Maine § 2103. - Standards for equipment and clothing

§ 2103.. Standards for equipment and clothing

Unless otherwise specified, any reference in this section to a standard is to the most recent standard in effect.   [PL 2003, c. 570, §3 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 570, §7 (AFF).]

1.  Protective equipment. 

1-A.  Protective equipment.  The fire department shall provide each firefighter with the appropriate equipment to protect the firefighter from the hazards of the work environment to which the firefighter is likely to be exposed.

A. All protective equipment must fit properly and must meet or exceed the requirements of the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the National Fire Protection Association, whichever are more stringent, that are in effect at the time of purchase. Proper fit is determined by selecting the best-fitting protective equipment after reviewing design options specific to the firefighter's sex and options for sizing and tailoring the protective equipment.   [PL 2021, c. 442, §2 (NEW).]

B. The firefighter shall use the protective equipment whenever exposed to the hazards for which that equipment is provided.   [PL 2021, c. 442, §2 (NEW).]

C. Protective equipment, as provided in this section, must consist of protective clothing, helmet ensemble, foot, hand and hearing protection, self-contained breathing apparatus, personal alert safety systems and fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware.   [PL 2021, c. 442, §2 (NEW).]

2.  Protective equipment; volunteer fire association. 

3.  Protective clothing.  Protective clothing consists of a coat and trousers. Purchases of new protective clothing by a fire department must meet or exceed the National Fire Protection Association standards.

4.  Head protection. 

4-A.  Helmet ensemble.  Purchases of new helmet ensembles by a fire department must meet or exceed National Fire Protection Association standards.

5.  Foot protection.  Purchases of new boots by fire departments must meet or exceed the American National Standards Institute standard Z41.1 and 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910, General Industry Standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Fire Protection Association standards.

6.  Hand protection.  Hand protection consists of heat insulating gloves or mittens that are not readily flammable. Purchases of new hand protection by a fire department must meet or exceed National Fire Protection Association standards.

7.  Self-contained breathing apparatus.  Purchases of new respiratory apparatus by a department must meet National Fire Protection Association standards and have a minimum of 1/2 hour normal service life plus an additional 1/2 hour capacity in a spare cylinder. The entire unit must meet National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and National Fire Protection Association standards.

Self-contained breathing apparatus must contain a minimum air supply of 90% of the rated capacity of the cylinder to be considered in-service.  

8.  Personal alert safety system.  Each firefighter wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus must be provided with and shall use a personal alert safety system device in a hazardous area. The device must meet National Fire Protection Association standards. Purchases of new personal alert safety systems, PASS, by a fire department must meet or exceed the National Fire Protection Association standards.

9.  Fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware.  Purchases of new fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware by a fire department must meet National Fire Protection Association standards.

10.  Hearing protection.  Each fire department shall provide and each firefighter shall use hearing protection when the firefighter is operating or riding on fire apparatus and is subject to noise in excess of 90 decibels. Hearing protection must be provided and used when the firefighter is exposed to noise in excess of 90 decibels from power tools or equipment, except in situations when the use of the protective equipment would create an additional hazard to the user. Hearing protection must conform to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1910.95.