QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔ISEA/ American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87, American National
Standard for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices. - ✔✔-
This standard prescribes safety eye and face products design, performance
specifications and markings necessary for a variety of occupational settings.
- Ex: Face and Chest Protector attached to the Stokes Basket
✔✔Head Protection - ✔✔- Has a secure chin strap and at least a 3 point suspension to
prevent movement for operations.
- Elastic Chin Straps are problematic and stretch over time.
- Construction and motorcycle helmets are not ideal due to their minimal protection and
tendency to slip off
- Helmets used in rescue incidents should conform to NFPA 1951: Standard on
Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents.
✔✔Harnesses - ✔✔- Essential piece of equipment for rescue operations, fall protection,
work positioning and rope access.
- NFPA 1983 classifies harness into 3 categories: Class 1 Harness, Class 2 Harness an
Class 3 Harness.
- Class 1: A belt used for emergency escapes, ladder work and or positioning.
,- Class 2: Seat Harness. Designed to hold a rescuer in a seated position. If used in a
extended period of time small straps may be less comfortable and reduce circulation to
the lower half of the body. Using wider straps will reduce these effects.
- Class 3: Full Body Harness. Frequently used in rescue operations. Offers better
support and security for rescuers as it has multiple points of connections.
- Regardless of the type of harness the rescuer should always inspect their harness
before and after each use.
- NFPA 1983: Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services
✔✔Hand Protection - ✔✔- Rescuers should always wear gloves. Ideally sturdy enough
to protect the hands but flexible enough to provide full range of motion.
- Dexterity is key.
- Soft leather gloves tend to work better for rescue operations.
- Gloves used for rescue operations should conform to NFPA 1951: Standard on
Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents.
✔✔Foot Protection - ✔✔- High ankle leather boots with a safety toe provide the best
blend of protection and function.
- Appropriate footwear should include: Lightweight, Nonskid tread for better traction,
Proper fit reducing irritation and blisters and proper support to reduce potential injury.
- Footwear should conform to NFPA: 1951 Standard on Protective Ensembles for
Technical Rescue Incidents.
✔✔Personal Lighting Resources - ✔✔- Primary lighting source for rescuers is a helmet
mounted lamp. It frees the rescuers hands ad illuminates the area.
- Secondary lighting is redundant lighting that functions as a backup to the primary light
source. Flashlights and hand lights and atmosphere safe chemical light sticks.
✔✔Hazard Specific PPE - ✔✔Eye, hearing, respiratory and chemical protective
clothing.
✔✔Eye and Hearing Protection - ✔✔- Eye protection should conform to ISEA/ANSI
Z871 Hearing Protection should conform to ISEA/ANSI S3.19 or ISEA/ANSI S12.6
- Z = Eyes and Face
- S = Sound
✔✔Respiratory Protection - ✔✔- Should be worn if the operational environment is
potentially hazardous.
- SCBA
- SAR
- APR
- Two main components: Face piece and air source
, ✔✔Air Purifying Protection (APR) - ✔✔- Respirator with air purifying filter, cartridge or
canister that removes specific air containments by passing ambient air through the air
purifying element.
- Responders should NEVER use APR's in an oxygen deficient environment.
✔✔Supplied Air Respirator (SAR) - ✔✔- The air source can be an air cart or manifold
that holds two or more air bottles connected to a regulator.
- Limited to no more than 300ft of hose from the regulated source.
- Inlet pressure is regulated to between 80 and 120 psi
- Emergency escape bottle attached to the harness with a minimum of 5-15 minutes of
breathing air.
✔✔Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) - ✔✔- Designated to be carried by the
user
- NEVER REMOVE SCBA IN A CONFINED SPACE
- Minimum service life of 30 minutes certified by NIOSH
- IDLH is considered to be 12-72 hours after the incident is over.
✔✔Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC) - ✔✔- Protects skin and prevents contamination
- Manufacturer recommendations and guidelines must always be followed.
✔✔Record Keeping Systems - ✔✔- Safety feature and tracking mechanism.
- Personnel should follow departmental protocols to ensure accurate record keeping for
all equipment. This is for liability protection.
- When storing PPE, ensure that it is kept away from acids, alkalis, exhaust emissions
and strong chemicals.
✔✔Rope Types and Classifications - ✔✔
✔✔Life Safety Rope - ✔✔- Rope that meets the requirements of NFPA 1983: Standard
on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services
- Dedicated solely for the purpose of constructing lines to be used for the raising,
lowering, or supporting people during rescue, fire fighting or other emergency
operations, or during training.
- 3 types of classification: (T) Technical, (G) General, (E) Fire escape
✔✔Utility Rope - ✔✔- Rope used for securing objects, for hoisting equipment, or for
securing a scene to prevent bystanders from being injured.
- Utility rope must NEVER be used in life-safety operations.
✔✔Rope Fibers - ✔✔- Natural fibers
- Synthetic Fibers (Polyester and Nylon)
✔✔Natural Rope Fibers - ✔✔- Not used in life safety situations because of their
limitations.