NFPA 1500 is the Standard on Occupational Health and Safety Programs for Firefighters. Today we look at what it means and what difference it could make for you or your department.

 

NFPA® 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program 2013 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration
1.1 Scope
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Application
1.4 Equivalency
1.5 Adoption Requirements
Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
2.1 General
2.2 NFPA Publications
2.3 Other Publications
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections
Chapter 3 Definitions
3.1 General
3.2 Official NFPA Definitions
3.3 General Definitions
Chapter 4 Fire Department Administration
4.1 Fire Department Organizational Statement
4.2 Risk Management Plan
4.3 Safety and Health Policy
4.4 Roles and Responsibilities
4.5 Occupational Safety and Health Committee
4.6 Records
4.7 Appointment of the Health and Safety Officer
Chapter 5 Training, Education, and Professional Development
5.1 General Requirements
5.2 Member Qualifications
5.3 Training Requirements
5.4 Special Operations Training
5.5 Member Proficiency
Chapter 6 Fire Apparatus, Equipment, and Drivers/Operators
6.1 Fire Department Apparatus
6.2 Drivers/Operators of Fire Department Apparatus
6.3 Riding in Fire Apparatus
6.4 Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Fire Apparatus
6.5 Tools and Equipment
Chapter 7 Protective Clothing and Protective Equipment
7.1 General
7.2 Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting
7.3 Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire-Fighting Operations
7.4 Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations
7.5 Chemical-Protective Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergency Operations
7.6 Inspection, Maintenance, and Disposal of Chemical-Protective Clothing
7.7 Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
7.8 Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Operations
7.9 Protective Clothing and Equipment for Surface Water Operations
7.10 Respiratory Protection Program
7.11 Breathing Air
7.12 Respiratory Protection Equipment
7.13 Fit Testing
7.14 Using Respiratory Protection
7.15 SCBA Cylinders
7.16 Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)
7.17 Life Safety Rope and System Components
7.18 Face and Eye Protection
7.19 Hearing Protection
7.20 New and Existing Protective Clothing and Protective Equipment
Chapter 8 Emergency Operations
8.1 Incident Management
8.2 Communications
8.3 Risk Management During Emergency Operations
8.4 Personnel Accountability During Emergency Operations
8.5 Members Operating at Emergency Incidents
8.6 Hazard Control Zones
8.7 Traffic Incidents
8.8 Rapid Intervention for Rescue of Members
8.9 Rehabilitation During Emergency Operations
8.10 Scenes of Violence, Civil Unrest, or Terrorism
8.11 Post-Incident Analysis
Chapter 9 Facility Safety
9.1 Safety Standards
9.2 Inspections
9.3 Maintenance and Repairs
Chapter 10 Medical and Physical Requirements
10.1 Medical Requirements
10.2 Physical Performance Requirements
10.3 Health and Fitness
10.4 Confidential Health Data Base
10.5 Infection Control
10.6 Fire Department Physician
10.7 Fitness for Duty Evaluations
Chapter 11 Behavioral Health and Wellness Programs
11.1 Behavioral Health Program.
11.2 Wellness Program
Chapter 12 Occupational Exposure to Atypically Stressful Events
12.1 General
Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Monitoring Compliance with a Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health Program
Annex C Building Hazard Assessment
Annex D Risk Management Plan Factors
Annex E Hazardous Materials PPE Information
Annex F Sample Facility Inspector Checklists
Annex G Informational References
Index

Jim McCormack from Fire Department Training Network is an Indianapolis firefighter with a passion for training. In this episode we once again focus on the fundamentals of operating on the fireground, talking about stretching lines, searching, forcible entry and many others. We talk about simplifying the fireground into manageable steps.

 

Sprinkler systems are an invaluable resource to the firefighter. This week I discuss pre-planning these buildings that have sprinkler systems, understanding the basics of systems, and operating at fires in sprinklered facilities.

 

Dr Burton Clark shares a very sobering and insightful message during this episode about how to measure success. This very direct and thought provoking episode will at times make you think, at times might make you angry, but most of all Dr. Clark hopes will affect you so that you take action and make a difference with your own safety and that of your brothers and sisters on your department. 

 

Assistant Chief Becki White and I discuss fire prevention, what it is, and how to do it correctly in a small department.

We talk about the difference between, public relations, public information, and public education. In addition we talk about changes to the traditional fire prevention messages, current trends, and where to find your audience.

 

This episode is a common sense look at how our value system instilled in us by our parents can make us better firefighters and officers, and chiefs.

A lighthearted approach to dealing with the fire service and others, all brought to us by mom!

This episode is about behavior and actions and changing the way the fire service thinks. There are tons of other perspectives out there and I suggest you listen to them all, but decide for yourself which ones to act upon.

I hope this episode gives you something to think about.

It comes from a classroom and online program that I deliver and if you would like further information, please feel free to contact me.

Fireground search operations and training are discussed along with the concept of “Train like you Fight”.

Some search operating techniques as well as some search training ideas are presented.

This week we look at yet another fire service acronym (like we need another) and we place our attention on the common denominators that continue to appear in NIOSH LODD reports.

Buddy System

Accountability

Standard Operating Procedures

Incident command issues

Communication

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

 

Sometimes the Fire Department Training Officer can lose focus when hit with the demands of everything they are trying to accomplish. This week we talk about some important subjects that need to be addressed and how the training officer can gather data and maintain records that will keep your training program on track.