Ohio Admin. Code 4123:1-21-03

Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 23, 2024

Section 4123:1-21-03 - Personal protective clothing and equipment for wildland fire fighting

(A) The employer shall provide and require the use of all personal protective clothing and equipment specified in this rule whenever employees are required to work in a hazardous environment that may be encountered during wildland fire-fighting activities, prescribed fire activities, or under similar conditions during training activities.

(B) The employer shall assure that protective clothing protects the head, body, and extremities and consists of at least the following components: foot protection, hand protection, body protection, and head and eye protection.

(C) Personal protective clothing and equipment shall be properly sized for the wearer.

(D) Personal protective clothing and equipment that is damaged or otherwise defective to the point of voiding its intended protection shall be removed from service.

(E) Employers shall develop and require use of a written plan covering the safe use, care, maintenance, inspection, limitations, and replacement of the clothing and equipment required by this rule, and all affected employees shall be trained in accordance with such plan.

(F) Where employees choose to provide their own protective clothing and equipment, such clothing and equipment shall give equal or greater protection than that provided by the employer.

(G) It shall be the responsibility of the employee to properly use the equipment provided by the employer as required in this rule.

(H) Body protection.

(1) Body protection shall consist of a protective shirt or coat and trousers, or equivalent protection.

(2) Protective clothing shall be melt-resistant, durable, lightweight, nonirritating to the skin, and cleanable.

(3) The protective shirt, jacket, or one-piece garment shall have long sleeves and shall not have turned-up cuffs. Sleeve cuffs shall have a closure system that can be adjusted to provide a snug and secure fit around the wrist while wearing a glove.

(4) All collars on jackets, shirts, and one-piece garments shall remain upright after extension into a vertical position.

(5) Any pass-through openings in garments shall have a means of fastening them in a closed position.

(6) All pockets that open to the exterior of garments, other than front waist pockets, shall have a cover or closure system.

(7) All garments that encompass the neck area shall have a closure system at the neckline.

(8) All closure systems shall not come into contact with the body. Hardware of any garment shall not come into direct contact with the wearer's body.

(9) Protective clothing for wildland fire fighting shall be repaired in accordance with manufacturer's requirements. If protective clothing cannot be repaired without decreasing the protective qualities, it shall be replaced.

(10) Protective clothing shall be designed to give minimum interference to physical movement and to the use of fire-fighting tools.

(11) Where wildland fire fighting protective clothing is required, a fire shelter shall be included.

(12) Performance requirements.

(a) Protective garments shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(b) The thermal and moisture barriers required for structural fire fighting in paragraph (J) of rule 4123:1-21-02 of the Administrative Code are not required for wildland fire fighting.

(13) Each garment shall have a product label(s) permanently and conspicuously attached. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) "This wildland fire-fighting protective garment meets the garment requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's garment identification number, lot number, or serial number;

(f) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(g) Model or style name, number, or design;

(h) Size;

(i) Garment materials and percent content;

(j) Certification organization's label, symbol, ;or identifying mark;

(k) Cleaning precautions.

(14) The garment manufacturer shall provide a user manual that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement of protective clothing.

(I) Foot protection.

(1) Foot protection shall be achieved by protective workstyle boots worn in combination with protective trousers that meet the requirements of paragraph (H) of this rule.

(2) Footwear shall consist of a sole with heel, upper, insole, and shank. The quarter section of the boot shall be designed to provide an adjustable, snug fit for support around the ankle and lower leg.

(3) Heel breast shall not be less than one-half inch (thirteen mm). Heel breasting angle shall not be less than ninety degrees nor more than one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to the sole (see figure 1).

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(4) Protective footwear shall extend at least eight inches above the bottom of the heel and shall be equipped with skid-resistant outer soles.

(5) All thread used to manufacture footwear shall be made of inherently flame-resistant fiber.

(6) Protective footwear meeting the requirements of paragraph (K) of rule 4123:1-21-02 of the Administrative Code shall be considered to be in compliance with this rule.

(7) Performance requirements.

Footwear shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(8) Labeling.

Each footwear pair shall have a product label(s) permanently and conspicuously attached to each boot half pair. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) "This wildland fire-fighting protective footwear meets the footwear requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's footwear identification number, lot number, or serial number;

(f) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(g) Model, style name, number, or design;

(h) Footwear size and width;

(i) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(j) Cleaning precautions.

(9) The footwear manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(J) Head protection.

(1) Wildland fire fighters' helmets shall consist of a shell with brim or peak, an energy-absorbing system, suspension system with sweatband, chin strap, nape device, goggle clips, and retroreflective markings. Provisions shall be made for ventilation between the head and the helmet shell.

(2) The helmet shall be generally dome shaped. The area under the peak or the front of the brim shall be permitted to be covered only with a non-conducting, nonflammable, anti-glare material. Clips for headlamps or goggles shall be permanently attached with at least one clip at the rear of the helmet, and one clip on each side of the helmet.

(3) Helmets shall meet as a minimum the requirements for type 1, class G helmets as specified in ANSI Z 89.1, 2014 Edition, "Industrial Head Protection." The complete helmet, with energy-absorbing system, suspension system with sweatband, chin strap, nape device, goggle clips, and retroreflective markings shall not weigh more than twenty oz (five hundred seventy g).

(4) Chin straps shall be provided that attach to the helmet shell. Both chin and nape straps shall not be less than one-half inch (thirteen mm) in width.

(5) All helmets shall have retroreflective markings on the exterior of the shell. A minimum of four inches² of retroreflective markings shall be visible when the helmet is viewed from the sides, front, and rear. The retroreflective markings shall be placed above the goggle or headlamp clips so as not to be obscured by any clip, or the strap retained by the clips.

(6) There shall be no openings penetrating the shell except those provided by the manufacturer for mounting energy-absorbing systems, retention systems, and accessories.

(7) The addition of helmet accessories shall not interfere with the function of the helmet or its component parts and shall not degrade the helmet's performance below the requirements of this rule.

(8) Performance requirements.

Helmets shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(9) Helmets shall have a product label permanently and conspicuously attached. At least the following information shall be on the product label(s):

(a) "This wildland firefighting protective helmet meets the helmet requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Country of manufacture;

(d) Manufacturer's helmet identification, lot, or serial number;

(e) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(f) Model or style name, number, or design;

(g) Helmet size or size range;

(h) Nominal weight of helmet;

(i) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(j) Cleaning precautions.

(10) The wildland helmet manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(11) Eye protection shall be provided by goggles. Goggles may be attached to the helmet within the constraints of paragraphs (J)(6) and (J)(7) of this rule.

(K) Hand protection.

(1) Gloves shall be designed such that they closely conform to the wrist or are adjustable at the wrist and shall extend a minimum one inch (twenty-five mm) past the wrist crease.

(2) All thread used to manufacture gloves shall be made of inherently flame-resistant fiber.

(3) Gloves shall be maintained and repaired in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. If gloves cannot be repaired properly without decreasing the protective qualities required by this rule, they shall be replaced with gloves that meet the requirements of paragraph (K) of this rule.

(4) Performance requirements.

Gloves shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition.

(5) Gloves shall have a product label permanently and conspicuously attached. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) "This wildland fire fighting protective glove meets the glove requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's glove identification, lot, or serial number;

(f) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(g) Model or style name, number, or design;

(h) Glove size or size range;

(i) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(j) Cleaning precautions.

(6) The glove manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspections, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(L) Face/neck shroud.

(1) Face/neck shrouds shall be designed to cover and provide the limited protection to the face and neck areas that do not receive primary protection from the helmet.

(2) The shroud shall attach to an NFPA 1977 compliant helmet.

(3) Shrouds shall have a closure system. The closure system shall not come into contact with the face or neck.

(4) Shrouds shall be measured to determine the areas of coverage (measured on an ISO size J headform). The shroud shall provide a minimum coverage on each side, measured downward from the reference plane at the coronal plane, of eight inches. In the back, measured downward from the reference plane at the rear mid-sagittal plane, of eight and three-eights inches. In the front, measured downward from the reference plane at the front mid-sagittal plane, of eight inches. The face opening shall not be considered as a gap in coverage.

(5) The shroud shall be designed with a face opening. The face opening shall not exceed six and three-fourths inches when measured along the reference plane. The bottom of the face opening shall not exceed two inches when measured downward from the reference plane at the front mid-sagittal plane.

(6) All snaps shall meet the requirements of NASM 27980, "Fasteners, Snap, Style 2 and MIL-DTL-10884H, 2005 Edition, Fastener, Snap, 2015 Edition."

(7) Fastener tape shall meet the requirements of A-A-55126B, "Fastener Tapes, Hook and Loop, Synthetic, 2006 Edition."

(8) Zippers shall meet the requirements of A-A-55634A, 2004 edition, "Fasteners, Slide, Interlocking."

(9) All thread used to manufacture face/neck shrouds or shroud components shall be made of inherently flame-resistant fiber.

(10) Performance requirements.

Face/neck shrouds shall be capable of withstanding all the tests specified in "NFPA 1977, Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition ."

(11) Protective face/neck shrouds shall have a product label permanently and conspicuously attached. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) "This wildland fire fighting protective face/neck shroud meets the shroud requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacturer's name;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Manufacturer's number, lot, or serial number;

(e) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(f) Identification of the compliant helmet or helmets with which the face/shroud was certified;

(g) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark

(h) Model or style name, number, or design.

(12) The face/neck shroud manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(M) Protective goggles.

(1) Goggles shall be designed to consist of at least a frame, a lens or lenses, and a retention strap or means of attachment to an NFPA 1977 compliant helmet.

(2) Goggles shall meet the requirements for high impact protection of ANSI Z 87.1, "Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection."

(3) All materials in goggle construction that are designed to come in contact with the wearer's head or skin shall be known to be nonirritating to normal skin.

(4) All hardware shall be free of rough spots, burrs, or sharp edges.

(5) Where positioned on the helmet, the goggles shall not interfere with the function of the helmet or its component parts and shall not degrade the helmet's performance below the requirements of this rule.

(6) Performance requirements.

Goggles shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(7) Goggles shall have a product label configured and attached to the goggles. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) This wildland fire fighting protective goggle meets the requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's number, lot, or serial number;

(f) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(g) Month and year of manufacture;

(h) Model or style name, number, or design.

(8) In addition to the goggles product label, each goggles lens shall bear the following:

(a) Manufacturer's identifying mark or symbol;

(b) Certification organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(c) The statement "NFPA 1977, 2011 Edition ."

(9) The goggle manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(N) Chain saw protector.

(1) Chain saw protectors shall be designed as leg protectors.

(a) Chain saw protectors that are designed to protect the legs shall meet the requirements of section 4 and 5 of ASTM F 1897, "Standard Specification for Leg Protection for Chain Saw Users, 2008 Edition";

(b) Chain saw protectors that are designed to protect the legs and that are configured as pants or trousers shall meet the requirements of 5.2.1 of ASTM F 1897, 2008 edition;

(c) Chain saw protectors that are designed to protect the legs and that are configured as chaps or leggings shall meet the requirements of 5.2.2 of ASTM F 1897, 2008 edition.

(2) All thread used to manufacture chain saw protectors shall be made of inherently flame resistant fiber.

(3) All hardware, brackets, and snaps, or other fasteners shall be free of rough spots, burrs, or sharp edges.

(4) Performance requirements.

Chain saw protectors shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition."

(5) Chain saw protectors shall have a product label permanently and conspicuously attached. At least the following information shall be on the product label:

(a) "This wildland fire fighting chain saw protector meets the requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(b) Manufacture's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's lot number or serial number;

(f) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(g) Model or style name, number, or design;

(h) Size;

(i) Certifying organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(j) Cleaning precautions:

(6) The chain saw protector manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the care, use, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria

(O) Load carrying protective equipment.

(1) The design of the load carrying protective equipment items shall allow the mounting of the fire shelter carrier on the outside as to be readily available to the user and able to be opened with one gloved hand;

(2) The design of the load carrying protective equipment items shall allow the carrying of the fire fighters' personal water supply in the form of canteens, water bottles, or bladders;

(3) All hardware, brackets, and snaps or other fasteners of any accessories shall be free of rough spots, burrs, or sharp edges;

(4) Performance requirements:

Load carrying protective equipment shall be capable of withstanding all tests specified in NFPA 1977, "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label."

(5) Load carrying equipment shall have a product label permanently and conspicuously attached.

(a) At least the following information shall be on the product label: "This wildland fire fighting load carrying equipment meets the requirements of NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, 2011 Edition. Do not remove this label.";

(b) Manufacturer's name, identification, or designation;

(c) Manufacturer's address;

(d) Country of manufacture;

(e) Manufacturer's identification number, lot number, or serial number;

(f) Month and year of manufacture (not coded);

(g) Model or style name, number, or design;

(h) Size;

(i) Certifying organization's label, symbol, or identifying mark;

(j) Cleaning precautions.

(6) The load carrying equipment manufacturer shall provide a user information guide that describes the use, care, inspection, maintenance, limitations, and replacement criteria.

(P) Fire protective shelter.

(1) The fire shelter shall conform to USDA Forest Service Specification 5100 -606B, "Fire Shelter, 2011 Edition."

(2) The fire shelter shall be enclosed in a carrying case liner. The liner shall conform to USDA Forest Service Specification 5100 - 610, "Liner, Fire Shelter, Carrying Case, 2008 Edition."

(3) The fire shelter, enclosed in a carrying case liner, shall be enclosed in a carrying case. The carrying case shall conform to USDA Forest Service Specification 5100 - 609, "Case, Carrying, Fire Shelter, 2008 Edition."

Ohio Admin. Code 4123:1-21-03

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 3/17/2021 and 03/01/2026
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.13
Rule Amplifies: 4121.13, Const. Art. II Section 35
Prior Effective Dates: 03/01/1988, 11/01/2003, 01/01/2011, 10/01/2015

Effective: 10/1/2015
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 07/06/2015 and 10/01/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.13
Rule Amplifies: 4121.13, Const. Art. II
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/88, 11/1/03, 1/1/11