5039 Respiratory Protection (safety)

Question 1

Who is responsible for:
1. Administering the TFD Respiratory Protection Program in accordance with
the guidelines set forth in this document
2. Maintaining and updating this policy in accordance with guidelines set
forth in this document

Answer 1

The Administrative Battalion Chief for Safety

Question 2

Who is responsible for

Keeping records of all training in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document

Answer 2

TFD Training Division personnel

Question 3

TFD Fire Garage personnel shall be responsible for

Answer 3

testing, maintaining and repairing air compressor equipment in accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document.

Question 4

Define

EEBSS.

Answer 4

Emergency Escape Breathing Support System.

Question 5

Define

Grade D breathing air

Answer 5

Air for SCBA cylinders that meets the following minimum requirements:
• Water vapor level of 24 ppm or less
• 19.5-23.5% oxygen
• Condensed hydrocarbon of no more than 5 mg per cubic meter of air
• CO content of no more than 10 ppm
• CO2 level of no more than 1,000 ppm

Question 6

Define

MRSA.

Answer 6

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Question 7

Define

Oxygen deficient

Answer 7

An atmosphere that:
• Contains less than 19.5% oxygen by volume OR
• Has a partial pressure of 148 millimeters of mercury or less

Question 8

Define

Qualitative Fit Test

Answer 8

A pass/fail test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit.

Question 9

Define

Quantitative Fit Test

Answer 9

An assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit as measured by the amount of leakage into the respirator.

Question 10

Define

SAR

Answer 10

(Supplied air line respirator). Positive pressure respirator supplied by a NIOSH approved high pressure hose connected to a remote air source.

Question 11

The Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) shall have in place a written respiratory protection policy in accordance with

Answer 11

WAC 296-305 and

WAC 296-842.

Question 12

Qualitative and quantitative fit testing for respiratory equipment shall be done in compliance with

Answer 12

WAC 296-842, sections 15005 and 22010.

Question 13

A TFD employee may use his/her own

Answer 13

Private HCP (health care provider), in lieu of the department provided HCP, for the medical evaluation at his/her own expense

Question 14

Follow-up medical evaluations shall be conducted every three years or under the following conditions

Answer 14

a. When the employee reports signs or symptoms that are relevant to his/her ability to use a respirator
b. When recommended by a HCP after an initial medical evaluation
c. When requested by the employee’s supervisor and/or the TFD Safety Officer
d. When information obtained from fit testing and/or respiratory program evaluation indicate the need for it

Question 15

Fit testing

TFD personnel shall use only

Answer 15

the make, model and size respirator for which s/he has been trained and on which s/he has been fit tested within the
previous 12 months.

Question 16

Fit testing shall be repeated

Answer 16

a. At least every 12 months OR
b. Whenever the employee changes the type of respirator or facepiece that s/he uses OR

c. Whenever the employee has significant physical changes, including 
but not limited to— 
i. Weight change of 10% or more 
ii. Scarring to the facial area 
iii. Dental changes 
iv. Cosmetic surgery

Question 17

TFD shall select for and provide to its personnel NIOSH certified
respiratory protection equipment in compliance with

Answer 17

NFPA 1981, WAC

296-305-04001 and WAC 296-842-13005.

Question 18

TFD personnel shall use only positive pressure SCBA or air line respirators
(also known as Supplied Air Respirators or SAR) with escape bottles in IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health) atmospheres

Answer 18

a. Service capacity of the SCBA must exceed 15 minutes and not more than 20% of that air supply can be used for entry
b. The SAR air line must be connected prior to entry into IDLH
atmospheres

Question 19

SAR shall be equipped with

Answer 19

a. A positive pressure escape bottle with a minimum capacity rating of five minutes
b. A maximum of 300 feet of heavy duty, non-kinking hose approved by NIOSH for this application

Question 20

When operating in cold weather, TFD personnel shall

Answer 20

Store the mask mounted regulator (MMR) in the STANDBY belt mount

Question 21

A firefighter must have the following minimum pressure to function as a
donor:

Answer 21

a. 1000 psi in a 2216 rated cylinder
b. 2000 psi in a 4500 rated cylinder
- It is safe and permissible to transfill from a high pressure bottle to a low pressure bottle as they have identical quick fill fittings equipped with a pressure relief valve to prevent over pressurization.

Question 22

The donor shall immediately notify

Answer 22

The IC of a situation that requires use of
EEBSS, the location and who is involved.

-When notified of the need to use EEBSS, the Incident Commander (IC) shall deploy the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) and/or other appropriate resources to provide assistance with air supply and rescue in accordance with TFD Policies 2018 and 2022.

Question 23

TFD Fire Garage personnel shall perform air quality tests on compressors and cascade systems at least

Answer 23

quarterly AND:

a. Whenever there are major changes or repairs made to a compressor OR
b. Any time there is reason to believe there may be a problem with breathing air quality

Question 24

TFD personnel who are issued individual SCBA (e.g., administrative and fire prevention personnel) shall

Answer 24

Inspect his/her SCBA weekly and after each use

Question 25

Generally only the SCBA facepiece requires cleaning after each use with

Answer 25

a. A personal facepiece may be cleaned with warm water and a mild dish soap solution
b. A spare facepiece or a facepiece that has potentially been exposed to infectious agents shall be cleaned and disinfected with the cleaner supplied by the manufacturer

Question 26

TFD Training Division personnel shall require each employee who uses respiratory equipment to

Answer 26

a. Practice at least quarterly with each type of respirator available for use to include donning and checking for proper function

b. Complete annual training and testing on—
i. Knowledge of and proficiency with SCBA operation
ii. Safety
iii. Facepiece seals
iv. PASS devices

Question 27

When checking SCBA Make sure cylinder gauge reads no less than

Answer 27

90% of total capacity

-Make sure the harness gauge reading does not exceed the cylinder gauge reading; should be either equal to or no less than 5% of the cylinder gauge reading

Question 28

When checking SCBA:

Close cylinder valve and watch harness pressure gauge to make sure it doesn’t drop more than

Answer 28

100 psi in 10 seconds

Question 29

Check PASS for proper operation

Answer 29

Remain motionless for 18 seconds and:

Question 30

Test the alarm by pressing the switch three times in rapid succession and look for

Answer 30

a. The alarm should enter test mode and then verify functioning of audible and visual alarm indicators as well as battery voltage

Question 31

Crack the bypass valve slowly to bleed off pressure until the alarm sounds then?

Answer 31

a. Nominal gauge pressure should be:
i. 530 psig for a low pressure system OR
ii. 1175 psig for a high pressure system

Question 32

When using EEBSS

Equalization of the two SCBA bottles should occur within

Answer 32

60 seconds

Question 33

If the quick fill fitting leaks excessively when you disconnect the EEBSS hose:

Answer 33

a. Replace the dust cap on the quick fill fitting
b. If you can’t replace the dust cap, reconnect the EEBSS hose
c. If you can’t reconnect the EEBSS hose, close your cylinder valve.

Question 34

After using EEBSS, use your thumb or forefinger to depress the center of
one of the rubber dust caps to

Answer 34

release the residual pressurized air.

Question 35

What policy number is

Respiratory Protection

Answer 35

5039

Safety