NIOSH Fact Sheets Cover Best Practices for SCBA Use

NIOSH’s National Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has created a series of fact sheets outlining best practices for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) use by firefighters. These documents cover the physical demands and risks of SCBA use, how to secure SCBAs with severe performance issues, and the process for notifying NIOSH about nonconforming SCBAs. 

The document “Safe Use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Firefighters” (PDF) explains how the added weight of an SCBA combined with the increased difficulty of breathing while wearing the device can increase users’ risk of heart attack, especially for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Firefighters should receive medical clearance, fit testing, and training to ensure they can use SCBAs safely and effectively. 

“Securing an SCBA After Adverse Conditions, Serious Injury, or Line-of-Duty Death” (PDF) directs fire departments on documenting a potentially failed SCBA. The National Fire Protection Association requires fire departments to secure SCBAs with performance issues leading to death or serious injury by removing the apparatus, cylinder, and facepiece; restricting access to the equipment; and documenting the chain of custody. “This enables fire departments or other entities to inspect functionality, secure critical data, and establish a chain of custody as part of an investigation,” the fact sheet explains. 

“Notifying NIOSH of SCBA Failure or Reduced Performance as a Standard Procedure” (PDF) explains how NIOSH initiates nonconforming respirator investigations for SCBAs that have failed, demonstrate reduced performance, or no longer meet required standards. It also lists steps that should be included in fire departments’ procedures for reporting SCBA issues. 

NIOSH has separate webpages for the fact sheets on safe SCBA use, securing defective SCBAs, and reporting SCBA issues from which the documents may be downloaded as PDFs.