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Home My WebLink About311.005 - Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment ProgramEffective Date: December 2023 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 1 of 5 Fresno City Fire Department 300 Training and Equipment Manual SECTION 311.005 STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PROGRAM PURPOSE In compliance with California Code of Regulations Title 8, Section 3402.3 (which incorporates by reference NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Firefighting and Proximity Firefighting), this policy establishes a Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program and defines related duties of members. APPLICATION This policy applies to all sworn fire suppression personnel. OPERATIONAL POLICY It is a policy of the Department to protect its members, to the greatest extent possible, from hazards inherent to structural firefighting and rescue operations. Therefore, the Department has implemented a comprehensive program to select, inspect, clean, and repair all components of the structural firefighting PPE ensemble. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE The Department’s PPE Program shall include the following components: • Process to identify and analyze hazards which present risk to Department members. • Process to select and obtain PPE most suitable for identified hazards. • Process to adequately inspect, clean, decontaminate, repair, store, and retire PPE. • Train users and staff in the proper use and maintenance of PPE. Effective Date: December 2023 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 2 of 5 • A records management system (RMS) to document the cleaning, inspection, and repair of PPE; all related equipment inventories; and related training. PROCESS RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS Firefighter Trainee Academy Cadre: • During Firefighter Trainee Academy, deliver training related to the Department’s PPE Program, proper selection and use of PPE, routine inspections of PPE, routine and advanced cleanings of PPE (including operation of Department washer/extractors), as well as the use and care of PPE as it relates to cancer prevention. Battalion Chiefs: • Verification of PPE inventory assigned to each member within their command as a part of the annual personnel inspection. • Perform routine inspection of structural firefighting pant and jacket, as well as advanced inspection other PPE ensemble components (helmet, hoods, gloves, and boots) as part of the annual personnel inspection. All Fire Officers: • Ensure the proper selection, use, cleanliness, and overall serviceability of PPE by crewmembers within their command during any operation. All Users: • Proper selection and use of PPE during any operation. • Perform routine inspections of all in-service structural firefighting ensemble components at the start of each shift, after each use, and after any repairs are performed. Effective Date: December 2023 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 3 of 5 • Perform routine cleanings (including on-scene gross decontamination) of all structural firefighting ensemble components as needed, and before entering any Department vehicle cab. • Perform advanced cleanings of PPE ensemble components after exposure to the products of combustion, as needed, before disbursing for repair, before any advanced inspection, and at least four times annually. All users shall document all advanced cleanings within the Department record management system (RMS). Logistics Section: • Perform advanced inspections of structural firefighting PPE jacket and pant items as needed, and at minimum once per year. • Perform minor repairs to shells and liners as needed. • Maintain PPE Program records within Department RMS with capability to document all inventory disbursed to personnel, performance of advanced inspections, repairs, retirement, advanced and special cleanings. • Maintain adequate inventory of loaner/replacement PPE. • Maintenance of washer/extractors. • Facilitate the training of Battalion Chiefs, Storeskeepers, and other members as needed to perform advanced inspections of PPE ensemble components. This training must be provided by the PPE manufacturer. Proper care and maintenance of structure firefighting PPE involves coordination of several different positions within the Department, as well as the use of Independent Service Provider (ISP). The following table provides an overview of these various responsibilities: Effective Date: December 2023 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 4 of 5 TASK USER BATTALION CHIEF LOGISTICS INDEPENDANT SERVICE PROVIDER NOTES ROUTINE INSPECTION X At start of shift, and after each use, repair, or advanced cleaning. PERSONNEL INSPECTION X Annual inspection and inventory of all PPE assigned to members. ADVANCED INSPECTION X X At minimum, performed annually. Documented in RMS. ROUTINE CLEANING X1 As needed when soiled. ADVANCED CLEANING X At minimum, performed twice annually, whenever routine cleaning is insufficient, and after exposure to products of combustion. Document in RMS. SPECIAL CLEANING X2 X X As needed. Contact on- duty BC, consult HazMat Team Coordinator for guidance. Document in RMS. REPAIRS X X As needed, requests for repair are to be entered into RMS. REPLACEMENT & LOANER PPE X X As needed, requests for loaner/replacement items are to be entered into RMS. Contact on-duty BC after hours. 1. Includes on-scene decontamination. 2. Note that textile elements contaminated with bloodborne pathogens may be cleaned in washer/extractors on appropriate formula setting. Effective Date: December 2023 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.005 Next Revision (2) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 5 of 5 INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Firefighting NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Firefighting and Proximity Firefighting Training and Equipment Manual Section 311.006, Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment Section 311.007, Wildland Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment Section 311.008, Protective Footwear Section 311.009, Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Cleaning Procedures Section 311.010, Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Inspection and Repair