Personal Protective Equipment
Wildland Protective Clothing
§ Also called "brush gear"
§ Includes gloves, goggles, brush jackets/pants or one-piece jumpsuits, head and neck protection, and footwear
§ Hard hats or helmets with chin straps must be worn for head protection
§ Lightweight helmets are preferred to structural helmets
§ Gloves must provide wrist protection
§ Socks should be made of natural fibers
§ Underwear of 100% cotton and a long-sleeve t-shirt should be worn under brush gear
§ Cuffs of sleeves and pants should fit snugly around wrists and ankles
§ Goggles should have clear lenses
§ Boots should be lace-up or zip-up safety boots
§ Boots should have lugs or grip-tread soles
§ Boots should be at least 8-10 inches high to protect against snakebites, leg burns, cuts, and abrasions
Station/Work Uniforms
Uniforms should be made of materials which have high temperature resistance like the one's listed below
Organic Fibers / Synthetic Fibers§ Wool
§ Cotton / § Kevlar Aramid Fibers
§ Nomex Fire-resistant Material
§ PBI Polybenzimidazole Fiber
§ Kynol Phenolic Resins
§ Gore-Tex Water-repellant Fabric
§ Orlon Acrylic Fiber
§ Teflon Flourocarbon Resins (non-stick coatings)
§ Neoprene
§ Silicone
§ Panotex
All uniforms should meet the standards of NFPA 1975
§ Garments that fall under NFPA 1975 are: Trousers, Shirts, Jackets, and coveralls, but not underwear
§ Underwear should be of 100% cotton
§ NFPA 1975 states that no garment shall ignite, melt, drip or separate when exposed to heat of 500oF for 5 minutes
§ Station uniforms are not designed for structural firefighting
Safety Shoes and Boots
§ Protects against embers, falling objects, and nails
§ Puncture resistance should be provided by a stainless steel midsole plate
§ Boots should have well-secured pull loops
§ Safety shoes or boots should be worn around the station and while performing inspections
§ Safety shoes have safety toes, puncture-resistant soles, or special inserts.
§ Leather fire boots can be used for firefighting operations and station work
§ Heavier boots cause fatigue
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
§ Used in the event of oxygen deficiency, elevated temperatures,smoke, and toxic atmospheres
§ Provides cool breathable air for use during firefighting and rescue operations in hazardous environments
§ Protects the face and lungs from toxic smoke and products of combustion
Personal Alert Safety Device (PASS) &
Personal Safety Device (PAD)
§ Designed to assist in the recovery of a downed or disoriented firefighter
§ Assist rescuers attempting to locate a firefighter, even in dense smoke
§ The size of a portable transistor radio
§ Worn on the SCBA or Protective coat
§ Switched on before entering a hazardous environment
§ Designed to emit a loud pulsating shriek when firefighter remains motionless for 30 seconds
§ Can also be activated manually
§ Some SCBA's have PASS devices integrated into the air circuit and are activated when the cylinder is turned on
§ Must be maintained and used properly
§ Locating even a loud shriek can be difficult because the sound reflects off ceilings, walls, and floors
§ Protective hoods and SCBA operations also make it difficult to hear activated PASS devices
More on PASS and PAD Devices
§ Must meet NFPA 1982 requirements
§ Test device at least weekly
§ Conduct practical training under realistic conditions to teach firefighters how to react to alarm activations
§ Retrain every six months
§ Always turn on and test before entering hazardous environments
§ Train rescuers to listen for the distress sound by stopping in unison, and lifting hood or earflaps away from ears
§ Turn device off to facilitate communications when a downed firefighter is located
Protective Hoods
§ Designed to protect the firefighter's ears, neck, and face from exposure to extreme heat
§ Cover areas not otherwise protected by SCBA, ear covers, or coat collars
§ Made of fire resistant material (NOMEX)
§ Make sure hood does not interfere with SCBA facepiece seal
Helmets
§ Wide brim designed to keep hot water and embers off the ears and neck
§ Protect the head from impact
§ Provide protection from heat and cold
