§2103. Standards for equipment and clothing






Unless otherwise specified, any reference in this section to a standard is to the
most recent standard in effect. [2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD); 2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF).]








1. Protective equipment. 
The fire department shall provide each firefighter with the appropriate equipment
to protect the firefighter from the hazards of the work environment to which the firefighter
is likely to be exposed. The firefighter shall use the protective equipment whenever
exposed to the hazards for which that equipment is provided. If a fire department
purchases new protective equipment, that equipment must meet the standard in effect
at the time of the purchase. If a fire department acquires protective clothing that
is not new, that protective clothing must, at a minimum, meet the standards that were
in effect in 1987. Any protective clothing that was purchased or acquired prior to
1987 that does not meet National Fire Protection Association standards must be replaced.
Protective equipment must consist of:





A. Protective clothing; [1987, c. 356, (NEW).]










B.
[2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF); 2003, c. 570, §3 (RP).]











B-1. Helmet ensemble, including eye and face protection; [2003, c. 570, §1 (NEW); 2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF).]











C. Foot protection; [1987, c. 356, (NEW).]










D. Hand protection; [1987, c. 356, (NEW).]










E.
[2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF); 2003, c. 570, §3 (RP).]











F. Hearing protection; and [1987, c. 552, §1 (AMD).]










G. Self-contained breathing apparatus. [1987, c. 552, §1 (AMD).]










H.
[1987, c. 552, §2 (RP).]










I.
[1987, c. 552, §2 (RP).]







[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








2. Protective equipment; volunteer fire association. 




[
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF);
2003, c. 570, §3 (RP)
.]








3. Protective clothing. 
Protective clothing consists of a coat and trousers. Purchases of new protective
clothing by a fire department must meet or exceed the National Fire Protection Association
standards.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








4. Head protection. 




[
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF);
2003, c. 570, §3 (RP)
.]








4-A. Helmet ensemble. 
Purchases of new helmet ensembles by a fire department must meet or exceed National
Fire Protection Association standards.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (NEW);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








5. Foot protection. 
Purchases of new boots by fire departments must meet or exceed the American National
Standards Institute standard Z41.1 and 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910,
General Industry Standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and
National Fire Protection Association standards.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








6. Hand protection. 
Hand protection consists of heat insulating gloves or mittens that are not readily
flammable. Purchases of new hand protection by a fire department must meet or exceed
National Fire Protection Association standards.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








7. Self-contained breathing apparatus. 
Purchases of new respiratory apparatus by a department must meet National Fire Protection
Association standards and have a minimum of 1/2 hour normal service life plus an additional
1/2 hour capacity in a spare cylinder. The entire unit must meet National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health and National Fire Protection Association standards.



Self-contained breathing apparatus must contain a minimum air supply of 90% of the
rated capacity of the cylinder to be considered in-service.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








8. Personal alert safety system. 
Each firefighter wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus must be provided with
and shall use a personal alert safety system device in a hazardous area. The device
must meet National Fire Protection Association standards. Purchases of new personal
alert safety systems, PASS, by a fire department must meet or exceed the National
Fire Protection Association standards.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]








9. Fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware. 
Purchases of new fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware by a fire department
must meet National Fire Protection Association standards.


[
1987, c. 356, (NEW)
.]








10. Hearing protection. 
Each fire department shall provide and each firefighter shall use hearing protection
when the firefighter is operating or riding on fire apparatus and is subject to noise
in excess of 90 decibels. Hearing protection must be provided and used when the firefighter
is exposed to noise in excess of 90 decibels from power tools or equipment, except
in situations when the use of the protective equipment would create an additional
hazard to the user. Hearing protection must conform to Occupational Safety and Health
Administration standards, 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1910.95.


[
2003, c. 570, §3 (NEW);
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF)
.]





SECTION HISTORY

1987, c. 356, (NEW).
1987, c. 552, §§1-3 (AMD).
1987, c. 769, §B7 (AMD).
2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD).
2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF).