Jump to a section on this page:

• Washington Safety Codes for the Fire Service
• NFPA standards referenced in 296-305 WAC
• Health Hazards for Fire fighters
• Fire fighter Survival
• Regulatory Agencies impacting the Fire Service
• Agency Representatives
• National Governmental Agencies & Non-profits
• Other Fire Fighter Resources

Disclaimer

L&I staff have reviewed the following web pages for content pertinent to fire fighting safety and the organizations that support fire fighting safety. L&I does not endorse any of the following pages or products. These links are here solely to provide more information to the reader and are in no way provided as an endorsement of the content found within these pages.

Washington Safety Codes for the Fire Service

Safety Standards for Fire Fighters Chapter 296-305 WAC.

Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials Chapter 296-824 WAC.

Bloodborne Pathogens Chapter 296-823 WAC.

Commercial Diving Operations (Dive Teams) Chapter 296-37 WAC.

Confined Spaces Chapter 296-809 WAC.

Respirators Chapter 296-842 WAC.

Airborne Contaminants Chapter 296-841 WAC.

Longshore, Stevedore, and Related Waterfront Operations (fire boat docks) Chapter 296-56 WAC.

Hearing Loss Prevention Chapter 296-817 WAC.

Machine Safety Chapter 296-806 WAC.

Portable Power Tools Chapter 296-807 WAC.

General Codes that supplement 296-305 WAC

General Safety & Health Standards Chapter 296-24 WAC.

General Occupational Health Standards Chapter 296-62 WAC.

Safety & Health Core Rules Chapter 296-800 WAC.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards referenced in 296-305 WAC (Disclaimer)

The following links will take you to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) “about the codes” page for that specific standard. Here you can view the current and previous versions as well as the next revision cycle of that particular standard. There is a link on the right hand side of the page where you can purchase your own copy of that standard. The links below point to a free viewing site courtesy of the NFPA with information about the standard and how to purchase a copy. To view the standards, you will be asked to create an account using your email and a password. The standard is presented in a RealRead® viewer which requires JVM® to be installed and Java applets to be enabled.

NFPA 1521: Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer.

NFPA 1975: Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services.

NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.

NFPA 1983: Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services.

NFPA 1999: Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations.

NFPA 1992: Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies.

NFPA 1977: Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting.

NFPA 402: Guide for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Operations.

NFPA 1403: Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions.

NFPA 1932: Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of In-Service Fire Department Ground Ladders.

NFPA 1584: Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training. Exercises

Health hazards for fire fighters (Disclaimer)

Communicable diseases

EMS Safety: Living with Communicable Diseases and MRSA.

MRSA: A fatal exposure for firefighters?

MRSA Infections Increasing in the U.S.: Firefighters, CFRs, EMTs and Paramedics At Risk (437 KB PDF).

Communicable Diseases Guidelines for Firefighters (1,025 KB PDF / 3 min.).

Asbestos

Asbestos and Firefighters.

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center.

Lead

Study: Lead Exposure Increases Risk of Brain Cancer, Firefighters at Risk.

Fire fighter survival (Disclaimer)

Fire fighter self-survival and Rapid Intervention — Kitsap Training Officers (42 KB PDF).

16 Fire Fighter Life Safety Initiatives — EveryoneGoesHome.com

Everyone Goes Home Fire Fighter Life Safety Resource Tool Box — National Fallen FF Foundation

Federal Highway Administration vest law

Federal Register 23 CFR 634 — November 24, 2006.

Vest Compliance Push Card (1,500 KB PDF / 4 min.).

Watch a test of bunkers with and without vest.

Regulatory agencies impacting the Fire Service

OSHA letter of interpretation:

1. 01/13/2003 — Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres.

2. 03/14/2007 — Whether firefighters trained to the HAZWOPER awareness level can respond to emergency releases of hazardous substances.

3. 04/07/1992 — EPA Fact sheet "Emergency Responder Agreements".