§ Provide faceshields for secondary protection of the face and eyes when SCBA is not required
§ Helmets must have ear covers
§ Chin straps ensure that helmets stay in place upon impact
§ Hearing Protection
§ Hearing protection should be used in accordance to standard operating procedures
§ When riding apparatus, Intercom/Ear protection systems reduce noise and allow crew members to communicate
§ If earplugs are issued, each firefighter should have their own set
§ Earmuffs can compromise protection of the face by making SCBA hard to use and earplugs may melt, so they should not be used in structural firefighting operations
Gloves
§ Provide protection against heat or cold penetration
§ Provides resistance to cuts, punctures, and liquid absorption
§ In order to provide protection, dexterity is lost
Eye Protection
§ Eye protection comes in the forms of Safety Glasses, Safety Goggles, Helmet Faceshields, and SCBA Masks
§ Faceshields provide only secondary protection against flying particles and splashes
§ NFPA 1500 requires that goggles or other primary protection be used with faceshields
§ Situations that require eye protection include: Welding, Grinding, Cutting, Vehicle Extrications, Brush Fires, and Inspections in Industrial Occupancies
§ Safety Glasses and goggles protect against 85% of all eye hazards
§ Eye Protection should meet ANSI Standard Z87.1, Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection for severe exposure to impact and heat
§ Warning signs should be posted in areas requiring eye protection
Protective Coat & Trousers
§ Made of three components: Outer Shell, Moisture Barrier, and Thermal Barrier
§ Barriers trap insulating air that prevents the transfer of heat
§ Outer Shell protects against direct flame contact, hot water and vapors, cold temperatures, and other environmental hazards
§ Collars must be turned up and velcroed
§ Wristlets prevent water, embers, and foreign debris from entering sleeves
§ Closure system prevents fire products from entering through snaps or clips
§ Three-quarter boots are no longer acceptable by NFPA 1500
§ Suspenders should be of the heavy-duty type
§ Reflective trim should be maintained according to NFPA standards, 325 sq. inches on coats and 80 sq. inches on pants
§ Cleaning Procedures
§ Remove dirt from shell
§ Dirt absorbs heat faster
§ Remove chemicals, oils, and petroleum products from shell
§ Chemicals may soften shell material
§ Chemicals may reduce fire protection
§ Repair or replace helmets that do not fit properly
§ Poor fit reduces resistance against impacts
§ Repair or replace helmets that are damaged
§ Includes leather helmets that are cracked or brittle
§ Inspect suspension systems
§ Detect deterioration
§ Web should be 1 1/4 inches from crown of helmet
§ Consult helmet manufacturer if repainting is necessary
§ Different shell materials require different paint types
§ Remove from service polycarbonate helmets that have come in contact with hydraulic oils
§ Some oils reduce helmet strength
§ Outer shells should be cleaned regularly
§ NFPA 1581 states PPE should be cleaned and dried at least once every six (6) months in accordance to the manufacturer's recommendations
§ Cool water and mild soap should be used to clean outer shells
§ PPE should not be washed in machines which clean normal
clothing
Component Overview
HELMET
§ Protects head from impact and puncture injuries
§ Protects from scalding water
PROTECTIVE HOOD
§ Protects face, ears, and neck not covered by helmet
PROTECTIVE COAT & TROUSERS
§ Protects trunk and limbs against cuts, burns, and abrasions
§ Provides limited protection against corrosive liquids
GLOVES
§ Protects the hands against cuts, wounds, and burn injuries
SAFETY SHOES or BOOTS
§ Protects the feet against burn injuries and puncture wounds
EYE PROTECTION
§ Protects eyes from flying solid particles and liquids
HEARING PROTECTION
§ Limits noise-induced damage when loud noises cannot be avoided
SCBA
§ Protects face and lungs from toxic smoke and products of combustion
PASS or PAD Device
§ Provides life-safety protection by using a loud shriek
§ Emits shriek if motionless for more than 30 seconds