Firefighters

Overview

Firefighters’ workplaces are anywhere there are emergencies, and no two places are the same. It is a tough, demanding job and there is little time for traditional risk assessments about workplace hazards. Ability to adapt, improvise, and foresee fire progress are necessary skills for firefighters and fire officers. You will find Oregon OSHA’s requirements for firefighters in Division 2, Subdivision L: Oregon Rules for Fire Fighters [437-002-0182].

The industrial fire brigade – another type of fire service – is an organized group of employees trained and equipped to provide emergency services for one or more employers. A fire brigade can provide a full range of services (similar to a fire department) or specific services such as initial fire suppression and emergency medical care. Fire brigade members may be full-time or part-time responders. You will find Oregon OSHA’s requirements for firefighters in Division 2, Subdivision L: Fire brigades [1910.156].

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires
  A reference guide for employers engaged in Oregon OSHA’s agriculture activities (Division 4).
  English Order printed copy 05/27/2022
Forms
- Emergency Action/Fire Prevention Plan
  Keep this written plan at the facility and make it available for your employees to review.
  English Word version
Hazard alerts
- Blades for cut-off type industrial saws (Fire Service)
  Hazard alert on the dangers of circular saw blades coming free from cut-off type industrial saws.
  English 04/02/2007
- Hydro-testing self-contained breathing apparatus
  A firefighter experienced a significant medical issue during a training exercise due to residual nitrogen after hydro-testing that diluted oxygen in his self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) cylinder to dangerously low levels.
  English 03/08/2018
- Rhabdomyolysis
  Explains rhabdomyolysis and highlights risks and prevention measures for wildland and structural firefighters.
  English 03/08/2018
- Wildland firefighting face masks
  Hazard alert about the dangers of using face protectors, shield hoods, shrouds, and bandanas that are commonly used in fighting wildland fires; however, they do not supply fresh air or oxygen, they don’t protect against carbon monoxide or other contaminants, and they don’t take the place of a respirator.
  English 02/14/2023
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Grant program
- Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services Ergonomics Curriculum
  English Grant program
Online course
- Curso en línea sobre el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire Smoke online course
  Este curso en línea está diseñado para satisfacer 5 de los 10 requisitos de capacitación que se encuentran en las reglas de Oregon OSHA para abordar la exposición al humo causado por incendios forestales.
  Spanish Online course 06/15/2022
- Wildfire Smoke online course
  This online course is designed to satisfy 5 of the 10 training requirements found in Oregon OSHA’s rules to address exposure to wildfire smoke.
  English Online course 06/10/2022

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Committee

Fire Services

Wildfire Smoke

Adopted Rules
- Adopted Rules Addressing Employee Exposure to Wildfire Smoke
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Rule text
- Heat and Wildfire Smoke Rules Summary
Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision L, Fire Protection
  2-2017 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, 437-002-1081 Protection from Wildfire Smoke
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
- Division 7, Subdivision N, Fire Protection/Suppression and Prescribed Burning
  2-2005
Interpretations
- 2 in 2 out rule, stand-by firefighter performing other duties (revised April 15, and July 21, 2005)
  07/21/2005
- Correct PPE standards for fire fighters
  04/22/2005
- Employer responsibility during emergencies
  08/10/2016
- Fall protection for "real-time" simulated fire service training on elevated surfaces
  07/11/2008
- Fire code interpretations, personal protective equipment requirements of the 2 in 2 out rule
  03/26/2003
- Fire fighters and gas valves
  09/27/1996
- Fire fighters and lockout/tagout
  12/05/1996
- Fire fighters--minimum number to respond to structural fire
  06/14/1996
- Fire suppression
  06/14/2018
- High visibility safety garments
  08/03/2016
- Intent of OAR 437-002-0182(25) & (26)
  01/31/2003
- Leg protection for firefighters using chain saws
  08/16/2016
- Live fire burn
  05/15/2007
- Operating fire department apparatus
  05/25/2007
- Personal alert safety system devices
  01/25/1999
- Protective clothing during fire suppression activities
  10/06/1997
- Replacement of the Oregon basic firefighter course with the National Fire Protection (NFPA 1403)
  01/29/2001
- Training of minors in fire cadet program
  03/30/2010
- Volunteer firefighting training requirements
  11/28/2005
Program Directives
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response: Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
  Purpose: This directive updates policies and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of paragraph (q) of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard (HAZWOPER).
  A-206 03/01/2008
- Respiratory Protection: Possible Defects on Scott Air Pak Il/IIA and Presur-Pak Il/IIA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
  Purpose: To remind users of possible defects in the above-mentioned Scott SCBAs and to inform them of procedures for verifying proper operation of the units.
  A-166 09/14/2000
Summary of comments and decisions
- Summary of comments and agency decisions regarding proposed changes to Division 2 Subdivision L Oregon Rules for Fire Fighters
  4-2015
- Summary of Comments and Agency Decisions regarding rulemaking for Protection from Wildfire Smoke
  Administrative Order 4-2022

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Firefighters
See available titles
Borrow DVDs about Firefighters from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Firefighters and EMS Ergonomics grant project videos
  Firefighters and EMS Ergonomics, parts 1 and 2
  Language: English Length: 16 minutes
- N95 Respirator - How to Put on and Use | Mask, OSHA, Smoke, Respiratory Protection
  Employers must implement a comprehensive written respiratory program when employees are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous gases or vapors, dust, fumes, mists, other airborne particles and infectious agents, or insufﬁcient levels of oxygen. Respiratory protection is required when control of the hazard is not feasible through engineering controls or while controls are being instituted.
  Language: English Length: 3 minutes
- Respirator Safety
  When you must wear a respirator to protect yourself against airborne contaminants in your workplace, it is very important to follow proper procedures for putting it on and taking it off.
  Language: English Length: 9:16 minutes
- Wildfire smoke protection
  Videos from Wildfire Smoke online course
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
Spanish
- Protección contra el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire smoke protection videos
  Videos del curso en línea Wildfire Smoke Protection de Oregon OSHA.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 minutes

Additional Resources

Oregon Smoke Information

Wildfires and air quality - Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Wildfires: Addressing worker concerns

Oregon Department of Forestry fire information

Real-time Assessment and Planning Tool for Oregon (RAPTOR) - Oregon Office of Emergency Management

Highlights

To learn more how building features and fire protection systems affect live firefighting activities, see OSHA’s, Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems.