Owatonna Fire Department
107West Main Street
Owatonna, Minnesota 55060-2913
Mike Johnson Fire Chief
Phone (507) 444-2454
Fax (507) 444-2457
http://ci.owatonna.mn.us/fire
Mike.Johnson@ci.owatonna.mn.us
Section:
Title:
SOP/SOG #:
Effective Date:
Approved By:
Signed:
Standard Operating Procedure Emergency Operations – Fire Suppression
Required Use of Personal Protective Equipment
1300-01
15 April 2015
Mike Johnson, Fire Chief
Date: 15 April 2015
1.0 Purpose:
To establish guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
To comply with NFPA 1500.
2.0 Description:
2.1 Proper use of personal protective equipment for structural firefighting is essential to the health and safety of
all firefighters.
2.2 The Owatonna Fire Department shall provide each member with the appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE) to provide protection from the hazards of the expected work area to which the member is or
may be exposed.
2.3 Such PPE shall be suitable for the tasks that the member is expected to perform in that environment. (NFPA
1500)
2.4 Structural Firefighters Protective Clothing (SFPC) should, at a minimum, meet the OSHA Fire Brigade
Standard (29 CFR 1910.156)
3.0 Scope:
3.1 All department personnel who will operate in and/or around hazardous work areas or potentially hazardous
work areas will utilize this procedure.
4.0 General Procedures:
4.1 Members shall be fully trained in the care, use, inspection, maintenance and limitations of the PPE assigned to
them or available for their use.
4.2 PPE shall be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
4.3 Members shall be responsible for the routine inspection and maintenance of issued clothing and equipment.
4.4 Members shall wash issued protective clothing after each incident if the protective clothing becomes dirty or
contaminated. At a minimum all gear needs to be washed at least once every six months.
4.5 When the PPE gear is damaged, worn out, or does not fit properly, each firefighter has the responsibility to
report this condition to the Chief for repair or replacement.
4.6 Lightly soiled turnout gear may be hosed off and scrubbed by hand, and left to air dry in the apparatus bay.
Thermal liners may be laundered in the station washing machine.
4.7 Heavily soiled or stained gear, or gear contaminated with possible blood or other body fluids should be
washed off at the scene. Contaminated gear should be decontaminated at the scene. After decontamination, the
gear should be bagged in a trash bag to be transported to the station to be washed. Gear contaminated with blood
should be placed in a red infectious disease bag, sealed, and returned to the station for cleaning.
4.8 The incident commander will determine the proper decontamination procedure for all contaminated personal
protective equipment.
4.9 PPE shall be dried after washing before returning to service.
4.10 Hazardous Work Areas defined. For the purpose of this procedure the hazardous work areas are defined as
follows;
4.11 Structure fires- the hazard area will be 1.5 times the height of the structure.
4.12 Wildland fires – the hazard area will be 200 feet from the fire.
4.13 Vehicle fires – the hazard area will be 50 feet around the vehicle on fire.
4.14 Vehicle Accidents – the hazard area will be 50 feet around the vehicles involved.
4.15 Hazardous Material Incident – the hazard zone will be determined by the incident commander and the
Emergency Response Guidebook.
4.16 Technical Rescue – the hazard zone and personal protective equipment needed will be determined by the
incident commander.
4.17 Water / Ice Rescue - the hazard zone and personal protective equipment needed will be determined by the
incident commander.
4.18 The Fire Chief shall appoint an equipment & maintenance officer to be responsible for a yearly inspection of
all PPE and for any maintenance of PPE which is considered beyond routine. The Equipment & Maintenance
officer will maintain an equipment file on each member. The Equipment Officer is responsible for maintaining a
surplus of expendable equipment (i.e. gloves, hoods, face shield, goggles, safety glasses, etc.).
4.19 Department Helmet Colors: Fire Explorers - Orange, Firefighters - Black, Safety Officer - Blue, Fire Officers
- Red, Fire Chief - White,
4.20 Drivers may dispense with the wearing of turnout gear while driving apparatus, however they shall have all
protective gear with them at all times. In addition, upon arrival at the scene and prior to participation in any
operations, the driver shall don the appropriate level of protective gear.
4.21 Infection Control Garments and Equipment
4.22 Members engaging in any emergency patient care shall don medical gloves prior to initiating such care due
to the variety of diseases, mode of transmission, and unpredictable nature of the work environment.
4.23 Medical gloves shall be removed as soon as possible after the termination of patient care, taking care to
avoid skin contact with glove exterior surface and shall be disposed of in accordance with disposal requirements.
4.24 Masks, splash resistant eyewear, and fluid resistant clothing shall be present on all fire department vehicles
that provide emergency medical operations. Members shall don this equipment prior to any patient care situations
involving dealing with the airway (intubation, suctioning, ventilating), childbirth, situations where bodily fluids
may be encountered, and large volumes or spurting blood.
4.25 Artificial respiration equipment shall be used by members performing airway management. Do not perform
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
4.26 All members shall take precautions during procedures to prevent injuries caused by needles, scalpel blades,
and other sharp instruments or devices.
