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ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDE

AG # 200.5

SUBJECT:        Fire Investigator Safety Guidelines    

PURPOSE:        Maintain the safety of Fire Investigators during the investigation of a fire.

APPROVED:      

REVISED:               

SEE ALSO:               Respiratory Protection Program

PAGE:   1 of 4

ATTACHED        Investigator Respiratory Protection/Safety Chart

        Phase 3 Decision Logic Chart

        Respirator-Selection-Decision Flow Chart

        Post-fire site safety hazard evaluation worksheet 200.5.1

Fire Investigators shall adhere to all safety standards as required by the Fire Department and the State of Washington, Department of Labor and Industries.

This includes the respirator requirements for medical clearance, proper fit testing, and training.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL FIRES

1)      At a minimum, the listed equipment must be worn and used whenever the Fire Investigator is in a hazardous area or hazardous atmosphere:

·       Coveralls (cotton or fire-resistant) or Brush Gear

·       Approved fire suppression foot wear

·       Approved hand protection

·       Hard hat or firefighting helmet

·       Eye protection

·       Respiratory protection provided by the employer and selected following the decision chart as found in Appendix A for this document

·       800 MHz Radio

2)      Upon arrival at the scene, Fire Investigators must report to the Incident Commander (IC) and enter into the Passport Accountability System.  If working independently, the Fire Investigator must notify the 911 center (CRESA) of their presence and structure entry time.

3)      When deemed necessary by the IC or Lead Fire Investigator, the Fire Investigator may request additional investigative resources be brought to the scene, and remain on scene until the investigation is completed. 

4)      Fire Investigators must calibrate all personal air monitoring instruments prior to each use.

5)      Fire Investigators must ensure that while operating in all hazardous areas or hazardous atmospheres, personal air monitoring instruments must be turned on, worn on their person and functioning.

STRUCTURE FIRES

1)      While in the hazardous area, the Fire Investigator shall wear a respirator appropriate for the hazardous atmosphere at all times.  The respirator may be in the standby mode.

2)      Upon entering a hazardous atmosphere, the respirator shall be donned and operating.

3)      Phase 1 environments: full turnouts, SCBA (or SAR with a PASS device), shall be worn in all IDLH environments, and the Fire Investigator must be under the direction and control of the I.C.   A RIT Team complying with AG #300.9 shall be in place.

4)      Phase 2 environments:   After the atmosphere has been well-characterized, Phase 2 may be declared and investigators may enter the hazardous area via a 1 IN—1 OUT rule.  Fire Investigators must obtain an on-scene, standby employee partner before entering a hazardous area or hazardous atmosphere and shall maintain voice, visual, or touch communication with that partner at all times.  The standby employee shall be situated outside the hazardous area and be trained, ready, and equipped to initiate rescue procedures as outlined in WAC 296-842-19005.

A. the Lead Investigator shall ensure the scene is evaluated and documented on the Site Safety Hazard Evaluation Worksheet before investigator entry.  Much of this information may come from interior suppression crews and ISO, but a consultation with the IC shall be made by the Investigator.

B.      Fire Department recommends investigators wear SCBA whenever there is doubt regarding the contamination of the atmosphere at a fire scene.  The level of respiratory protection worn by the Fire Investigator must be predicated on the ability to quantify the presence of:

·       Oxygen deficient environments (below 19.5% by volume)

·       Flammable & combustible gases LEL

·       Carbon Monoxide above TLV/TWA

·       Other toxic gases, i.e., hydrogen sulphide

 C.  Fire Investigator shall use air-monitoring equipment appropriate for the   hazardous atmosphere at all times.  Any time this equipment alarms, the Fire Investigator must immediately re-evaluate their situation and report the condition to the IC. 

·       Wearing SCBA: The Investigator may remain in the hazard area with slightly elevated levels of CO, if all other indicators remain unchanged AND they report this to the standby employee.  For all other monitored increases, the Investigator must vacate the hazardous area immediately and report to the IC or designee. 

·       Wearing APR: the Investigator shall vacate the hazardous area immediately and notify standby employees, or CRESA as the case may be, anytime their air-monitoring equipment alarms.  

·       Fire Investigators may re-enter the hazardous atmosphere using SCBA or SAR after the atmosphere has once again been deemed safe by the IC.  Fire investigators working alone must not re-enter after an air alarm activation until the atmosphere has again been well characterized and all applicable safety procedures followed.

5)      Phase 3 environments:  Phase-3 entry may occur after a two-party decision process has determined the fire is definitely extinguished and the hazardous atmosphere poses only particulate risk.  At a minimum, the Fire Investigator shall don an approved APR and notify CRESA of their address and describe their task.  Code-4 checks shall be done periodically at the discretion of the Investigator.

