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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />DECEMBER 17, 1991 <br />detail. The Chief noted that there are numerous things <br />involved under this area including hand tools which <br />must be kept in a clean and safe fashion, ropes that <br />must be wound properly, electrical equipment on trucks <br />which must be maintained. The Department's engineers <br />must make sure that trucks and the generators on the <br />trucks are operating properly and ready to go. There <br />are forcible entry tools which must be maintained. The <br />Chief explained that there are very restrictive NFPA <br />standards that ladders must meet. Air and oxygen tanks <br />must be kept ready. There is a mask crew responsible <br />for this. Members of this crew had to attend <br />certification schooling so that masks can be kept in <br />working order that will meet NFPA and OSHA standards. <br />The Chief reported that one of the budget requests is <br />for funding to purchase additional oxygen tanks so that <br />there is always a bank of tanks ready in the event of a <br />fire. At this point the crew gave a demonstration on <br />the testing procedures necessary to keep air and oxyqen <br />tanks in top-working condition. <br />It was pointed out that there are two fire fighters <br />certified on tanks, and it would be beneficial to the <br />Department to get a couple more members certified in <br />the event these two individuals are not available. <br />The Chief reported that NFPA 1500 contains the <br />guidelines that the Fire Department has to comply <br />with. These guidelines are not officially adopted as <br />mandatory, but the Department has been informed that <br />they will be adopted in 1992. The Chief reported that <br />for the last 4 or 5 years the Department has been <br />working towards the goal of ineeting these standards. <br />The Chief reported that the personal alert system is <br />another thing that will become mandatory. Purchase of <br />these systems is proposed in the budget. These systems <br />involve an alarm that is worn by the fire fighter and <br />goes off if the person becomes immobile. <br />The Chief reported that the Department's philosophy has <br />not changed, however, the standards that the Department <br />is required to meet have been increased over time. <br />The Chief reported that the Department's contingency <br />fund proposed in the 1992 budget included funding for <br />physicals. Currently, fire fighters are required to <br />have a physical every three years. However, that <br />requirement will be increased to an annual physical. <br />The Chief reported that they are working with the <br />Ramsey County Chiefs' Association to try to get a <br />program put together so that physicals can be done in <br />unison, and, hopefully, at a cut-rate cost. <br />Page 3 <br />