4.27 Needles shall not be recapped. Following use, all sharp objects shall be immediately placed in sharps
containers. Sharps containers shall be in all patient transport vehicles and readily available in drug boxes.
4.28 Skin Washing - Hands shall be washed after each emergency medical incident, after cleaning and
disinfecting emergency medical equipment, after cleaning protective equipment, after any cleaning function,
before and after using bathroom, before and after handling food or cooking and food utensils. (Wash with soap
and water and rub vigorously for at least 10 seconds)
4.28 Clothing - All protective equipment and clothing shall be inspected and cleaned regularly. When protective
clothing, station/work uniforms, or other clothing is contaminated, it shall be cleaned as soon as possible. Small
stains from body fluids shall be permitted to be spot cleaned and then disinfected. (See NFPA 1581) Clothing that
is contaminated with large amounts of body fluids shall be placed in leak proof bags, sealed, and transported for
proper cleaning or disposal.
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4.29 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 dBs. Where noise-attenuating headsets are available, they shall be worn and
used, while responding to emergencies when the sirens and air horns are used.
4.30 Hearing protection shall be provided for and used by all members when exposed to noise in excess of 90
dBs, except where use of such protection would create an additional hazard to the user.
5.0 Specific Procedures
5.0.1 All department personnel who will operate in and/or around a hazardous or potentially hazardous
environment or must wear (SCBA) Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. This includes a hazardous environment
that contains any quantity of high temperature air, smoke, particulate, toxic gases, flammable gases, or is oxygen
deficient or has the potential to rapidly deteriorate. These conditions are to be considered an Immediately
Dangerous to Life Hazard (IDLH) atmosphere and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus must be worn. Refer to
Standard Operating Procedure 1300-02 for proper use of SCBA.
5.1 Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Gear.
5.1.1 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use protective coats and pants that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.1.2 The moisture barrier and thermal liner are not to be removed with the exception of cleaning.
5.1.3 When wearing coat and pants, all fasteners are to be used.
5.1.4 Protective pants are mandatory for all calls (NFPA 1500)
5.1.5 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.1.6 Helmet chin straps shall be worn at all times.
5.1.7 A wrap-around type face shield is not considered adequate eye protection as flying debris can enter
underneath the shield. Adequate eye protection shall be described in a later section.
5.1.8 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Gloves shall be worn whenever the potential
exists for injury to the hands. Members shall be issued two pairs of gloves: one set shall be leather structural
firefighting gloves and the other set shall be rescue gloves. Rescue gloves are not to be worn for structural
firefighting.
5.1.9 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use footwear that meets the requirements of NFPA 1971. Firefighters are encouraged to wear
comfortable, supportive leather work boots on wildland fire calls. Boots for this purpose need not be NFPA
compliant. (NFPA 1500)
5.1.10 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with a protective hood made of Nomex, PBI, or a similar fabric intended for fire service use. (NFPA 1500)
5.1.11 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural firefighting shall be provided
with eye protection. This protection shall be used at all times when hazards to the eyes (sparks, chips, dust,
splinters, droplets, etc.) may be present and when the face is not protected by the face piece of the SCBA.
Adequate eye protection shall be defined as ANSI/NIOSH-approved shop glasses or safety goggles. Helmet
mounted face shields and eye shields may be used to supplement glasses or goggles, but not in lieu of them.
5.2 Wildland Fire Protective Gear
5.2.1 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use wildland protective coats and pants that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
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5.2.2 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with a protective hood made of Nomex, PBI, or a similar fabric intended for fire service use. (NFPA 1500)
5.2.3 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.2.3 Helmet chin straps shall be worn at all times.
5.2.4 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with and shall use gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Gloves shall be worn whenever the potential
exists for injury to the hands.
5.2.5 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with footwear that meets the requirements of NFPA 1971. Firefighters may use comfortable, supportive leather
work boots on wildland fire calls. Boots for this purpose need not be NFPA compliant. (NFPA 1500)
5.2.6 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of wildland firefighting shall be provided
with eye protection. This protection shall be used at all times when hazards to the eyes (sparks, chips, dust,
splinters, droplets, etc.) may be present. Adequate eye protection shall be defined as ANSI/NIOSH-approved shop
glasses or safety goggles. Helmet mounted face shields and eye shields may be used to supplement glasses or
goggles, but not in lieu of them.
5.3 Vehicle Fire Protective Gear
5.3.1 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided with
and shall use protective coats and pants that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.1.2 The moisture barrier and thermal liner are not to be removed with the exception of cleaning.
5.1.3 When wearing coat and pants, all fasteners are to be used.
5.1.4 Protective pants are mandatory for all calls (NFPA 1500)
5.1.5 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided with
and shall use helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.1.6 Helmet chin straps shall be worn at all times.
5.1.7 A wrap-around type face shield is not considered adequate eye protection as flying debris can enter
underneath the shield. Adequate eye protection shall be described in a later section.
