2 in / 2 Out Entry into IDLH atmospheres during Emergency Operations Updated April 30, 2009 Table of Contents 1.0….……………………………………………………………….………………OSHA Respiratory Policy 2.0………………………………………………………………………… …..…….…2 in /2 out procedures 3.0……………………………………………………………………………….…Duties of the Safety Team The following outline shall be adhered to as it relates to the OSHA respiratory safety act Introduction 1.0 The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) revised standard regarding respiratory protection states: Where an employer cannot identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure to respiratory hazards in the work environment, the employer shall consider the atmosphere to be Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). 1.1 When a fire progresses past the incipient stage, the fire area must be considered an IDLH atmosphere. Every member entering the IDLH must be equipped with personal protective equipment and a self-contained breathing apparatus. No member shall enter an IDLH atmosphere unless the member teams-up with at least one other member and remains within visual or voice contact with that team member. Portable radios or other electronic communication devices are not acceptable to replace visual or voice contact. At least one of the members of the team within the IDLH must have a radio and must be able to contact a radio equipped member of the safety team, in the absence of the Incident Commander, outside the IDLH atmosphere. The members of the Safety Team shall be available to assist the interior team(s) if the need arises. 1.2 If a known life hazard is found and immediate action could prevent the loss of life, appropriate action, (rescue activity) may be taken by an individual member, or members. This applies only for a known life hazard, not standard search activities. If such action is taken, the Incident Commander must be immediately notified and appropriate adjustments made. In all incidences of such individual action, the Incident Commander shall forward a report detailing the full particulars to the Chief of Operations. A thorough review of each of these incidents will be conducted. Procedures 2.0 Absent the provisions identified above in 1.2, a Safety Team must be available at all times. The RIT engine will eventually serve as the safety team. Prior to the arrival of the RIT engine the following format in section 2.3 should be followed to establish the Safety Team. 2.1 The arrival of the second engine company at an incident, and the communication that takes place between this Company and the first engine Officer, shall serve as the event signifying that the safety team is in place. Preferably this communication will take place on the prescribed tactical radio channel, for fireground awareness. 2.2 Several possibilities exist immediately on arrival. They are dependant on unit staffing circumstances. Company Officers are expected to know the options and convey them to the personnel they are supervising, en-route to the alarm 2.3 There may be times when entry into an IDLH atmosphere is necessary prior to the arrival of the first two Engine Companies. The following protocols shall be shall be adhered to in these instances 2.3.1 One Engine Company or one Truck Company staffed with an Officer and 2 firefighters. Based on the Officer’s size up, the following options may be considered: 2.3.1.1 The Officer and one firefighter enter the IDLH for search with/without advancement of the hoseline or 2.3.1.2 Take a defensive position based on the conditions encountered. 2.3.2 One Engine Company staffed with an Officer and 3 Firefighters: The driver of the Engine and the back-up firefighter function as the safety team. 2.3.3 An Engine and a Truck/Rescue Company on scene staffed with 1 Officer and 2 Firefighters: The safety team consists of the outside member of the Truck, and the Engine Driver 2.3.5 Two Engines on the scene with minimum staffing: The second arriving Engine Officer and Driver. 2.3.6 Two Engines and a Support Company: The Officer of the second arriving engine company and the 2nd engine’s driver function as the safety team until ordered into operation by the Incident Commander, or relieved by the arrival of the RIT Company. 2.4 Designated members of the safety team can engage in their primary duties, while assuming the duties of the safety team. 3. Duties of the Safety Team 3.1 The safety team shall be positioned outside the the IDLH atmosphere and: 3.1.1 Monitor radio traffic for calls for assistance from members operating into an IDLH atmosphere, mayday, or urgent transmissions and transmissions from interior that are not being acknowledged 3.1.2 Be prepared to enter the IDLH atmosphere to render assistance if required 3.1.3 Be prepared to transmit information relevant to circumstances that arise if the interior team needs assistance. ATMOSPHERIC METER BUMP TESTING AND CALIBRATION Standard Operating Procedures June 16, 2010 Table of Contents 1.0…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…Purpose 2.0………………………………………………………. …………………………………………..