West Cape May Fire Company Corrects Minor Problems Found by State Inspection

WEST CAPE MAY – Borough Commissioner Ramsey Geyer updated commissioners on a final report on the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company received from the state Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health program (PEOSH).
At a Wed. Oct. 13 meeting, he said the borough has not received final reports from the state Department of Community Affairs fire safety or from the Department of Labor safety following inspections of the fire company.
Geyer said the PEOSH report looked at medical records, documentation on the fire company’s record keeping and testing of breathing equipment (SCBA), and was found to be in compliance after actions were taken by the fire company. He said one issue raised was documentation created by the volunteer fire company was generic and not specific to West Cape May’s operation.
Geyer said that has been corrected.
The report noted 15 firefighters are required to wear full-face piece, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Some procedures used for cleaning SCBA breathing apparatus facemasks were not as detailed as PEOSH wanted and the fire company amended their procedures and evaluation process so they are tested monthly during a drill and records are kept as required.
In its corrective action plan, the volunteer fire company outlined how the full face piece used by firefighters would be cleaned with a germicidal cleaner and disinfectant after use at a fire or a training exercise. PEOSH also noted Scott Air Bottles should be used on Scott Air Packs and not other brands.
Geyer said the report said one firefighter had not completed a physical. He said the firefighter was on medical leave and one volunteer had not received a blood borne pathogens (Hepatitis B) inoculation. Those items have been remedied.
“All the issues that were stated in that report have been abated,” said Geyer.
He said the fire company had no serious failures in the PEOSH report. Geyer said he is waiting for reports from the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Labor.