Essentials of Fire Fighting (4Th Edition-FF1)-Miscellaneous PPE Notes

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

§  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