HSE-ERT-STD-00-0001

STANDARD
REV. 1
19-FEB-09
SCBA / SAR TESTING & MAINTENANCE
Page 1 of 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 2

2. SCOPE / PURPOSE................................................................................. 2

3. DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................... 2

4. PROCEDURE - REQUIREMENTS ........................................................... 2

5. RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 5

6. Attachments - ......................................................................................... 5

7. Appendix - None ..................................................................................... 5

Approved By Safety
Rev. Issue Date Amendment Description Prepared by
Manager
1
19-02-09 Re-written Scott Sutherland Jarvis Olsen

0 24-Oct-07 First Release Kimbal Harty Jarvis Olsen

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 HSE-ERT-STD-00-0001
STANDARD
REV. 1
19-FEB-09
SCBA / SAR TESTING & MAINTENANCE
Page 2 of 5

1. INTRODUCTION
SCBA. And Breathing Air are equipment that is used both in routine
maintenance activities and in emergency response. Regardless of which
activity SCBA / SAR is being used it is critical that the equipment being used is
well maintained and managed for reliability necessities

2. SCOPE / PURPOSE
The scope of this document includes all personnel required to wear breathing
apparatus and those people responsible for the testing and maintenance of site
SCBA and SAR.

3. DEFINITIONS
EOSTI – End-of-service-time-indicators. Alarm devices that alert the user that his
air supply is about to expire

SCBA – Self Contained Breathing Air. Designed to worn on the back and to
deliver 30 minutes to 60 minutes of breathing air, depending on the capacity of
the bottle
SCBA Co-ordinator – A person from the fire department assigned the role of
managing site SCBA / SAR. This role will be assigned to either a Fire Safety Co-
ordinator or Fire Technician on a yearly basis and rotational basis

SKA Paks - A harness and masked designed to be worn by personnel involved

in activities that requires them to be in confined spaces or whose activities
required them to have breathing air for long periods of time. The air is supplied
by a BA cart of one or more bottles. A 5 minute air bottle is attached to the
harness for emergency air supply. Also know as a supplied Air Respirator or SAR

SCOTT Pak – similar to a SKA Pak but has a 10 minute emergency bottle Also
know as a supplied Air Respirator or SAR.

4. PROCEDURE
4.1 GENERAL
Only personnel that have received training in the use of SCBA and SAR. and
who are Q-Chem employees or base load contractors will be issued this type of
equipment. Personnel must have a current fit test sticker as well.

Only certified SCBA Technicians are permitted to make repairs to the SCBA air
regulating devices, alarms and cylinders.

SCBA stored on emergency vehicle for the purpose of emergency response will
be inspected at the beginning of every shift

The inspection shall include the following

• Mask is in good order and contained in a sealed bag

• Air bottle is full and not damaged
• Back Pack is in good repair, ID tag is intact
• Straps, belts and buckles are in good repair

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 HSE-ERT-STD-00-0001
STANDARD
REV. 1
19-FEB-09
SCBA / SAR TESTING & MAINTENANCE
Page 3 of 5

• Open cylinder and check shoulder gauge against bottle gauge

• Check EOSTI activation ( shoulder and bottle alarm)

Damage equipment is to be immediately removed from service and tagged.

The FSC/FT responsible for the equipment is to be notified as the earliest

4.2 SCBA/SAR Management, Inspection and Maintenance

Management

Each SCBA/BA PAK will be issued a permanent ID number for record keeping
purposes. The ID number will be recorded on a tag found on the harness or
stenciled on the unit using a permanent marker

Each SCBA cylinder will be issued a permanent ID number for record keeping
purposes. The ID number will be recorded on the cylinder using a stencil and
permanent marker or other similar means

Each year one FSC or FT will be designated as the site SCBA Coordinator and
will be responsible for all SCBA and BA on site that belongs to Q-Chem. This
person will be responsible coordinating all Inspections maintenance, testing and
records keeping

Each shift will be responsible for assisting the SCBA Coordinator by carrying out
monthly inspections of SCBA in their area and ensuring that the record book is
kept current

Each shift will be responsible for ensuring that any equipment found to be
defective is immediately removed from its location and tagged out of order. The
SCBA Coordinator must be notified of the SCBA taken out of order and what
SCBA was put into its palace. The SCBA Coordinator will make the necessary
adjustments to the record

The SCBA Coordinator will ensure that the SCBA equipment removed from
service is sent out to a certified and licensed contractor for repairs if the repairs
cannot be done internally

When a SCBA / SAR is removed from its location for servicing it must be
returned to its original location whenever possible.

All SCBA/SAR will be inspected monthly and any changes of location or

replacement must be logged in the inspection logs

SCBA / SAR equipment that has failed or has resulted in injury or death must be
segregated, packaged and turned over to the Safety department for investigation

Inspection

SCBA units (regardless of size) will be inspected on a monthly basis

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 HSE-ERT-STD-00-0001
STANDARD
REV. 1
19-FEB-09
SCBA / SAR TESTING & MAINTENANCE
Page 4 of 5

Each shift will be assigned a area of responsibility and it is the responsibility of

that shift to ensure that all SCBA equipment located in their area is properly
inspected

Each shift will use the same SCBA check sheet found in Attachment A. The
check sheet is not to be altered in any way unless authorized by the S&ERS

At the end of the month the SCBA Coordinator will ensure that a copy of the
check sheet is kept on file in the Fire Station

SCBA equipment found to be in need of maintenance will removed from its

location, tagged and set aside. The Fire Safety Coordinator or Fire Technicians
can make any minor repairs or arrange to have the SCBA Coordinator have it
shipped out for servicing.

S.C.B.A equipment when returned from servicing should be placed back in its
original location and the temporary unit removed and put back in the SCBA room

Maintenance

The Fire Safety Coordinators and Fire Technicians may carry out minor repairs to
the SCBA / SAR apparatus. All other repairs are to be carried out by a certified
SCBA Technician.

SCBA masks are to be cleaned using a manufactured approved cleaning agent.

Masks should be placed in a cleaning solution for no less than 10 minutes at a
temperature recommended by the manufacturer of the cleaning solution

SCBA /SAR units and the storage facility they are located in are to be kept clean
and clear of any obstruction to access and visibility

SCBA taken out of service must be tagged a sent out for immediate repair then
returned to its original location when possible

The SCBA Coordinator must be notified of any defective equipment that has
been repaired and brought back to the site. The SCBA Coordinator is the only
person who can put repaired equipment back in service. He must immediately
update the records

SCBA /equipment that are beyond that has reached the end of their service life
or deemed not repairable must be destroyed in a manner that make the
equipment impossible to use again. Such equipment must be removed from site
at the earliest opportunity. Records must be updated immediately

SCBA / SAR equipment that has been deemed contaminated must be set aside
and cleaned ensuring that the water and cleaning solutions are contained and
disposed in accordance with site environmental procedures

SCBA /SAR equipment that has been deemed contaminated and not able to be
decontaminated must be disposed of in accordance with site environmental
procedures

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 HSE-ERT-STD-00-0001
STANDARD
REV. 1
19-FEB-09
SCBA / SAR TESTING & MAINTENANCE
Page 5 of 5

5. RESPONSIBILITIES

.
Fire Safety Coordinator

• Ensures that monthly checks are complete and any changes of

equipment or location of equipment is reported immediately to the
designated person in charge of SCBA/SAR for the department( FSC
or FT )
• Ensures that any defective SCBA / SAR equipment is tagged and
removed from service. Defective equipment must be physically
segregated from in service equipment

• Works closely with the designated FSC or FT assigned the role of

managing site SCBA / SAR to ensure that records are kept accurate
and current

Fire Technician

• Ensures that all SCBA / SAR in his area are checked and the results
documented on the SCBA checklist ( See attachment A )

• Responsible for removing defective equipment found during monthly

checks and reporting his findings to the on duty FSC

• Ensures the on duty FSC is notified of any equipment re-located or

replaced with in his area. The FSC will in turn ensure that the
designated FSC / FT

SCBA /SAR Coordinator

• Ensures all SCBA / SAR documents and files are kept current and
correct

• Ensures all defective equipment is repaired and returned to service at

the earliest

• Only person who can put repaired equipment back into service

• Ensures all spare parts harnesses, mask bags, cleaning solutions

inventories are stocked

6. Attachments –
Attachment B – SCBA Inspection Checksheet

7. Appendix - None

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