EXTENDED FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

1)      Before transferring command to the Investigation Team, the IC will confer with the Lead Fire Investigator on-scene to relate any safety concerns during the continuing investigation; including minimum level of personal protective equipment is worn during the course of the fire investigation.

2)      The lead Fire Investigator must assume command.

3)      Security and support should be provided to investigators who may remain at the scene after fire crews have returned to quarters.

·       Care must be exercised to be aware of weak floors, holes burned in floors, and even the combustible portions of floor assemblies destroyed.

·       Floors may have been weakened so they will not support live loads.

·       Unprotected openings may exist in floors, some common to occupancies, some related to overhaul or fire damage.

·       If the investigation takes the investigator into areas of the community where dangerous social situations may arise and exist, the Incident Commander must ensure that in these circumstances the fire investigator has access to additional security measures.  These measures may include:

a)      Supplementary lighting

b)      Standby fire suppression companies

c)      Law enforcement personnel

d)      Private security officers

DECONTAMINATION AFTER FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

1)      Fire investigation personnel exposed to fire product contamination at the fire scene, during the course of investigation activities, should have their PPE lightly sprayed with water with the respirator in place in order to remove contamination.

2)      Secondary decontamination must be performed prior to returning to service: clean helmets, boots, gloves, masks, and all other equipment exposed to contaminants during the course of the fire investigation.

3)      Personnel exposed to fire product contamination must take a shower upon return to quarters.

Investigator Respiratory Protection/Safety Chart*

Investigator Respiratory Protection/Safety Chart shall be used to evaluate environmental

hazards and select the appropriate level of respiratory protection and standby personnel.
 

        PHASE 1

FIREFIGHTING

ACTIVE CHEMICAL ENGINE  PHASE 2

FIRE IS OUT

TRANSITION STAGE        PHASE 3

CLEARLY STOPPED CHEMICAL GENERATION    
Respiratory Hazards     Heat, Toxic Gases,

Particulates    Possible Toxic Gases, Particulates      Particulates   
Fire    YES     NO      NO     
IDLH    YES     NO      NO     
Smoke   YES     NO      NO     
Ventilation     Start   Yes

Continuous      Yes – Establish 6 Air Changes  
Air Monitor     NO      YES     YES    
Atmosphere is

Well-Characterized      NO      YES

No LDL

O₂ = Exterior

CO ≤ 35 ppm         Debris <200º F      YES -

Continue Monitoring    
Respiratory Minimum     SCBA    SCBA or APR     SCBA or APR    
Standby Employees       2 - In / 2 Out

Implements Immediate Rescue     1 - In / 1 Out

Initiates Rescue Procedures     1 – In / 0 – Out

2 – In / 0 – Out       

 

·       The levels of  protection discussed in this table are minimum requirements.  The IC or Lead Investigator may assign or request higher levels of protection at any time.

Notes:

1.      Carbon Monoxide levels should be similar to ambient air, e.g. ½ the PEL for CO (35 ppm).  CO levels much higher than ambient air may indicate the presence of other air contaminates.

2.      Air monitoring equipment can detect only a few of many heat decomposition products.

3.      Minimize exposure in environments where contents are hot to the touch or steaming.  This may indicate the continued release of toxic products.

4.      Investigators shall when possible avoid disturbing any materials that might release dust or fibers.  Only MSA GME P100® cartridges are approved for use.

5.      The characterization survey should attempt to rule out unusual toxic contaminants, however VFD personnel should remember this is always a potential hazard and should abide by the “buddy system” whenever they have doubts.

6.      Air purifying respirator cartridges should be replaced after each use, no single use exceeding 4 hours.

7.      Entrant shall exit hazardous atmosphere immediately if any odor is detected inside the respirator face piece.

Phase 3 Decision Logic Chart

CRITERIA        PRESENCE        PHASE 3 POSSIBLE       
Occupancy Class Assembly/Business/Educational

Factory/High Hazard Institutional/Mercantile/Storage

Miscellaneous Group U   Evaluate       
Fire Extinguished, Atmosphere Free of Smoke & Visible Vapors    YES

        YES    
Smoke--Vigorous YES     NO     
Smoke—Tiny Embers       YES     Evaluate       
Visible Vapors  YES     YES if steam, otherwise re-evaluate    
Hazardous Process       YES     NO, unless Hazmat fire involvement ruled out   
Drug Lab        YES     NO     
Identified Containers of Hazardous Substances   YES     Evaluate, NO if involved in fire, container breached

       
Unidentifiable Materials or Containers  YES     NO     
Sealed Structure Recently Opened        YES     Ventilation—6 Air Changes, Re-establish atmosphere is “well-characterized”     
Structure Has Been Open & Used by Others        YES     Re-evaluate    
CRESA NOTIFIED

ADDRESS/TASK    YES     YES    

Respirator Selection Decision Flow Chart