2.2 Body protection consists of torso, hand, head, respiratory and foot protection.

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1 Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Policies and Operating Guidelines Policy: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Number Effective Date Approved and Issued: /04/00 01/04/ REFERENCE WAC POLICY 2.1 It shall be the policy of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue, herein referred to as the District, to provide and maintain at no cost to the employee, the appropriate protective ensemble/protective clothing (PPE) to protect from the hazards to which the District personnel is or is likely to be exposed. The District shall ensure the use of all protective clothing required by WAC A full PPE ensemble designed and designated for the task shall be donned and worn. 2.2 Body protection consists of torso, hand, head, respiratory and foot protection. 2.3 The District shall furnish one set of turnout clothing to each fire fighter, consisting of boots, pants, coat and helmet. An individual may, at their own expense purchase and maintain any or all parts of his turnout clothing, provided it meets the standards and is approved by the Fire Chief. 2.4 Full protective clothing shall be worn by fire fighting District personnel while responding to all emergency incidents. (With the exception of helmets, this guideline is optional for drivers and command personnel.) 2.4 District personnel shall be trained in donning, doffing, care, use, inspection, maintenance and limitations of the protective garments assigned to them or available for their use. 2.5 When responding to other than EMS Incidents all District personnel shall wear full protective clothing prior to responding. 2.6 At no time shall an apparatus leave the station unless all District personnel are seated, belted and suited up Company officers, when out of quarters, shall have an apparatus come to a complete legal stop and have all District personnel don appropriate PPE before the apparatus responds Drivers of vehicles may, at their discretion, not wear turnout pants and boots while responding to or returning from alarms. Cancels: Page 1 of 5 SOG 1701 Revised:

2 2.6.2 Pump operators may, at their own discretion, not wear turnout pants and boots when operating as a pump operator Hip boots (day boots) are not approved for use in this District A chief officer may, by a direct order, make an exception to any portion of the above. However, under no circumstances will tennis shoe-type footwear be allowed at the scene of any fire. 2.7 While on EMS incidents, all District personnel shall wear whatever protective clothing is required to afford complete personal protection Boots, fire-retardant coveralls, helmets, gloves and cotton shirt Protective clothing issued to aid personnel shall not be used for fire fighting or other hazardous activity. 2.8 When operating forcible entry equipment and tools at an emergency incident, appropriate protective clothing and equipment such as goggles or face shields shall be worn and used Contaminated PPE shall be isolated and the contaminants identified if possible Decontamination shall be performed by a qualified person following established procedures that follow state and or manufacturer s requirements. 2.9 PPE shall be worn at incidents requiring full protective clothing, whether an actual or a potential hazard exists Protective hoods, if provided, shall be worn when PPE shall be worn by District personnel during overhaul operations. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be exempt only if air monitoring substantiates there are no toxic substances or fumes present Fire Investigators shall wear protective clothing and protective equipment to provide protection from the hazards to which they may likely be exposed The face shield on helmets is not considered primary eye protection, but shall be utilized at any time the need for eye protection is present Gloves shall be worn when engaged on fire fighting overhaul, training with hose and ladders, when using hand or power tools, and any situation where injuries to the hands are likely to occur. Cancels: Page 2 of 5 SOG 1701 Revised:

3 2.14 Rings and similar jewelry may cause injury in many situations. These items should not to be worn while on duty Clothing with retro-reflective trim or safety vests shall be worn at all times when operating near moving traffic Protective clothing shall be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This requirement applies to District personnel s personally owned protective garments authorized for use All fire fighters shall wear a complete set of turnout clothing while responding and working as part of a fire attack company The protective clothing ensemble for brush fires shall be boots, bunker pants, and helmets. Gloves and cotton shirts, or, that in Section The District shall provide for the cleaning of soiled or contaminated protective clothing at no cost to the employee. Such cleaning shall be performed by either a cleaning service or at a District facility that is equipped to handle contaminated clothing District personnel shall not wear any clothing that is determined to be unsafe due to poor thermal stability or poor flame resistance when engaged in or exposed to the hazards of structural fire fighting Because it is impossible to ensure that every District personnel will respond to an incident in a station/work uniform or will change out of fabrics that have poor thermal stability or ignite easily, before donning protective garments, the District shall inform District personnel of the hazards of fabrics that melt, drip, burn, stick to the skin and cause burns to the wearer due to poor thermal stability or poor flame resistance Repairs to turnout clothing shall be done to the manufacturer's specification by individuals who have been trained by the manufacturer or their designated agent Repairs must be made using materials and methods in accordance with the applicable standards under which the article was produced Repairs include any and all alterations, modifications, additions, deletions or any other changes made to the manufacturers specification Damaged equipment or clothing a. Any equipment or clothing issued to District personnel that is lost or damaged through neglect or misuse must be paid for by that District personnel. Cancels: Page 3 of 5 SOG 1701 Revised:

4 2.24 Personnel not returning gear upon leaving the District must be responsible for the cost of the gear. a. Procedure for collecting: 3.0 DEFINITIONS 3.1 Brush Fire: 1. Captain will contact personnel. 2. Notification by phone. 3. Letter stating cost. 4.0 RESPONSIBILITY 4. Cost of gear or equipment deducted from volunteer reimbursement check. 5. Bill sent to personnel. 4.1 The following responsibilities have been assigned: a. Development of specifications and purchase of clothing: Battalion Chief Training/Safety Officer b. Inspection of Personal Protective Equipment: Battalion Chief Training/Safety Officer 4.1 The Fire Chief shall ensure compliance. 4.2 All turnout clothing shall be inspected semi-annually by an individual qualified and designated by Battalion Chief Training/Safety Officer. 5.0 GUIDELINES 5.1 The specific manufacturer recommendations should be referenced for donning, doffing, care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations and retirement of protective clothing garments. 5.2 Protective coats and pants must not be kept in direct contact with flame or molten metal. These protective coats and pants are not designed to provide protection for proximity to fire entry applications nor from radiological, biological, or chemical hazards. Cancels: Page 4 of 5 SOG 1701 Revised:

5 5.3 Soiled PPE should be cleaned before inspection to ensure proper detection of damage such as discoloration and/or heat damage that may be masked Discolored areas indicate excessive exposure to heat and/or flame impingement. These areas are damaged, and need to be thoroughly checked for strength loss or other signs of degradation. In protective clothing, all three layers should be examined for damage if the outer shell is charred Fabric or material damage is evidenced by rips, tears, cuts abrasion, worn areas and fraying. To check for weakening of fabric, flex and attempt to tear and to push a finger or thumb through the material. The extent and complexity of damage should be used to determine the appropriate follow-up action. Large areas where quilt stitching in the liner is broken or missing may indicate the need to replace the liner Thread or seam damage is evidenced by skipped, broken or missing stitches. All layers of the PPE must be checked for any type of stitch or seam failure Turnout clothing which is damaged or does not comply with manufacturer specifications, shall not be used or worn Inspection intervals and washing of PPE shall not exceed 6 months. 6.0 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES [Statutory Authority: RCW ' 010,.050,.060: (Order 94-27), S , filed 05/10/96, effective 01/01/97.] 7.0 APPENDIX A-7.0 INSPECTION Cancels: Page 5 of 5 SOG 1701 Revised: