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In the research in which was later published in the Learning Resource <br />Center of the National Fire Academy, it was discovered that the <br />department's minimum staffing level should be (7) firefighters, not (6) <br />firefighters. The research paper bases this concept on OSHA's 2-in/2-out <br />Standard, as below: <br /> <br />Sections 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926 of the Respiratory Protection, Final <br />Rule, OSHA (1998) states: <br /> "The need for standby personnel when workers use respirators in <br /> IDLH atmospheres is clear. The margin for error in IDLH <br /> atmospheres is slight or nonexistent because an equipment <br /> malfunction or employee mistake can, without warning, expose the <br /> employee to an atmosphere incapable of supporting human life." <br /> (p. I242) <br /> <br />OSHA concluded that, for interior structural fire fighting, a buddy <br />system for workers inside the IDLH atmosphere and at least two <br />standby personnel outside the atmosphere are necessary (Sections 29 <br />CFR Parts 1910 and 1926 of the Respiratory Protection, Final Rule, <br />OSHA, 1998). In the same section, OSHA goes on to require that two <br />firefighters must remain outside as a standby team for the two <br />firefighters that work inside a burning structure. This ruling is known <br />as 2-in / 2-out. <br /> <br /> