N.J. Admin. Code § 5:75-2.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 5:75-2.4 - Personnel accountability

(a) As an integral part of the incident management system used by the fire service, personnel accountability shall be maintained through the use of a personnel accountability system meeting the requirements of this section as a means to track and locate all fire department personnel operating at all emergency incidents.

(b) Every member of a fire department shall be issued a minimum of two personnel accountability tags.

1. Such tags shall be constructed of (but not limited to) metal, plastic, plastic laminated paper, plastic laminated cardboard, or similar durable material.

2. Each tag shall be equipped with a latch hook that will allow attachment of the tag to the firefighter's protective clothing. The clip or latch hook shall be designed to be attached and removed by a firefighter with a gloved hand.

3. At a minimum, the tag shall be engraved, imprinted, or otherwise marked or electronically coded with the firefighter's name and fire department affiliation.

(c) At each incident, the Incident Commander shall designate a personnel accountability officer. The personnel accountability officer shall be responsible for ensuring that all personnel are accounted for. The personnel accountability officer may serve other functions at an incident scene if he or she is able to safely perform the accountability function. At minor incidents, the Incident Commander may retain this function as he or she sees fit.

(d) To ensure personnel accountability, each firefighter shall take the following steps:

1. Upon arrival at an incident scene, each firefighter shall surrender the primary personnel accountability tag at a central collection point as designated by the Incident Commander or departmental policy. Such point may be a command post or the apparatus to which the firefighter is assigned;

2. Upon leaving the incident scene, each firefighter shall immediately retrieve his or her personnel accountability tag from the designated collection point and reattach it to the designated area of his or her protective gear as determined by the fire department;

3. Firefighters assigned to a specific piece of apparatus for the duration of a tour of duty shall leave their primary personnel accountability tag on that apparatus for the duration of their tour.

(e) Upon entry in a hazardous area, each firefighter shall surrender the secondary personnel accountability tag to the personnel accountability officer who shall be in close proximity to the entry point into the hazardous area. Upon leaving the hazardous area, the member shall immediately retrieve his or her personnel accountability tag from the personnel accountability officer and re-attach it to the designated area of his or her protective clothing.

(f) If the need arises to evacuate a hazardous area and an evacuation is ordered, the personnel accountability officer shall:

1. Order an immediate personnel accountability roll call of all members operating at the incident to be conducted as soon as they exit the hazardous area;

2. Assure that every member who has surrendered his or her accountability tag retrieves it and reattaches it to their protective gear;

3. Report immediately to the Incident Commander when crews have not retrieved their personnel accountability tags after a reasonable time, members are unaccounted for, and the need for search and rescue exists or if conditions indicate that the area is immediately unsafe for crews and/or the personnel accountability officer to operate in safely; and

4. Report to the Incident Commander that all members are accounted for if the personnel accountability officer is not holding any personnel accountability tags after an evacuation is ordered.

(g) The Incident Commander shall call for a personnel accountability report:

1. If there is a report of a firefighter missing;

2. When an emergency evacuation is ordered;

3. When the incident is declared under control;

4. When changing attack modes (that is, offensive to defensive); or

5. Anytime the Incident Commander feels it necessary to conduct a personnel accountability report.

(h) When it is announced that a personnel accountability report is to be provided to the Incident Commander, all companies will:

1. Conduct a personnel accountability roll call of the members in that company to ensure all members are accounted for;

2. Cease all but emergency radio communications; and

3. Report all members accounted for or report members missing.

(i) Nothing in this section shall restrict the use of more sophisticated accountability systems utilizing bar coding, geographic positioning systems or similar methods providing the intent of this section is met.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:75-2.4

New Rule, R.2002 d.179, effective 6/3/2002 (operative January 2, 2003).
See: 34 New Jersey Register 352(a), 34 New Jersey Register 1897(a).