Wash. Admin. Code § 296-305-05502 Training and Member Development

• Library: Washington Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 23-24, December 15, 2023
• Citation: Wash. Admin. Code § 296-305-05502
• Year: 2023

(1) The employer must provide training, education and ongoing development for all members commensurate with those duties and functions that members are expected to perform.

(a) Training and education must be provided to members before they perform emergency activities.

(b) Fire service leaders and training instructors must be provided with training and education which is more comprehensive than that provided to the general membership of the fire department.

(c) The fire department must develop an ongoing proficiency cycle with the goal of preventing skill degradation.

(2) Training on specific positions/duties deemed by the fire department critical to the safety of responders and the effectiveness of emergency operations (such as driver operators or support personnel) must be provided at least annually.

(3) Firefighters must be trained in the function, care, use/operation, inspection, maintenance and limitations of the equipment assigned to them or available for their use.

(4) Members who are expected to perform interior structural fire-fighting must be provided with an education session or training at least quarterly.

(5) When firefighters are engaged in training above the 10-foot level, where use of lifelines or similar activities are to be undertaken, a safety net or other approved secondary means of fall protection recommended in chapter 296-880 WAC, Unified safety standards for fall protection, must be used.

(6) Continuing education live fire training.

(a) All members who engage in interior structural firefighting in IDLH conditions must be provided live fire training appropriate to their assigned duties and the functions they are expected to perform at least every three years Firefighters who do not receive this training in a three-year period will not be eligible to return to an interior structural firefighting assignment until they do. Responding to a fire scene with a full alarm assignment, an ICS established and a post-incident analysis will meet this requirement, but for no more than two training evolutions.

(b) All live fire training must be conducted by fire department qualified fire service instructors. When conducting their own training, fire departments must meet the requirements set out in the 2007 edition of the NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions.

(c) An incident safety officer must be appointed for all live fire training evolutions. The incident safety officer function must be filled by a person who is trained and qualified in the IMS/Incident safety officer duties and who is not responsible for any other function at the training evolution other than the role of incident safety officer.

(7) When using structures for live fire suppression training, activities must be conducted according to the 2007 edition of NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions. When using structures for nonlive fire training, the following requirements must be met:

(a) All structures used for training must be surveyed for potential hazardous substances, such as asbestos, prior to the initiation of any training activities. The survey must comply with chapter 296-62 WAC Part I-1 and must be conducted by an AHERA accredited inspector and performed in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 763, Subpart E If the hazardous substances or asbestos containing materials of [GREATER THAN] 1% asbestos are to be disturbed during any training activity they must be removed prior to beginning that activity. Removal of asbestos < or =1% is not required prior to live fire training In live fire training structures where < or = 1% asbestos has been disturbed, the fire department will provide written notice to the owner/agent that asbestos has been disrupted and remains on-site. For structures built before 1978, you must assume that painted surfaces are likely to contain lead and inform workers of this presumption Surveys for lead containing paints are not required. Lead containing paints are not required to be removed prior to training activities. If the training activity will not disturb the hazardous substance, the material must be clearly marked and all participants must be shown the location of the substance and directed not to disturb the materials.

(b) Acquired or built structures used for fire service training that does not involve live fire must be surveyed for the following hazards and those hazards abated prior to the commencement of training activities:(i) In preparation for training, an inspection of the training building must be made to determine that the floors, walls, stairs and other structure components are capable of withstanding the weight of contents, participants and accumulated water. (ii) Hazardous materials and conditions within the...