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West Valley Firefighters

Quarterly Newsletter

1st Quarter of 2012

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Policy 2401: Personnel Alert Safety System

Policy 2401: Personnel Alert Safety System

YAKIMA COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 12

10000 ZIER ROAD

YAKIMA, WA 98908

POLICY #                     2401

COMMISSION CHAIR SIGNATURE s/b Marshia Goss, Chair

EFFECTIVE DATE:

REVISED:                     2/10/09

POLICY TITLE:             PERSONAL ALERT SAFETY SYSTEM

REFERENCE:                 WAC 296-305-02017

1.0 PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide a personal alerting safety system (P.A.S.S.) for all members, ensuring protection for their safety while working in hazardous areas.

2.0 DEFINITION

Personal alert safety system (PASS) a device that emits a loud noise when activated manually by a fire fighter when in need of immediate help. PASS device will also activate automatically when a fire fighter is motionless for 30 seconds or less.

3.0 THE DISTRICT TO EQUIP EACH SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA)

The District recognizes the importance of safety for all firefighters. It is the responsibility of the District to provide a PASS device on all SCBA’s without exception. All firefighters working in a hazardous area are required to wear an SCBA equipped with a PASS device.

4.0 USE

Each fire fighter working in a hazardous area requiring the use of SCBA shall wear and use a PASS device. PASS devices shall meet the requirements of NFPA, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for Fire Fighters 1982, 1993 edition.

5.0 PASS DEVICE TO BE TESTED

Each PASS device shall be tested routinely to ensure it is ready for use and immediately prior to each use, and shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. Each Device shall be tested monthly, and a device that does not activate properly shall be taken out of service and properly tagged.

6.0 MAINTENANCE

Each PASS device shall be maintained and repaired according to manufactures instructions. Batteries should be changed once (1) a year or as needed. No SCBA intended for hazardous areas shall be without a PASS device.

7.0 CARE

Each PASS shall have debris brushed off of it after each use and decontaminated with the rest of the SCBA, after cleaning all PASS devices must be tested.

8.0 REPAIR

Any repairs made to a PASS device outside of changing the batteries shall be done by an authorized dealer.