5.1.8 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided with
and shall use gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Gloves shall be worn whenever the potential
exists for injury to the hands. Members shall be issued two pairs of gloves: one set shall be leather firefighting
gloves and the other set shall be rescue gloves. Rescue gloves are not to be worn for vehicle firefighting.
5.1.9 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided with
and shall use footwear that meets the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.1.10 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided
with a protective hood made of Nomex, PBI, or a similar fabric intended for fire service use. (NFPA 1500)
5.1.11 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle firefighting shall be provided
with eye protection. This protection shall be used at all times when hazards to the eyes (sparks, chips, dust,
splinters, droplets, etc.) may be present and when the face is not protected by the face piece of the SCBA.
Adequate eye protection shall be defined as ANSI/NIOSH-approved shop glasses or safety goggles. Helmet
mounted face shields and eye shields may be used to supplement glasses or goggles, but not in lieu of them.
5.4 Vehicle Extrication Protective Gear
5.4.1 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle extrication shall be provided with
and shall use protective coats and pants that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Firefighters may wear their
wildland firefighter jacket for vehicle extrication calls.
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5.4.2 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle extrication shall be provided with
and shall use helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.4.3 Helmet chin straps shall be worn at all times.
5.4.4 A wrap-around type face shield is not considered adequate eye protection as flying debris can enter
underneath the shield. Adequate eye protection shall be described in a later section.
5.4.5 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle extrication shall be provided with
and shall use gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Gloves shall be worn whenever the potential
exists for injury to the hands. Members shall be issued two pairs of gloves: one set shall be leather firefighting
gloves and the other set shall be rescue gloves to be used for extrication.
5.4.6 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle extrication shall be provided with
and shall use footwear that meets the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.4.6 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of vehicle extrication shall be provided with
eye protection. This protection shall be used at all times when hazards to the eyes (sparks, chips, dust, splinters,
droplets, etc.) may be present and when the face is not protected by the face piece of the SCBA. Adequate eye
protection shall be defined as ANSI/NIOSH-approved shop glasses or safety goggles. Helmet mounted face
shields and eye shields may be used to supplement glasses or goggles, but not in lieu of them.
5.4.7 A Class III safety vest shall be used in addition to structural PPE and helmet when operating in or around
traffic. This vest shall also be used when operating around the operation of heavy equipment, unless involved in
firefighting.
5.5 Hazardous Material Protective Gear
5.5.0 The Incident Commander shall determine the proper level of personal protective equipment for each
incident using the latest version of the Emergency Response Guidebook issued by the U.S. Department of
Transportation. Structural Firefighters Protective Clothing may not provide adequate protection for Hazardous
Materials from the harmful vapors or liquids that are encountered during dangerous goods incidents.
5.5.1 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with and shall use protective coats and pants that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.5.2 The moisture barrier and thermal liner are not to be removed with the exception of cleaning.
5.5.3 When wearing coat and pants, all fasteners are to be used.
5.5.4 Protective pants are mandatory for all calls (NFPA 1500)
5.5.5 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with and shall use helmets that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.5.6 Helmet chin straps shall be worn at all times.
5.5.7 A wrap-around type face shield is not considered adequate eye protection as flying debris can enter
underneath the shield. Adequate eye protection shall be described in a later section.
5.5.8 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with and shall use gloves that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971. Gloves shall be worn whenever the
potential exists for injury to the hands. Members shall be issued two pairs of gloves: one set shall be leather
firefighting gloves and the other set shall be rescue gloves.
5.5.9 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with and shall use footwear that meets the requirements of NFPA 1971.
5.5.10 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with a protective hood made of Nomex, PBI, or a similar fabric intended for fire service use. (NFPA
1500)
5.5.11 All members who may be engaged in or exposed to the hazards of a hazardous materials incident shall be
provided with eye protection. This protection shall be used at all times when hazards to the eyes (sparks, chips,
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dust, splinters, droplets, etc.) may be present and when the face is not protected by the face piece of the SCBA.
Adequate eye protection shall be defined as ANSI/NIOSH-approved shop glasses or safety goggles. Helmet
mounted face shields and eye shields may be used to supplement glasses or goggles, but not in lieu
of them.
5.6 Technical Rescue Protective Gear
5.6.1 The Incident Commander will determine the proper PPE to be worn as a part of the Incident Action Plan at
technical rescue incidents.
5.7 Water / Ice Rescue Protective Gear
5.7.1 The Incident Commander will determine the proper PPE to be worn as a part of the Incident Action Plan at
water / ice rescue incidents.
5.7.2 At a minimum, all firefighters involved in water or ice rescue operations will wear a personal floatation
device designed for the type of water or ice rescue being performed.
6.0 Responsibilities:
6.1 It is the responsibility of each officer and firefighter to follow this standard operating procedure for the use of
personal protective equipment at emergency scenes.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this standard operating guideline please contact me at 507-444-2454.
Mike Johnson
Michael Johnson
Fire Chief
City of Owatonna
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