HB842 (2008) Detail

Establishing safety requirements and procedures for firefighters.


HB 842 – AS INTRODUCED

2007 SESSION

07-0959

09/05

HOUSE BILL 842

AN ACT establishing safety requirements and procedures for firefighters.

SPONSORS: Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11; Rep. Goley, Hills 8; Rep. Weare, Rock 14; Rep. O'Brien, Hills 26; Rep. P. Garrity, Hills 14; Sen. Gottesman, Dist 12; Sen. Clegg, Dist 14

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes safety requirements and procedures for firefighters.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-0959

09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT establishing safety requirements and procedures for firefighters.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subdivision; Safety Requirements and Procedures for Firefighters. Amend RSA 154 by inserting after section 34 the following new subdivision:

Safety Requirements and Procedures for Firefighters

154:35 Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. “Buddy system” means 2 or more trained and equipped firefighters who account for and assist each other while maintaining direct voice or visual contact.

II. “Immediately dangerous to life and health” (IDLH) means an ambient atmospheric condition:

(a) Created by concentrations of any toxic, corrosive, or asphyxiant substance that poses an immediate threat to life or would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects or would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere; or

(b) Created by fire which is beyond the incipient stage, not controllable by fire extinguishers, where particles of combustion and extreme temperatures caused by the fire require firefighters to utilize respiratory protection and personal protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, and fire protective clothing.

III. “Initial rapid intervention crew” (IRIC) means a crew of at least 2 trained and equipped firefighters who are assigned to the accountability for and the rapid rescue of lost or trapped firefighters, and includes but is not limited to “rapid intervention team” (RIT) or similar terms as used by any individual fire department, fire suppression agency, or mutual aid compact.

IV. “Interior structural firefighting” includes activities comprising rescue fire suppression and property conservation:

(a) Involving buildings of all kinds; and

(b) Involving enclosed structures, vehicles, aircraft, or like properties in a fire emergency when suppression activities are initiated within such structures.

V. “Rescue” means activities directed at locating a lost or trapped firefighter and removing the firefighter from the danger area.

VI. “Search and rescue” means an organized search for any person, occupant, or firefighter lost or trapped in an IDLH atmosphere.

VII. “Standard operating procedure” (SOP) means a written organizational procedure that establishes a general course of action.

154:36 Exceptions. This subdivision shall not apply to any fire department employing 5 or fewer full-time firefighters.

154:37 Safety Requirements and Procedures.

I. When performing interior structural firefighting operations the following requirements shall be met:

(a) A minimum of 4 trained and fully equipped firefighters shall be on-scene prior to initiating any activities under IDLH conditions.

(b) Firefighters shall operate in teams of 2 or more while exposed to IDLH conditions.

(c) While exposed to IDLH conditions, every firefighter shall remain in direct voice or visual contact with team members and radio or other means of electronic communication shall not be substituted for direct voice or visual contact.

(d) When teams of firefighters, using the buddy system, commence activity under IDLH conditions a minimum of 2 trained and fully equipped firefighters, designated as the IRIC, shall remain outside the IDLH area monitoring the firefighting crew or crews exposed to the IDLH conditions and shall remain prepared to immediately initiate rescue operations of such firefighting crews.

II. The IRIC shall be accountable for the safety of the initial firefighting crew or crews and to immediately initiate firefighter rescue if needed.

III.(a) One firefighter member of the IRIC shall be assigned to monitor and account for personnel. This person shall be free from all other tasks.

(b) One other firefighter member of the IRIC may perform other fire ground tasks provided that those other tasks can be immediately abandoned to begin a firefighter rescue without jeopardizing the safety of others. Roles which can be immediately abandoned shall not include incident commander and initial fire attack apparatus operator.

IV. Firefighting operations shall be organized to ensure that, if on arrival at the emergency scene, the properly trained and equipped initial personnel find an imminent life-threatening situation, and immediate action or actions could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, such action or actions may be undertaken with less than 4 personnel, when conducted in accordance with Chapter 82 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500 standards, 2002 edition. This exception shall not apply when there is no possibility to save lives or to prevent serious injury. Any action taken under this permitted exception shall be thoroughly investigated by the fire department with a written report made to the fire chief.

V. The employer shall establish and implement the means, procedures, and practices to control or eliminate hazards, or both, to firefighters operating under IDLH conditions.

VI. The employer shall develop a SOP based on Chapter 4.1.2 of the NFPA 1500 standards, 2002 edition, clearly outlining the requirements of this subdivision as it pertains specifically to its department. This SOP shall include the exception established under paragraph IV, and the requirements for the investigation of and the written report of all deviations from the requirements of this subdivision.

VII. The employer shall provide training to all firefighters whose duties include interior structural firefighting or operating under IDLH conditions. This training shall include the scope and nature of the hazards involved, the proper use of personal protective equipment, and compliance with all applicable SOP.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.