(1)
Face and eye protection.
(a) Face and eye protection shall be provided
for and used by firefighters engaged in fire suppression and other operations
involving hazards to the eye and face at all times when the face isn't
protected by the full facepiece of the SCBA. Primary face and eye protection
appropriate for a given specific hazard must be provided for, and used by,
members exposed to that specific hazard. Such primary face and eye protection
must meet the requirements of the 2003 edition of ANSI Z87.1.
(b) Persons whose vision requires the use of
corrective lenses in spectacles, and who are required by this standard to wear
eye protection, must wear goggles or spectacles of one of the following types:
(i) Spectacles with protective lenses that
provide optical correction.
(ii)
Goggles that can be worn over corrective spectacles without disturbing the
adjustment of the spectacles.
(iii)
Goggles that incorporate corrective lenses mounted behind the protective
lens.
(c) When
limitations or precautions are indicated by the manufacturer, they must be
transmitted to the user and care taken to see such limitations and precautions
are strictly observed.
(d) Care,
use and maintenance for any type of eye or face protection must follow the
manufacturer's suggested recommendations.
(e) Goggles must be inspected, cleaned and
disinfected prior to being reissued to other employees.
(f) Helmet face shields must meet the
requirements of the 2000 edition of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble
for Structural Fire Fighting.
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Note:
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The helmet face shield alone doesn't always provide
adequate eye protection against flying particles, splash, gases and vapors. For
known eye hazards, such as cutting with power saws, chopping, drilling and
using extrication equipment, the face shield should be worn with additional eye
protection.
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(g) For
firefighters that don't have a helmet face shield, flexible or cushioned
fitting goggles must be provided.
(h) Goggles must consist of a wholly flexible
frame, forming a lens holder or a rigid frame with integral lens or lenses,
having a separate, cushioned fitting surface on the full periphery of the
facial contact area.
(i) Materials used must
be chemical-resistant, nontoxic, nonirritating and slow burning.
(ii) There must be a positive means of
support on the face, such as an adjustable headband of suitable material or
other appropriate means of support to retain the frame comfortably and snugly
in front of the eyes.
(2)
Hearing protection. Fire
departments must address noise issues as required by chapter
296-817 WAC,
Hearing loss prevention (noise).
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Note:
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Although noise levels may exceed the 115 dBA ceiling
limit for noise exposures during structural firefighting activities, hearing
protection that will survive these conditions and not interfere with other
essential PPE may not always be available. Fire departments must consider daily
noise exposures and exposures to noise outside direct firefighting activities
when selecting hearing protection and may use less protection during direct
fire suppression when adequate hearing protection isn't technically
feasible.
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(3)
Hand protection.
(a)
Firefighters' gloves must, when worn with turnout clothing, provide protection
to the wrist area. In turnout clothing where wristlet protection isn't provided
firefighters' gloves must be tight-fitting at the top.
(b) Fire departments must establish written
policy and procedure for the care, use, cleaning, replacement or retirement
criteria for gloves issued.
(c)
Firefighters' gloves used during structural firefighting operations including
rescue of victims from fires or emergency medical operations where sharp or
rough surfaces are likely to be encountered must meet the requirements of the
2000 edition of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire
Fighting.
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Notes:
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1. Firefighters' gloves aren't designed to provide
protection against all environments. For gloves needed to fulfill a specific
requirement see that specific section of this chapter. It is the intent of this
section to provide protection from intrusion through the glove by certain
chemicals and from bloodborne pathogens. Consult the glove manufacturers'
recommendations.
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2. Firefighters' hands should be sized for
compliance using the sizing chart specified in the 2000 edition of NFPA 1971,
Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting.
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(5)
Foot protection.
(a) Protective footwear purchased after
January 1, 2014, must comply with the 2007 or later edition of NFPA 1971,
Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting.
(b) Fire departments must establish written
policies and procedures on the use, maintenance, and retirement criteria for
footwear in conjunction with the manufacturer's recommendations.
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Note:
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Fire departments should establish cleaning and
drying instructions for protective footwear, including applicable warnings
regarding detergents, soaps, cleaning additives and bleaches.
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(c)
Firefighter footwear may be resoled, but upon resoling the footwear must meet
the requirements specified in this section.
(6)
Head protection.
Firefighters who engage in or are exposed to the hazards of structural
firefighting must be provided with and use helmets that meet, as a minimum, the
requirements of the 1987 edition of NFPA 1972, Standard on Helmets for
Structural Fire Fighting.
(a) Helmets
purchased after January 1, 2014, must comply with the 2007 or later edition of
NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire
Fighting.
(b) Fire departments must
establish a written policy and procedure for the care, use, maintenance and
retirement criteria for helmets, following the manufacturer's
recommendations.
(c) Helmet
accessories must not interfere with the function of the helmet or its parts,
and must not degrade the helmet's performance.
(d) Firefighters must follow the
manufacturer's recommendations regarding inspection, cleaning, painting,
marking, and storage of helmets.
