1. Personal Protective Clothing, Equipment, and Ensembles
Chapter 6
Personal Protective Clothing, Equipment, and Ensembles

2. Introduction
Difference between injury and safety determined by personal protective equipment (PPE)
PPE provides a minimum level of protection
PPE is the primary layer of protection
PPE includes full protective clothing plus a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device

3. Introduction (cont'd.)
Defined collections of personal protective clothing designed for different firefighter hazards
Exceeding limitations of ensemble's components can cause injury
Firefighters must don the equipment properly
Many factors influence PPE design and use

4. Figure 6-1 A hostile fire within a structure creates an IDLH environment. Personal protective equipment can help the firefighter work in an IDLH environment.

5. Personal Protective Equipment Factors
Firefighter PPE has evolved over two decades
Result of labor groups such as International Association of Firefighters
National Fire Protection Association provides forum for consensus building
Federal government involved in PPE equation
Development of regulations and guidelines

6. Standards and Regulations
NFPA developed standards for:
Firefighter protective clothing
Equipment
Ensembles
NFPA developed “use” standard
All protective clothing worn must meet current applicable standards
OSHA responsible for development and enforcement of regulations

7. Figure 6-3 NFPA-compliant PPE components should have a permanently affixed label.

8. Types of Personal Protective Ensembles
Multiple elements of protective clothing and equipment worn together
Provide protection from some risks
All components must be utilized as recommended

9. Structural Firefighting Protective Ensemble
Protective ensemble for structural firefighting:
Coats and trousers
Helmets
Eye protection
Gloves
Footwear
Protective hoods
Hearing protection
Station/ work uniform

10. Figure 6-4 A full structural firefighting ensemble includes more than the NFPA minimum required components.

11. Proximity Firefighting Protective Ensemble
Most often associated with aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF)
Aluminized coating reflects radiant heat
Not designed for fire entry
Hood features a full face shield coated with anodized gold material

12. (A)
(B)
Figure Proximity firefighting ensembles can utilize (A) a special helmet or (B) a full hood. Either can interface with an SCBA. Note the gold-anodized visors.

13. Wildland Firefighting Protective Ensemble
Called brush gear
Addresses specific needs of wildland firefighters:
Lightweight and breathable
Firm ankle support
Hot ember protection
Synthetic material should never be worn under wildland ensembles

14. Wildland Firefighting Protective Ensemble (cont'd.)
Fire shelter: last-resort protective device (see Figure 6-17)
Web gear: keeps personal items within easy reach

15. Figure 6-15 Wildland PPE is lightweight but still provides protection from hot, flying embers.

16. Technical Rescue Ensemble
Operations such as confined space, structural collapse, and trench
Durable pant and overshirt
Lace-up leather boots
Tight-fitting durable gloves
Lightweight helmet
Hearing protection
Eye protection
Harness

17. Ice Rescue Ensemble Areas with frozen lakes and recreation ponds
Ensemble includes:
Buoyant, insulated suit
Form-fitting face seal and hood
One-piece suit has sealed gloves and boots
Worn with chest harness and lightweight helmet with face screen

18. Swift-Water Ensemble Ensemble includes: Typical work uniform
Personal flotation device (PFD)
Harness with throw-rope bag
Lightweight helmet with face cage
No-slip gloves

19. Care and Maintenance of Personal Protective Clothing
Follow specific instructions given by manufacturer
Clothing exposed to biological and chemical contaminants should be decontaminated
PPC exhibiting damage should not be worn until repaired

20. Personal Protective Equipment
PPE includes:
Personal protective clothing (PPC)
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Personal alert safety system (PASS)

21. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
One of the most important items of PPE
Allows firefighters to enter hazardous atmospheres
Used at non-fire incidents as well:
Hazardous material incidents
Confined space situations

22. Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)
Small, motion-sensitive unit
Includes loud audible warning signal
Some include small flashing beacon
Senses firefighter's motion
Chirps after Inactivity for 30 seconds
Goes into alarm mode if no motion follows
Can fail due to:
Water immersion or high heat
Position of downed firefighter can muffle alarm

23. (A)
(B)
Figure PASS devices can help save a firefighter’s life—but they must be activated. (A) A manual PASS device must be armed by the wearer. (B and C) An integrated PASS device on an SCBA, which is activated when the wearer opens the SCBA bottle.

24. (C)
Figure 6-21 (cont’d.) PASS devices can help save a firefighter’s life—but they must be activated. (A) A manual PASS device must be armed by the wearer. (B and C) An integrated PASS device on an SCBA, which is activated when the wearer opens the SCBA bottle.
6.24

25. Personal Protective Equipment Effectiveness: “Street Smarts”
Firefighters must develop “automatic behaviors”
Simple steps can help achieve these behaviors

26. Good PPE Habits and Attitude
Departments spend thousands of dollars equipping firefighters with PPE
Good PPE habits and positive attitude toward safety can eliminate injury
“Wait and see” attitude leads to shortcutting PPE and affecting immediate actions
Develop good habits in donning PPE
Good habits take nothing more than self-discipline and practice

27. Figure Duty personnel should set up their gear for rapid—and complete—donning. Establish good habits to help eliminate shortcuts.

28. Perfecting Practices in PPE Use
“Streetsmart” suggestions:
Keep PPE clean, inspected and serviceable
Practice “team checks”
Position PPE for rapid complete donning
When doffing PPE, take time to prepare it for next response

29. Figure Firefighting teams should check each other’s PPE for complete donning. This “team check” can help prevent a burn or other injury.

30. Perfecting Practices in PPE Use (cont'd.)
“Streetsmart” suggestions (cont’d.):
Exercise prudent judgment
Wear PPE properly
Perfect practice makes perfect
Be the PPE success example
Increase water consumption to stay hydrated

31. Figure 6-24 Wearing equipment improperly is asking for trouble
Figure Wearing equipment improperly is asking for trouble. The improperly fastened straps on this firefighter’s SCBA create an entanglement hazard. Also note the entanglement hazard created by the improper use of the firefighter’s suspenders.

32. Lessons Learned
PPE is the first and last defense against injuries and illness
NFPA standards for manufacturing criteria and “use” standards
Different ensembles exist for different environments
Care and maintenance of PPC is essential to its readiness
PPE effectiveness dependent on the firefighter’s good PPE habits and positive attitude