To provide policy and guidelines relative to the proper personal protection, in the form of protective clothing, to all 

Fire  Department members exposed to dangerous situations and

hazardous atmospheres and/or environments.

A.  Fire Department members shall utilize and wear protective clothing and safety gear as prescribed by those policies and procedures contained herein.

B.  Use of protective clothing as defined and prescribed within this policy shall be considered mandatory during emergency operations and/or 

whenever the chance or risk of personal

injury to Fire Department members may exist.

C.  The  Fire  Department  shall  provide  its members with the proper  type  of  approved  protective  clothing  which  is currently 

available in the safety clothing market.

D.  All protective clothing shall be inspected every two (2) months. Any discrepancies shall be reported. 

A.  Fire Chiefs  have the overall responsibility to insure that the members  of  HNFD  abide  by  Fire Department   

policies   regarding  the  use  of  protective clothing.

B.  All Fire Department members are directly responsible for their personal safety and shall utilize proper protective clothing as prescribed within this policy.

All Fire Department personnel shall wear and utilize full protective clothing as defined herein.

Full Protective Clothing

A.  Helmet

B.  Gloves

C.  Turnout coat.

D.  Hood

E.  Turnout pants (with suspenders).

F.  Turnout boots

GENERAL PROCEDURES

A.  Emergency Operations:

l. Personnel actively engaged in fire fighting shall wear full protective gear.  Any person without proper gear shall not enter the fire 

building or engage themselves in activities in the immediate area.   If the fire building or adjoining buildings are deemed safe by the 

officer in charge, individuals (Fire Fighters and civilians) may be permitted to enter.

2.  All members shall wear and utilize appropriate clothing during emergency operations.

3.  Members  shall  not  remove  their  protective clothing until  such  time  as Incident Command   or  the officer-in-charge determines 

that such protection is no longer necessary or that a reduced level of  protective clothing will be sufficient.

4.  If,  in  their  opinion, operating conditions warrant a change, Fire Officers may increase or  decrease  the level  of  protective  

clothing  which  is required for themselves and their personnel, but the  responsibility to  protect  their  personnel  from injury remains with

that officer.

5.  If, during multiple company operations, the Incident Commander specifies a certain level of protective clothing, then Fire Officers 

shall not decrease that level for themselves or their personnel unless they are given permission to do so by the Incident Commander

B.  During response:

l. Members responding in or on fire apparatus shall wear their protective clothing.

2.  Operators are not required to wear their protective clothing while driving. After arriving on the fireground and after performing all 

essential emergency operations, operators must put on their protective clothing.

3.  Those   members   responding   to calls in enclosed vehicles, or partially enclosed apparatus, are not required to wear helmets 

during response but must have all their assigned protective clothing available once they reach the scene.

4.  If, during a response to a call, an unusual condition or hazard presents itself, the Incident Commander may, at his/her  

discretion,  order  all  personnel,  including drivers, into any level of  protective  clothing  which may  be necessary to protect 

said personnel from injury or death.

C.  During training:

l. Members engaged in training sessions shall wear full protective clothing.

2.  Officers or members conducting training sessions are responsible to insure that adequate protective clothing is utilized properly 

by all personnel involved.  Full protective clothing shall be worn during simulated hazardous environments. 

3.  When on driver’s training, the protective clothing to be worn by those participating in the exercise shall be at the discretion of the Training Officer.

D.  Routine operations:

l.  Members  involved  shall  use  appropriate  safety gear and/or protective  clothing  when  engaged  in  routine activities

 which may present a personal safety hazard. If members have questions regarding the need for safety gear for such routine activities or if they wish to

obtain said gear, they shall contact (72) Clothing Officer prior to beginning said activities.

2.  Members   involved   in  fire  inspections  or pre-planning activities or tours shall, when necessary, wear  proper  and  adequate  

protective clothing during such  inspections,  activities,  or  tours,  so  as  to provide protection from any hazard which may be present in the area.

3.  Members involved in fire inspections, tours, or pre-planning activities shall, when not wearing it, have full protective clothing available should the 

need for it arise.

4.  When working around the hose tower or around a charged hose that is being tested, all members shall wear protective helmets.

E.  Maintenance:

l. All safety gear such as goggles, breathing apparatus, etc., shall be cleaned and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

2.  All protective clothing such as turnout clothing, helmets, safety boots, shall be maintained in accordance manufacturer's instructions and 

departmental policy.

3.  All protective clothing will be cleaned on a regular basis.

4.  Protective clothing with small holes or rips are not to be considered needing replacement unless there are a considerable number of them.

5.  All helmets are required to be Yellow in color for firefighters and Red for Officers, White for Chief Officers.