Mission Statement
Created as a Committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association, the Institute serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America's Emergency Responders. Members of the Institute, all highly influential and expert in their fields, are personally dedicated to the safety of the men and women who respond to emergencies on our nation’s streets, roads and highways. Members of the Institute include trainers, writers, managers, government officials, technical experts and leaders in the public safety world who through their individual efforts and collective influence can bring meaningful change.












Web Site Designed and Maintained by Stonehouse Media Incorporated®







Skip Navigation Links
Home
About Us
Training
News
Struck By
LODD
Police
Archives
Gallery
Links
Contact Us
Vest Rule Modified in the 11th Hour - Victory for Common Sense
Friday, November 21, 2008

Firefighters in "Hot Zone" shown without vests. When overhaul begins vests are required. All others are wearing vests. This photo part of a Power Point entitled Vests down loadable from this site
Firefighters in "Hot Zone" shown without vests. When overhaul begins vests are required. All others are wearing vests. This photo part of a Power Point entitled Vests down loadable from this site
Fed's Carve Out Exception for Firefighters Only Days Before Vest Rule Takes Effect on November 24, 2008. Fire Service Groups Raised Concerns About Suppression Personnel  Wearing Vests during actual exposure to flames or other hazardous conditions.

Respondersafety.com has published a sample S.O.P on this site that includes the following language: "Members directly involved in source of heat, chemical, or technical rescue activities as listed above who complete their activities within the designated Hot Zone are required to don ANSI-compliant vests once their activities within the Hot Zone are completed or they leave the immediate “hot Zone’ area of the incident scene". We strongly recommend this policy to ensure compliance with the revised rule.


The Federal Highway Official Release:
On November 21, 2008, the FHWA issued an  interim  final rule revising the Worker Visibility rule (23CFR 634) to create an exemption for the firefighting community.  This interim Final rule allows ffirefighters or other emergency responders working within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway and engaged in emergency operations that directly expose them to flame, fire, heat, and/or hazardous materials to wear
retroreflective turn-out gear that is specified and regulated by other organizations, such as the National Fire Protection Association.  Firefighters or other emergency responders working within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway and engaged in any other types of operations shall wear high-visibility safety apparel  as defined in this rule.   The FHWA decided to issue this interim final rule to address safety concerns raised by fire fighting community.   The interim final rule was published in the Federal Register today and goes in effect on November 24, 2008.  This rule can be accessed  at the following link:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27671.pdf 

Please share this information with others that may be interested in this matter.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Ken Wood at 708-283 -4340 or Ken.Wood@dot.govHari Kalla, P.E.
MUTCD Team Leader 
FHWA, Office of Operations (HOTO-1)
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, E84-316
Washington, DC 20590
Tel.: (202) 366-5915
Fax: (202) 366-3225 
Web: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/

Photo Credit: Training Chief Ron Moore Chief Instructor Emergency Responders Safety Institute. Photo is from a Power Point Program available on this web site




Useful links
  1. Federal Rule
  2. Training Downloads Vest.ppt or use Vest.pdf if your system will not support Power Point
Model Vest SOP.doc
Model Vest SOP in MS Word. Customize for your department
Upload Date: 11/21/2008
34.00 KB
Microsoft Word Document
Categories:  High Visibility Vests  |  SOP's/SOG's for Your Department or Agency
 






"Everyone goes Home"
A national effort to end line of duty deaths.
Portions of news supplied by:
Firehouse.com
Funding and Support Provided By:

United States Fire Administration

This Web site is funded in part, through a grant from the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).