Mandan Fire Department Standard Operation Procedures
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MANDAN FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES GENERAL ORDER # 103.03 DATE: September 24, 1998 TOPIC: Safety: Personal Use of PAGE: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 1 of 4 OBJECTIVE: This document shall outline the personal use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). It is the intent of this procedure to advance the Fire Department's goal to limit our personnel's respiratory exposure to products of combustion, superheated gases, and other contaminants. SCOPE: All personnel that don an SCBA shall follow the procedures set forth within this document. MANDATED USE OF SCBA All personnel shall use SCBA’s when operating in the following areas: 1. The atmosphere is hazardous or oxygen deficient. 2. The atmosphere is suspected of being hazardous or oxygen deficient. 3. The atmosphere may rapidly become hazardous or oxygen deficient. In addition to the above, all personnel working below grade or in a confined space shall utilize SCBA until atmospheric conditions are tested and deemed safe. Some of the more frequent incidents where we must use SCBA’s are as follows: 1. Structure fires 2. Vehicle fires. 3. Dumpster fires. 4. Gas/chemical leaks. 5. Below grade rescues. 6. Situations where the Incident Commander or the Company Officer feels that a particular hazard exists to the respiratory system of personnel. Due consideration shall be given so as not to remove SCBA prematurely. This is particularly important during overhaul operations. During this time, smoldering materials may produce increased quantities of carbon monoxide and other toxic materials. Revisions 6/26/06 1/17/07 MANDAN FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES GENERAL ORDER # 103.03 DATE: September 24, 1998 TOPIC: Safety: Personal Use of PAGE: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 2 of 4 Fire officers have authority to issue orders to remove SCBA. They must, however, evaluate the atmosphere of the work area to be certain it is safe. Furthermore, the officer must be certain that a safe atmosphere can be continually maintained. SCBA USE: Personnel entering into a hazardous environment with SCBA’s shall always operate as a team. All teams shall consist of no less than two firefighters preferably more if available. They shall maintain constant contact with each other through visual, audible, and physical means to coordinate their activities. Personnel shall remain in close proximity to each other to provide emergency assistance to one another if needed. Once a SCBA team has assembled, they shall remain together at all times until they have safely exited the hazardous area and the division officer has accounted for their exit. Teams shall begin exiting all hazardous areas once any team members’ air supply reaches 2000psi. Firefighters shall continually monitor their air supply to ensure exiting begins when any air supply reaches 2000psi. ACTIVATION OF LOW PRESSURE ALARM All team members shall consider a firefighter in need of assistance should a low-pressure alarm activate while within a hazardous area. In the event a firefighter’s low-pressure alarm activates, all teams shall provide emergency assistance to that firefighter to aid in his/her safe exit from the hazardous environment. FACEPIECE SEAL INTEGRITY: No firefighter shall utilize a SCBA if they have beards or facial hair that may compromise the seal of the facepiece. Firefighters with corrective eyewear shall use frames that do not compromise the seal area of the face piece. Firefighters should make maximum use of non-emergency opportunities to fit test available SCBA facepieces. Personnel having difficulty achieving a face-to-mask-seal should bring it to the attention of their assigned captain. Revisions 6/26/06 1/17/07 MANDAN FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES GENERAL ORDER # 103.03 DATE: September 24, 1998 TOPIC: Safety: Personal Use of PAGE: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 3 of 4 PERSONNEL ALERT SAFETY SYSTEMS (PASS): Equipment: All SCBA units will be equipped with a PASS device. Anytime firefighters place a SCBA into service, the PASS device shall be in operation. Any SCBA unit that is suspect of improper PASS operation shall be removed from service. Procedure: The PASS device shall automatically activate upon opening of the cylinder valve, and the pressure reaches a minimum of 200 PSI. A firefighter can manually activate the emergency alert mode by depressing the red switch located on the regulator. The emergency alert system will operate at all times including complete depletion of air supply. The system will operate on battery power when air pressure is low or depleted. The PASS device will automatically sound a loud pulsating distress signal if the SCBA environment exceeds 180 degrees F for 18 minutes or 600 degrees F for one minute. At either extreme or every temperature in between, the device will sound an alarm to alert you that dangerous heat levels exist. The PASS device will automatically sound a loud pulsating distress signal if the firefighter should become motionless for approximately 20 seconds. When the PASS device is motionless, it will sound a pre-distress signal (low volume) for approximately 7-8 seconds prior to the loud pulsating distress signal sounding. If the firefighter is not in distress, he/she may simply tap or shake the PASS device to cancel the pre-distress signal and it will automatically reset the PASS device timer. The PASS device must have capability of manual activation for firefighters that may be in distress. Firefighters shall manually activate the PASS device if the firefighter is lost, distressed, disorientated, trapped, or out of air. The loud, pulsating distress signal will then sound continuously. Revisions 6/26/06 1/17/07 MANDAN FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES GENERAL ORDER # 103.03 DATE: September 24, 1998 TOPIC: Safety: Personal Use of PAGE: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 4 of 4 In a search and rescue operation for a downed firefighter, once the firefighter is found the PASS device MUST be reset and notify command of the situation. Reset the PASS device by pressing the yellow reset button on the side of the PASS device twice. Once a firefighter doffs his/her SCBA, the PASS device may be turned off by releasing the pressure to less then 200 PSI and then pressing the yellow button twice . (The PASS device may not turn off if the pressure is above 200 PSI) The PASS device will sound a low volume “beep” signal every 5 seconds to indicate a low battery when the PASS device is in the on position. If battery indicator displays only half battery, replace the battery or remove SCBA from service. Firefighters shall ensure the activation and proper operation of their PASS device prior to entering any hazardous environment. Once activated, PASS devices will continue to operate until air supply is shut off, regulator is bled of all air, and reset button is depressed twice. At no time shall a SCBA be used without a properly functioning PASS device. PLACING S.C.B.A.s OUT OF SERVICE: Anytime personnel feel it necessary to remove a piece of breathing apparatus from service, the following procedures will be utilized: 1. Remove the unit from apparatus. 2. Mark unit with O.O.S. tag. 3. Complete an equipment service report. 4. Notify Officer or firefighter on duty. Revisions 6/26/06 1/17/07 .