Rule 4123:1-21-07 | Fire department occupational safety and health.
(A) Incident management.
(1) An incident management system shall be established with written standard operating procedures applying to all members involved in emergency operations.
(a) All members involved in emergency operations shall be trained in the system.
(b) The incident management system shall be utilized at all emergency incidents.
(c) The incident management system shall be applied to drills, exercises, and other situations that involve hazards similar to those encountered at actual emergency incidents and to simulated incidents that are conducted for training and familiarization purposes.
(2) The incident management system shall utilize the concept of risk management based on the following principles:
(a) Activities that present a significant risk to the safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives.
(b) Activities that are routinely employed to protect property shall be recognized as inherent risks to the safety of members, and actions shall be taken to reduce or avoid these risks.
(c) No risk to the safety of members shall be acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property.
(3) The employer shall establish and ensure the maintenance of a fire dispatch and incident communication system.
(4) Each crew operating within the hazardous environment shall be provided with communication equipment capable of communicating with the incident command.
(B) Accountability.
(1) The employer shall establish written standard operating procedures for a personnel accountability system that provides for the tracking and inventory of all members operating at an emergency incident. The system shall provide a rapid accounting of all personnel at the incident scene.
(2) The employer shall consider local conditions and characteristics in establishing the requirements of the personnel accountability system.
(3) It shall be the responsibility of all employees operating at an emergency incident to actively participate in the personnel accountability system.
(4) The incident commander shall be responsible for overall personnel accountability for the incident. The incident commander shall initiate an accountability and inventory worksheet at the very beginning of operations and shall maintain that system throughout the operations.
(C) Operating at emergency incidents.
(1) The employer shall provide an adequate number of personnel to safely conduct emergency scene operations. Operations shall be limited to those that can be safely performed by the employees available at the scene. No employee or employees shall commence or perform any firefighting function or evolution that is not within the established risk management principles as specified in paragraphs (A)(2)(a), (A)(2)(b), and (A)(2)(c) of this rule.
(2) Employees operating in hazardous environments at emergency incidents shall operate in teams of two or more.
Team members operating in hazardous environments shall be in communication with each other through visual, audible, or physical means, in order to coordinate their activities. Team members shall be in close proximity to each other to provide assistance in case of an emergency.
(3) In interior structural fires a minimum of four employees shall be required, consisting of two employees working as a team in the hazardous atmosphere, who shall remain in voice or visual contact with each other; and two members who are located outside the hazardous atmosphere, who shall be responsible for maintaining a constant awareness of the number and identity of those operating in the hazardous atmosphere and be prepared to perform rescue of those members if required. Interior structural firefighting means the physical activity of fire suppression, rescue, or both, inside of buildings or enclosed structures which are involved in a fire situation beyond the incipient stage.
(4) Initial attack operations shall be organized to ensure that, if upon arrival at the emergency scene, the initial attack employees find an imminent life-threatening situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, such action shall be permitted with less than 4 employees. No exception shall be permitted when there is no possibility to save lives. Any such actions taken shall be thoroughly investigated by the employer.
(D) Operating at traffic incidents.
(1) The employer shall establish written standard operating procedures regarding emergency operations for traffic incidents.
(2) Fire apparatus shall be positioned in a blocking position, so if it is struck it will protect members and other persons at the incident scene. When acting as a shield, apparatus emergency/warning lights shall remain on.
(3) All additional responding vehicles, when arriving on the scene, shall position beyond the traffic barrier unless their function requires placement before the barrier.
(4) One or more of the following warning devices shall be used to warn oncoming traffic of the emergency operations and the hazards to members operating at the incident:
(a) Five fluorescent orange traffic cones not less than twenty eight inches in height, each equipped with a six inch retro - reflective white band no more than four inches from the top of the cone, and an additional four inch retro - reflective white band two inches below the six inch band;
(b) Federal highway administration (FHWA) approved forty eight inch by forty eight inch retro - reflective signs stating "Emergency Scene Ahead" (with directional arrow overlay);
(c) Five illuminated warning devices such as highway flares;
(d) Other warning devices appropriate to warn oncoming traffic of the emergency operations.
(5) When employees are operating at a traffic incident and their assignment places them in potential conflict with motor vehicle traffic, they shall wear a garment that meets the ANSI/ISEA 107- 2010, Class 2 or 3 "Standard for High - Visibility Safety Apparel," or public safety vest that meets ANSI/ISEA 207- 2011 "Standard for High - Visibility Public Safety Vests," with fluorescent and retro - reflective material.
(E) Risk management.
The employer shall develop and adopt a comprehensive written risk management plan. The plan shall consider all fire department policies and procedures, and it shall include goals and objectives to ensure that the risks associated with the emergency and non-emergency operations of the fire department are identified and effectively managed.
(F) Employee fitness.
(1) The employer shall establish and provide a health- related fitness and wellness program that enables members to develop and maintain a level of health and fitness to safely perform their assigned functions. This program will not be punitive, as the purpose of the program is to improve the health and well-being of the individual.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of all employees to actively participate in the fitness and wellness program.
(3) The employer shall adopt written protocols to address occupational exposure to atypical stressful events that employees may experience in the course of their job duties.
(G) Infection control.
The employer shall operate an infection control program that actively attempts to identify and limit or prevent the exposure of employees to infectious and contagious diseases in the performance of their assigned duties.
(1) Universal precautions shall be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. All body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials.
(2) The employer shall establish a written infectious and contagious disease "Exposure Control Plan" that includes universal precautions.
(3) Engineering and work practice controls shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.
(4) The employer shall make available, at no cost to the employee, the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have potential occupational exposure. If a routine booster dose(s) of hepatitis B vaccine is recommended by the U.S. public health service at a future date, such booster dose(s) shall be made available, at no cost to the employee.
(H) Hazardous materials.
The employer shall establish written plan that defines the fire departments hazardous materials handling capabilities.
(1) The plan shall cover all hazardous material operations with all other responding agencies and their roles and capabilities.
(2) Employers shall develop and require use of a written plan covering the safe use, limitations, care, inspection, maintenance, and replacement of the hazardous materials equipment, and all affected employees shall be trained in accordance of such plan.
(I) Technical rescue.
The employer shall provide or make available and approve personal protective equipment and associated technical equipment that is appropriate for the technical rescue operations that provides for the safety of each member operating at the scene.
(1) Technical rescue operations are defined by the employers according to their risk management plan as defined in paragraph (E) of this rule.
(2) Employers shall develop and require use of a written plan covering the safe use, limitations, care, inspection, maintenance, and replacement of the equipment utilized in technical rescue operations, and all affected employees shall be trained in accordance of such plan.
Last updated May 31, 2023 at 2:42 PM
Supplemental Information