…Responsibility 3.0…………..………………………………………………………………………………….…………Background 4.0………………………...…………………………………………………………….………………..…Procedure 1.0 PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this policy is to ensure the accuracy of our atmospheric metering equipment. It will enable the employees to identify hazardous atmospheres and ensure that unknown or suspicious atmospheres are safe. 2.0 RESPONSIBILITY 2.1 It shall be the responsibility of the company officer to see that the atmospheric meter assigned to their company are bump tested and/or calibrated every Saturday at a minimum. 2.2 All personnel shall be familiar with the equipment and testing procedures. 2.3 All personnel shall know and understand the principles and techniques for proper air monitoring. 3.0 BACKGROUND 3.1 Air monitors are an important line of defense for identifying IDLH atmospheres. The health and safety of our employees and the public we protect is dependant on accurate monitor readings and employees that can interpret those readings. 3.2 OSHA states that atmospheric monitors should be bump tested “prior to each use”. This test is used to verify the alarms work and the meter responds with a reading + or – 10% margin of error compared to the calibration gas tank specifications. 3.2.1 For example: If the calibration tank contains the following gas concentrations, 3.2.2 The margin of error of the readings should be within these ranges. Oxygen 19%: between 17% - 21% Methane 50%: between 45% -55% Carbon Monoxide 100ppm: 90ppm – 110ppm 3.2.3 If the readings are within the above margin of error, then the meter passes the Bump Test. 3.3 American Scientific recommends that our monitors receive a full calibration at a maximum of every 30 days and every time it fails a bump test. We will “calibrate” our monitors the first Saturday of each month. 3.4 The results of the calibrations and bump tests will be recorded in the daily log. The log will provide information to indicate when sensors may be beginning to fail or if we need more frequent bump tests. 3.5 Supervisors at that station will review the log for compliance. Note: Videos showing the operation and calibration are available on the “W: drive” in the Atmospheric Monitor folder. 4.0 PROCEDURE 4.1 Industrial Scientific CO 262 Gas Monitor: 4.1.1 Bump Test Sequence 4.1.1.1 Turn on the meter; wait approximately 60 seconds for the display to stabilize or until the display shows “000 ppm.” 4.1.1.2 Check that the calibration gas cylinder expiration date has not passed. Before attaching the regulator to the cylinder, open the on/off knob, and then after it is attached, turn it off until ready to use. 4.1.1.3 Slide the calibration cup over the unit, connect the calibration gas cylinder, and open the cylinder valve fully. 4.1.1.4 Flow the gas for a period of 2 minutes; record the readings for the CO sensor on the log. The alarm should sound at >35 ppm and continue until the reading is less than 35 ppm. 4.1.1.5 A successful Bump Test shall be within the following limit or margin of error as stamped on the cal gas cylinder, such as: 4.1.1.6 Carbon Monoxide 100 ppm: between 90 ppm—110 ppm 4.1.1.7 If the Bump Test fails, any internal parts, or the CO sensor is replaced, then refer to the calibration instructions and perform a full calibration. 4.1.2 Calibration Sequence 4.1.2.1 Prior to performing a calibration, for best accuracy, allow the monitor to stabilize to room temperature for 1 hour. 4.1.2.2 Turn the monitor on and allow it to run for several minutes; it must be properly set to “Zero.” 4.1.2.3 Zeroing must be done in clean ambient air (zero toxic or combustible gases with 21% oxygen.) 4.1.2.4 First, turn the Zero (Z) potentiometer counter clockwise until a “- 000” appears on the screen. 4.1.2.5 Next, turn the Zero (Z) potentiometer clockwise until the negative (-) indicator just goes off, leaving “000” on the display. Now the Zero is properly set. 4.1.2.6 Check the calibration gas cylinder to ensure that the cylinder contains the correct concentrations of gases: (19% 02, 50% Methane, and 100 ppm CO) and that the expiration date of the cylinder has not passed. Before attaching the regulator to the cylinder, open the on/off knob, and then after it is attached, turn it off until ready to use. 4.1.2.7 Slide the calibration cup over the unit, connect the calibration gas cylinder, and fully open the cylinder valve.