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HI-VISIBILITY SAFETY APPAREL REQUIREMENT
Effective November 24,
2008, the Federal Highway Administration, through federal rule 63
CFR 634, will require all emergency responders to wear safety
apparel (includes vests) that meet the requirements of ANSI 107-2004
Class II or III. By interpretation, the FHA approves the ANSI
207-2006 Public Safety Vest as compliant. This apparel/vest must be
worn while working on or near federally funded roadways.
This is being implemented to reduce the accident rate of workers
being struck by vehicles.
Turnout gear does not
meet the standard, as it does not meet the required fluorescent
background. Understand that the hi-vis apparel/vests are not to be
worn when there is fire or the threat of fire. However, when the
scene is stabilized after a fire, the hi-vis apparel/vest must be
worn. The ANSI Public Safety Vest is designed to worn over
turnouts.
This mandate will
eventually be required for working on any roadway. The current NFPA
1500 standard requires this when a member is placed in potential
conflict with vehicle traffic. The current draft of NFPA 1901
Fire Apparatus for 2009, will require a vest for each seating
position in newly purchased apparatus. The Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices, used by the FHA and all State
Department of Transportations, sets rules for responders at
emergency scenes via Part 6 of the MUTCD, will require the same
mandate for all roadways in the 2009 revision. Additionally, the
current draft of the Ohio Administrative Code on fire fighter safety
will require the same hi-vis safety requirements.
For more information
please visit
www.respondersafety.com
for information, materials, and video regarding this mandate.
Traffic incident
management is most certainly the latest topic in the fire service.
All FDs should have a procedure in place to address working on
roadways. The USFA has a very informative manual entitled, “Traffic
Incident Management Systems” available for free at their website
www.usfa.dhs.org.
This manual covers all aspects of roadway safety, roadway closures,
warning devices, etc. including the MUTCD requirements.
WILDLAND FIRE SHELTER TRANSITION UPDATE
Wildland firefighting
fire shelters are no longer standardized by the NFPA.
Specifications and standards are now written by the U.S. Dept of
Agriculture, Forest Service. The most current requirements are
referred as “New Generation Fire Shelters”.
Transition periods to the
new shelter have been established for all interagency wildland
firefighters. Target dates for the transition to the New
Generation fire shelter are December 31, 2008 for Federal agency
firefighters; and December 31, 2009 for all other wildland
firefighters. Even if your fire department is not considered an
“interagency” department, it is strongly recommended to convert to
the new shelters, as they have stronger safety requirements than the
older NFPA approved shelters. Newly manufactured shelters are being
made to the new requirements and labeled as such.
MINE RESCUE TEAM REQUIREMENTS
The Mine Safety and
Health Administration (MSHA) issued a final rule earlier this year
that revises standards for mine rescue teams for underground coal
mines. The rule (30 CFR Parts 49 and 75) implements Section 4 of
the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006,
which requires coal mines to have better trained rescue teams ready
for emergencies. While the responsibility for rescue teams lies
with the mining industry, some fire departments may be part of the
team, or at least respond to coal mine accidents.
By November 10, 2008,
operators of large mines must have an on-site team or a composite
team in place. By February 9, 2009, mine rescue team members must
have completed 96 hours of annual training, including participation
in two mine rescue contests, and training at each mine. If you are
in a mining area of Ohio, make sure your department coordinates its
role with the mine rescue teams.
RYAN WHITE ACT CHANGES DOES NOT AFFECT OHIO
There has been much
publicity about the recent changes to the federal Ryan White Act,
which removed sections on source-testing protocols and timeframes
for hospitals to comply in notifying emergency responders that have
had infectious disease exposure.
This does not apply to
Ohio. By federal law, if states have laws and rules equal to or
more stringent than the Ryan White Act, the CDC will certify the
state as in compliance. Ohio has its own laws and rules(ORC
3701.248, ORC 4123.01(C) and OAC 3701-3-022) in regards to
infectious or contagious disease exposure. These provisions provide
a mechanism for release to emergency responders of information
pertaining to infectious or contagious diseases to which they have
had a significant exposure during handling or transport of an
infected patient.
