SOP 205.02 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

The following are the Ennis Fire Department guidelines for wearing protective clothing. These policies apply to all members, line or staff.

DEFINITION-Full Protective Clothing

Consist of helmet w/ face shield, nomex hood, bunker coat and bunker pants with liners attached, approved gloves and approved 3/4 length boots.

Firefighting personnel while responding to all structure fire alarms and while operating at all incident scenes where firefighting or hazardous materials are being handled or combated shall wear full protective clothing.

NOTE: certain components may be reduced at grass or brush fires.

Helmets are required for personnel riding inside the apparatus while responding to an incident.

When responding from the station, all members shall dress accordingly prior to response to an incident.

Company Officers may use discretion to regulate this in terms of unusual circumstances such as extremely long responses, out of station responses, or when the company performing special duties at the time of dispatch.

Drivers shall wear approved helmets when operating fire apparatus.

It is the intent of this guideline that no member shall cause a delay in any firefighting operation by not being fully prepared to engage in firefighting activities in a safe manner.

NO MEMBERS SHALL RIDE IN A STANDING POSITION OR RIDE ON THE TAILBOARD OF ANY FIRE APPARATUS, WHILE THAT APPARATUS IS IN MOTION.

ALL MEMBERS WILL RIDE THE APPARATUS IN A SEATED POSITION WITH THE" SEAT BELT TO BE WORN ANYTIME THE APPARATUS IS IN MOTION.

While operating at EMS incidents, all members shall wear whatever protective clothing is required to afford complete personnel protection.

When operating forcible entry equipment and tools, full protective clothing shall be worn.

Helmets shall be worn when operating near moving vehicles, such as EMS incidents in the street.

Command may use discretion to regulate the use of protective clothing in those situations where exceptions to the above policy appear necessary. The use of protective clothing may compromise patient care when operating in close quarters.

Full protective clothing will be worn at all times when operating on the fireground.

Nomex hoods will be worn when engaged in firefighting and any other situation where injuries to the head or face are likely to occur.

The use of bunker coats and nomex hoods during overhaul operations will be at the discretion of each company officer.

The faceshield will be utilized at anytime the need for eye protection seems apparent such as during overhaul, when operating hand or power tools, and when fighting trash fires, grass fires, and any other fires where the S.C.B.A. facepiece is not being worn.

Gloves will be worn when engaged in firefighting, overhaul, training with hose and ladders, when using power tools, and any other situation where injuries to the hand and fingers are likely to occur.

In specific situations for which no guidelines have been provided, the proper protective clothing to protect against all foreseeable hazards will be worn.

Rings and similar items of jewelry may cause serious injury in many situations; therefore, these items should not be worn while on duty