Members of a local union say the Ocean City Fire Department failed to provide them with the proper uniforms and safety equipment needed to do their job, but command staff report the matter is being resolved.
Last December, following nearly two months of communication, the Ocean City Firefighter-Paramedics Association, or IAFF Local 4269, filed a grievance with Fire Chief Richie Bowers claiming that the fire department failed to meet the terms of its collective bargaining agreement and the agency’s own strategic plan. The document detailed the lack of essential safety equipment and appropriate uniforms provided to employees.
Since that time, however, the complaint has escalated to the city manager’s office and to city officials, who questioned Bowers on the union’s complaints during last week’s quarterly meeting with the fire department. While Bowers acknowledged that employees did not have everything they needed, he said efforts are underway to purchase and distribute the necessary gear.
“We are working to make sure that everybody has everything,” he told council members last Tuesday.
However, in an interview this week, IAFF Local 4269 President Ryan Whittington said it remains to be seen if the union’s concerns have been addressed. He said as of Oct. 15, employees reported having 11 expired helmets, two expired turnout pants, three expired turnout coats and 11 pairs of expired boots.
“It’s been 13 months we’ve been dealing with this,” he said.
do tell, how many fires have they put out in the last 13 months. and please dont count the dumpsters!
Well money was needed for the brand new station 3…along with the ribbon cutting ceremony. Can’t have it all
(Sacrasm off)
Git your ship straight City Fail!
So sick and tired of unions, especially for public sector employees who already have cushy jobs, benefits, and pensions.
NFPA 1851, the standard that establishes requirements for the selection, care, and maintenance of structural firefighting protective clothing and equipment, dictates gear that is 10 years past its manufacture date should be retired.
Can firefighter turnout gear be recertified after expiration date ?
No, firefighter turnout gear cannot be recertified after its expiration date, which is typically considered to be 10 years from the manufacturing date according to NFPA 1851 standards; once the gear reaches this point, it should be retired and replaced regardless of its current condition.
While recertification isn’t possible after the expiration date, regular inspections and proper maintenance can help extend the life of your turnout gear.
“Some equipment expired in 2015, 2016, 2017 …,” he added. “If the fire department had systems in place that allowed us to track gear and readily identify expired items, they would have known that stuff expired before it did.” Shouldn’t this be a requirement of a firefighter to check for expiration dates of their P.P.E. ? So some of this equipment hasn’t been checked in ten years ? Who’s fault is that ? NFPA 1851 requires that firefighter turnout gear have an advanced inspection once a year, or whenever routine inspections indicate that a problem could exist. So you’re telling me that some of this equipment hasn’t been inspected in the past 10 years or so and found to be expired ?
The union also sought regular inventory and compliance audits and the hiring of a full-time logistics/quartermaster, who would be responsible for managing supplies, equipment and all other items necessary to the fire department’s operation. Whittington said that role is currently being handled by a full-time firefighter and EMT. So you want to hire a full-time logistics/quartermaster. Is this hire for the entire O.C. Fire Dept or each individual station ? And where is that money coming from ?
The Ocean City Fire Department reports uniforms and equipment have since been ordered and distributed throughout the year – although aggressive staff expansion has outpaced the delivery of some items – and that the agency has deployed Operative IQ software to track uniforms and equipment such as helmets, running coats, pants and boots.
So the issues at hand have been addressed and actions have been taken.
So tell me why this has become an issue with the Ocean City Firefighter-Paramedics Association, or IAFF Local 4269 ?
Helmet $350, Flash hood $100, Mask $400, Coat $1800, Pants $1500, Gloves $80, Boots $250
Breathing Apparatus $4000, Spare Bottle $1000 Total: $13480
Without the breathing apparatus and bottle, it cost around $4480 for a single firefighter.
Does OCFD own all this equipment ? Does this equipment get shared if a firefighter should quit or transfer ?
Do the volleys get their own equipment or is it shared when possible ?
11 expired helmets, two expired turnout pants, three expired turnout coats and 11 pairs of expired boots.
Replacement of expired items – $15000
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
The OCVFC is an all-volunteer organization with 226 members responding out of five firehouses,
CAREER FIRE/EMS
There are 73 full-time field personnel and 35 part-time personnel.
All that mumbo jumbo but it’s really all just excuses for the union to raise funds and wages and pensions. Sorry, not sorry.
Do I have to comply with NFPA?
Are NFPA Fire Standards Mandatory? While the NFPA does not itself enforce its standards, many local and state jurisdictions have adopted them and reference them within their own building and fire codes.Jul 19, 2024
Who enforces NFPA?
A: The NFPA 101, Life Safety Code is enforced by local and state governments, as well as by organizations in the private sector. Building officials and fire marshals are typically responsible for enforcing the code within their jurisdiction.Jun 27, 2023
No where does it say in the NFPA that it is MANDITORY to replace turnout gear that has expired. It only states that it SHOULD be retired. But yet all expired equipment can still be used in non-fire training or other training purposes.
I’m sure that there are many small, rural fire departments that would love to have some of this equipment.
Right now think about North Carolina and Tennessee fire departments.