COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

DIVISION UPDATES – November 2011

 

 

·         With holidays quickly approaching, DCA's fire experts offer helpful tips to keep kids and families safe.  For details, please go to:  http://www.nj.gov/dca/news/news/2011/approved/20111019.html.

 

·         The DFS has prepared recommended fire station precautions during elections.  For details, please see the attached memo from Acting Director Kramer.

 

·         The Division of Fire Safety has recently been contacted by a number of fire departments who have purchased self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders and have subsequently been cited by the New Jersey Department of Labor. The citation was issued because these cylinder not meeting the PEOSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii) because they were not tested with the SCBA assembly and therefore void the SCBA National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certification. Attached is a bulletin from the New Jersey Department of Labor dated August, 2010 and a memorandum from the NIOSH regarding this issue. In addition the following link will take you to a memorandum from the United States Department of Labor regarding this matter: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=23479.

If your department purchased such cylinders we urge you to advise your municipal or fire district solicitor to determine what options you have with respect to returning these cylinders to the manufacturer or distributor.  The Division of Fire Safety and the Departments of Labor and Health and Senior Services advise you that prior to purchasing SCBA cylinders that you ensure that the cylinders will not void PEOSH or NIOSH standards and or certifications. As a rule if the air cylinder has not been tested with the entire SCBA apparatus the NIOSH certification of the SCBA will be invalidated. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health programs of the New Jersey Department of Labor or the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services at the numbers provided on the bulletin.

 

·         The proposed amendments to Bed and Breakfasts will appear in the November 7, Edition of the NJ Register.  Written comments must be submitted by January 6, 2012.  For details, please see the attached rule proposal.

 

·         The 9th Annual Juvenile Firesetter Conference will be held on December 1 & 2, 2011 at the Middlesex County Fire Academy, Sayreville, NJ.  For additional information, please go to www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dfs/.

 

·         The DFS has approximately 1000 smoke detectors still available for those who wish to have free smoke detectors to distribute to members of their community who live at or below the poverty level.  Please contact Charlie Luxton at cluxton@dca.state.nj.us for further information and scheduling.

 

·         There is one ICC National Certification Examination and FEE66 Fire Inspector I Based on 2006 International Codes testing for new inspectors scheduled.  The next test will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy, 402 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.  The cost of the exam is $180.  The information bulletin may be obtained from ICC at www.iccsafe.org/exams or call 1-888-422-7233, ext. 5524.  This information will also be posted on the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dfs

·         The next NJ Fire Safety Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 16th, 10 AM, Exhibit Hall A, Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ.