, or 10 years or as needed

     e. Protective clothing program should include instructions on care, cleaning, and maintenance of

         clothing

     f. Protective Clothing can be damaged by physical contact with portions of apparatus, in

        compartments, and near loose equipment

     g. Ultraviolet light can deteriorate fabric and cause damage to seams of outer shell and inner liner

     h. When stored at station between shifts, clothing should be in a well-ventilated locker outside living

         quarters

   2. Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

     a. Personnel assigned to medical units require specialized clothing

     b. Protection against liquid-borne pathogens takes form of garments, gloves, and face protection

         that meet requirements of NFPA 1999

     c. NFPA 1999 is compatible with other protective clothing standards in its requirements for testing,

         labeling, and third-party certification during manufacture

   3. Wildland PPE

     a. Includes protective clothing (shirt, jacket, one-piece garment, and trousers), helmet, gloves,

         footwear, protective shelter, and protective face/neck shroud

     b. Objective of protective clothing is to provide thermal protection for firefighter but not to increase

         internal heat stress

     c. Clothing designed to provide thermal protection for structural fire fighting is not applicable for

         extended wildland operations

     d. Protective clothing and equipment inspection and care requirements are specified in NFPA 1977,

         NFPA 1500, and 29 CFR 1910.132

     e. Additional requirements, which include carrying water and food supplies as part of protective

         ensemble, may be found in Federal and state forestry regulations

   4. Station Wear/Work Uniform

     a. Intended to provide a limited level of safety for employee in event of an unexpected exposure to

         fire

     b. According to NFPA 1975, station/work uniforms shall be constructed of either natural fabrics