IAFF RELEASES REVISED WELLNESS/FITNESS
INITIATIVE
The IAFF has recently
released the revised 3rd Edition of the IAFF/IAFC
Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI). A new implementation chapter
offers a step-by-step approach to full implementation of the WFI.
This can assist in measuring your current program or help in
creating a new one. A new video also assists in showing the proper
methods of the various aspects of the program. The Gerkin and FDNY
protocols have been replaced with the new WFI Stepmill and WFI
Treadmill protocols.
Contact the IAFF Div. of
Health, Safety, & Medicine at 202.824.9304 for a DVD, or go to the
IAFF website at
www.iaff.org
for the manual.
SAFETY RESOURCES
In addition to the
Traffic Incident Management Systems manual, the USFA has also
published the revised Fire Fighter Autopsy Protocol and
Emergency Incident Rehabilitation manuals (
www.usfa.dhs.gov
)
The Fire Fighter
Autopsy Protocol provides background for coroners in
understanding the work environment of a firefighter and how this
autopsy is different than a normal autopsy. The results of a
firefighter autopsy is used for an analysis of the causes and
contributing factors to the death and to aid in the development of
improved procedures, standards, and equipment. NIOSH is forefront
on this through the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and
Prevention Program.
Additionally, it helps to
determine eligibility for death benefits under the federal
government’s Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) Program. While a
copy has been forwarded to each coroner’s office by the OAPFF, each
local should have a copy to forward to their coroner if a fire
fighter death ever occurs in their locality. While the manual is
large due to explanatory chapters, the actual protocol is four
pages. This manual, along with the IAFF’s Line-of-Duty Death and
Injury Investigation manual, should be read be each health &
safety committee member.
The USFA and the IAFF
have updated the Emergency Incident Rehabilitation manual.
The previous version was dated 1992. Rehabilitation is designed to
ensure that the physical and mental well-being of members operating
at the scene of an emergency, and at training, do not deteriorate to
the point where it affects their safety. It can prevent serious and
life-threatening conditions from occurring. Many heart attacks
occur within 24 hours after strenuous work. Heat and cold stress
can affect the heart. Fireground rehab should not be thought of as
wimpy, but as a safety measure. NFPA 1584, Rehabilitation
Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training
Exercises, 2008 edition is the foundation to this manual.
REVISED FIRE FIGHTING SAFETY RULES
Ohio Administrative Code
4123:1-21 Fire Fighting has been going through a revision and
updating process. These rules cover the safety of firefighters in
Ohio. The draft has been completed and is currently in the process
of being reviewed by Ohio BWC. These rules fall under the coverage
of BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene. All locals will be advised
when the rules are passed with the future effective date.
Withdrawing Blood for OVI Evidence
Collection
The EMS
Board has received questions regarding whether an emergency medical
technician (EMT) is authorized to withdraw blood for law enforcement
purposes. Under current law, only the following individuals are
authorized to withdraw blood for the purpose of determining its drug
or alcohol content: a physician, a registered nurse, or a qualified
technician, chemist, or phlebotomist. The question raised with the
EMS Board has been whether an EMT is considered a “qualified
technician” and therefore authorized to perform such blood draws.
The EMS Board has determined that
an EMT does not appear to be a “qualified technician” for the
purpose of withdrawing blood pursuant to a law enforcement matter.
The certification provided to EMTs permits the performance of
emergency medical services as set forth in Sections 4765.01,
4765.37, 4765.38, and 4765.39 of the Ohio Revised Code. The
performance of withdrawing blood for the purpose of evidence
collection does not constitute an “emergency medical service” as
defined in the aforementioned laws and is not an element of
emergency care. Therefore, the EMS Board has deemed that the
performance of withdrawing blood for the purpose of evidence
collection falls outside of the Ohio EMS scope of practice and would
not qualify as an authorized emergency medical service performed in
the role of an EMS provider.
Carol A. Cunningham, M.D.,
FACEP, FAAEM
State Medical Director
Ohio Department of Public
Safety, Division of EMS
For information
regarding these topics or any health & safety questions:
Please contact
Larry Petrick
Jr,
OAPFF Director
of Health, Safety, & EMS
Lawren1029@aol.com
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