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Safety Vests at MVA's
What do other department's do regarding wearing safety vests at MVA's?
Keep in mind, I am from a Canadian Department (Manitoba):
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) has decided that we must wear vests meeting CSA Z96-02 standard at all scenes along highways (MVA's, grass fires, etc.). I'm not sure what the equivalent standard would be in the USA.
WHS does make an exception for firefighter's that are directly fighting the fire, since the vests would/could melt at higher temperatures, but once out of the fire, you are expected to put your vest back on.
Do other areas require firefighters to wear vests like this? This is a fairly new requirement and we are still getting vests in for everyone. WHS has decided that the reflective stripes on our turn-out gear are not sufficient to meet this CSA spec, thus the need for the vests. In the future, I can see WHS eventually telling us that we need these vests at all scenes since the scene is a workplace, blah, blah, blah. Hopefully manufacturers of turn-out gear start adding enough striping to the turn-out gear so that we don't need the vests.
Another question: Is there any manufacturer out there that does make turn-out gear meeting this spec?
Captain Andrew Dalgarno
RM of Harrison Fire Department - Station #1
Keep in mind, I am from a Canadian Department (Manitoba):
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) has decided that we must wear vests meeting CSA Z96-02 standard at all scenes along highways (MVA's, grass fires, etc.). I'm not sure what the equivalent standard would be in the USA.
WHS does make an exception for firefighter's that are directly fighting the fire, since the vests would/could melt at higher temperatures, but once out of the fire, you are expected to put your vest back on.
Do other areas require firefighters to wear vests like this? This is a fairly new requirement and we are still getting vests in for everyone. WHS has decided that the reflective stripes on our turn-out gear are not sufficient to meet this CSA spec, thus the need for the vests. In the future, I can see WHS eventually telling us that we need these vests at all scenes since the scene is a workplace, blah, blah, blah. Hopefully manufacturers of turn-out gear start adding enough striping to the turn-out gear so that we don't need the vests.
Another question: Is there any manufacturer out there that does make turn-out gear meeting this spec?
Captain Andrew Dalgarno
RM of Harrison Fire Department - Station #1
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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Ralph...here the only ones I see are Firefighters and wrecker operators...Haven't seen a "blue canary" in one yet....that goes for local, county or State Police....
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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yah...same here East of you. If we are doing traffic control or just on the roadside "observing", we need to be in the vest. If we're working the mva, we need full turnout gear/no vest. If its a grass/forest fire, no need to wear them in the hot zone. Just near roadways.
I just got new bunker gear 1-2 yrs ago and they mentioned a new striping system for safety. Never asked if it was for csa approval. Hmmmm...i should inquire.
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