Section (G) – Medical & Physical Requirements – Section Highlights

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Section (g)

This section requires a high level of organization that can be simplified into separate segments.

Proposed paragraph (g) includes medical and physical requirements to address the hazards associated with emergency response activities.

The physical fitness and physical and mental medical requirements in paragraph (g) serve two purposes: (1) ensuring that responders are physically and mentally capable of performing their duties without injury to themselves or their fellow responders, and (2) identifying and addressing physical and mental health effects resulting from emergency response activities.

Pieces

(g)(1)(i)

Minimum medical requirements based on type and level of service. ESO’s and WERE’s have to establish these for their specific organizations.

(g)(1)(ii)

Confidential records with duty assignment (roles) and create restrictions what those roles can and cannot do.

(g)(1)(iii)

Medical records must be maintained and made available under the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(g)(2)(ii)

Medical evaluations by physician or PLHCP to ensure each responder is capable of performing their duties.

(g)(2)(iii)(A-D)

Elements of the medical exam including medical and work history. Listed in the proposed standard but includes “any other tests deemed appropriate by the PLHCP”.

(g)(2)(v)

Frequency of exams. Initial baseline plus recurrent exams based on timeline or more frequent if exposure or conditions have adversly affected the team member.

(g)(2)(vi)

Return to duty clause and medical re-evaluation process for absence due to injury or illness. 

(g)(3)(i)

ESO’s only. Additional medical surveillance for responders exposed to combustible products. This is part of your risk assessment and can have a simple risk matrix that defines what “an exposure” means for your organization.

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Mental Health

Behavioral Health

We didn’t forget it…

This important section (along with (g)(5) – type, level & tier of service) needs a discussion on its own. We’ll outline this section of (g) in the near future. 

We don't know exactly what the final rule will be but here is what it will start with:

Start here

Defining Your Roles

These should be the same roles that are listed in your manual required by Section (c) and (d). This determines your “Type & Level of Service” provided by your staff. An example might look like this:

(Feel free to use this list in your manual and add or subtract from it as needed, to fit your operation.)

 

1. Firefighter (Entry-Level)

  • Primary Role: Responding to fires, medical emergencies, and other types of disasters.
  • Responsibilities: Operating fire engines, using hoses to extinguish fires, rescuing individuals, performing basic first aid and CPR, and ensuring the safety of themselves and others during emergency operations.
  • Skills: Basic firefighting skills, physical fitness, use of firefighting equipment (hoses, axes, ladders, etc.), and emergency medical response.

2. Fire Captain

  • Primary Role: Leading a team of firefighters during fire emergencies and overseeing the operations at the scene.
  • Responsibilities: Supervising and directing firefighting crews, managing fire operations on the scene, ensuring the safety of personnel, and coordinating efforts with other emergency responders. They may also handle administrative duties, such as training schedules and performance evaluations.
  • Skills: Leadership, decision-making, advanced firefighting tactics, incident command, and knowledge of fire department protocols.

3. Fire Lieutenant

  • Primary Role: Assisting the fire captain and acting as the supervisor of fire crews.
  • Responsibilities: Supervising firefighters during emergencies, ensuring the proper operation of equipment, and helping with strategic decision-making on the scene. They may also assume the role of acting fire captain if the captain is unavailable.
  • Skills: Team leadership, problem-solving, firefighting techniques, and situational awareness.

4. Fire Engineer/Driver

  • Primary Role: Operating and maintaining fire apparatus (such as fire engines or ladder trucks).
  • Responsibilities: Driving the fire truck to the emergency scene, ensuring that it is properly equipped and ready for use, and operating equipment like pumps and hoses during firefighting operations.
  • Skills: Vehicle operation, mechanical knowledge, firefighting equipment operation, and understanding of water supply systems.

5. Paramedic/EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)

  • Primary Role: Providing emergency medical care to individuals injured in fires or other emergencies.
  • Responsibilities: Administering first aid, CPR, administering medications, and stabilizing patients for transport to the hospital. In some fire departments, firefighters are cross-trained as paramedics or EMTs, and they respond to medical emergencies in addition to fires.
  • Skills: Emergency medical care, trauma management, patient assessment, and basic life support.

6. Fire Prevention Officer

  • Primary Role: Preventing fires through education, inspections, and enforcing fire codes.
  • Responsibilities: Conducting fire safety inspections, educating the public about fire prevention, enforcing building codes, investigating the cause of fires, and advising businesses and the community on fire safety measures.
  • Skills: Knowledge of fire codes and regulations, inspection skills, fire behavior, and public speaking for educational purposes.

7. Fire Investigator

  • Primary Role: Investigating the causes of fires and determining if the fire was accidental, intentional (arson), or due to other factors.
  • Responsibilities: Collecting and analyzing evidence from fire scenes, interviewing witnesses, and working with law enforcement to determine the origin and cause of fires.
  • Skills: Investigative techniques, knowledge of fire behavior, forensic analysis, and legal procedures.

8. Fire Safety Educator

  • Primary Role: Promoting fire safety and prevention in the community.
  • Responsibilities: Teaching fire safety classes to children, schools, businesses, and community groups. They also create and distribute fire safety materials.
  • Skills: Public speaking, educational techniques, and knowledge of fire prevention and safety practices.

9. Rescue Technician

  • Primary Role: Specializing in rescues during fire or emergency situations.
  • Responsibilities: Handling high-risk rescue situations, such as high-angle rescues, confined space rescues, water rescues, and trench rescues. They may also assist with search and rescue during fire incidents.
  • Skills: Technical rescue techniques, rope work, water rescue, and use of specialized rescue equipment.

10. Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Specialist

  • Primary Role: Responding to hazardous materials incidents, including chemical spills, leaks, or other hazardous situations.
  • Responsibilities: Identifying hazardous materials, ensuring the proper handling and containment, and using specialized equipment to protect themselves and others from exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxins.
  • Skills: Knowledge of hazardous materials, chemical safety, decontamination procedures, and the use of protective gear.

11. Fire Department Training Officer

  • Primary Role: Overseeing and conducting training programs for the fire department.
  • Responsibilities: Developing and implementing training programs for firefighters, ensuring that all personnel are familiar with the latest firefighting techniques, safety protocols, and equipment use.
  • Skills: Training and instructional skills, knowledge of firefighting standards, and leadership.

12. Fire Chief

  • Primary Role: Serving as the highest-ranking officer in the fire department, responsible for overseeing all fire department operations.
  • Responsibilities: Managing the overall operations of the department, budgeting, staffing, strategic planning, and working with local government and the community. The fire chief sets policies and ensures the fire department meets local and state regulations.
  • Skills: Leadership, administration, budgeting, public relations, and in-depth knowledge of firefighting practices.

13. Wildland Firefighter

  • Primary Role: Specializing in fighting wildfires in forested, rural, and wilderness areas.
  • Responsibilities: Responding to fires in forests, grasslands, or other wildland environments, and working to control the spread of fires in these challenging environments.
  • Skills: Wildland fire suppression techniques, physical endurance, use of hand tools, and working in rugged terrain.

14. Fire Communications Officer (Dispatcher)

  • Primary Role: Handling emergency calls and coordinating fire department responses.
  • Responsibilities: Receiving and dispatching emergency calls, coordinating resources, and providing critical information to firefighters and other emergency responders.
  • Skills: Communication, multitasking, and familiarity with dispatch systems.