4. 05/01/1995 — Response to IDLH or Potential IDLH atmospheres.

5. 05/09/1994 — Permit Required Confined Space Standard as it relates to rescue services.

6. 06/04/1991 — Training required for emergency response at industrial facilities.

7. 07/08/1991 — Protective Clothing for Firefighters.

8. 08/01/2003 — Firefighter training requirements to respond to emergency releases, or potential emergency releases, of hazardous substance.

9. 08/26/1996 — DOT Approved Gas Cans.

10. 08/28/1997 — Fire fighter personal protective clothing issues.

11. 09/20/1991 — Operations level personnel training.

12. 10/02/1991 — Training requirements for firefighters.

13. 11/01/1995 — The interpretation of the OSHA standards 1910.134 and 1910.156 which address the requirements for workers who are actively conducting operations in atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to life and health.

14. 11/22/1991 — Aerial apparatus and ground ladders.

15. 12/15/1998 — Respiratory protecton standard two-in/two-out policy.

16. 01/06/2009 — Training requirements for fire investigators.

WISHA regional directives pertaining to fire fighters:

Diving Search & Rescue WRD 32.15 (145 KB PDF).

Body Armor as Personal Protective Equipment WRD 5.09 (55 KB PDF).

Head Protection and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) WRD 5.92 (56 KB PDF).

Firefighter Station Work Uniforms and Other Clothing WRD 32.35 (21 KB PDF).

Firefighter Training Under Chapter 296-305 WAC WRD 32.30 (119 KB PDF).

Respirator Selection Specifications for Fire Fighters WIIM 97-7-E (78 KB PDF).

Agency representatives (Disclaimer)

Washington State Fire Service agency representatives

Council of Fire Fighters.

Fire Chief’s Association.

Fire Commissioner’s Association.

Fire Fighter’s Association.

Fire Marshall’s Office.

Fire training & Safety Officers.

Washington Military Department (EMD).

National Fire Service agency representatives

Fire Department Safety Officer’s Association (FDSOA).

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

International Fire Chief’s Association (IAFC).

International Fire Service Trainer’s Association (IFSTA).

National Association of Elected Fire Officials.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

U.S. Fire Administration.

Western Fire Chief’s Association (WFCA).

National governmental agencies & non-profits

Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI).

Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Emergency Management Institute (EMI) web courses.

National Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) - Fire fighter resources.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

U.S.DOT Office of Hazardous Materials Safety.

Other fire fighter resources (Disclaimer)

16 life safety initiatives.

23 CFR Part 634.

California Fire fighters heat stress resources.

David Ross, Peter J. McBride, & Gerald A . Tracy – Rehab Tips and Traps (1,380 KB PDF / 4 min.).

Fire Department communication decision manual (1,173 KB PDF / 3min.).

Firefighter Exposure to Smoke Particulates.

"Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust" (2.3 MB PDF / 8 min.). OSHA booklet that outlines safe procedures for emergency responders who may face fires and explosions caused by combustible dust.

FireRehab.com — a good source of information.

Hamilton Lamberts 1584 PowerPoint presentation (1,230 KB PPT / 3 min.).

International Fire Chief’s 10 rules for engagement — Acceptability of Risk (2,134 KB PDF / 6 min.).

King County Fire Chief’s Association Operation plans.

NTIA IAFC digital radio.

Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters Due to Truss System Failures (NIOSH Alert).

Respiratory Diseases and the Fire Service (6 MB PDF / 17 min.).

Responder safety vest push card.

Sample Vest SOP.

US Fire Administration's new rehabilitation publication (5,901 KB PDF / 17 min.).

US Fire Administration's Study State of Fire 2003 (13 KB PDF).

USFA and NIST study - Performance Metrics for Fire Fighting Thermal Imaging Cameras: Small- and Full-Scale Experiments, Technical Note 1499 (2,644 KB PDF / 7 min.).