Although the law is in effect, the regulations still only exist in draft form. There are things we can do to prepare, but final decisions should wait until the regulations are in effect.

It also appears that a grace period will be created into the Spring of 2008.

A life Safety Rope is a rope dedicated solely for the purpose of supporting people during rescue, firefighting and other emergency operations and during training.

System Components consist of Life safety harnesses, belts, ascending devices, carabineers, decent control devices, rope grab devices, and snap links.

Life safety ropes and systems must meet the latest edition of the NFPA Standard on Life Safety Ropes and Systems, NFPA 1983. The Latest edition is the 2006 addition.

As long as the equipment is serviceable you may continue to use it. Any new purchases must meet NFPA 1983-2006.

The Employer must perform a written hazard assessment of the areas where it’s firefighters perform duties and determine under what circumstances life safety ropes and systems will be required and what type will be required.

The employer is required to provide each firefighter with properly fitted life safety ropes and system components appropriate for the risk identified in the hazard assessment.

Only interior structural firefighters would need the ropes and system components as found to be necessary in the hazard assessment.

A hazard assessment would include an overview of the types and occupancies of structures in the areas where the Department provides fire protection.

The assessment should also include an examination of the standard operating procedures that the Department follows at fires where a Firefighter could become trapped.

The assessment may reveal other factors requiring or not requiring systems.

Based upon the results of the hazard assessment select and provide equipment to each firefighter according to the risk.

The selection decisions and factors evaluated must be communicated to each firefighter. The employer must ensure that the firefighter is instructed and trained in the proper use of the selected life safety ropes and system components.

Training must be comprehensive, understandable and recur annually.

The employer must certify that the training is done.

The Employer must develop a written inspection schedule for ropes and system components. The Employer must ensure that any defects found are immediately corrected or immediate action must be taken to eliminate use of the equipment.

Any ropes or system components with repairable defects must be tagged as unsafe and stored in a manner that will not permit its use until repairs are complete.

Any life safety ropes and system components, which are removed from service as unserviceable and are no longer fit for use as a life safety rope must be destroyed.

The law specified a date of 9/28/07, however no actual regulation exists as of this date. It is suggested that all agencies should do an assessment at this time to prepare for when the regulation is created.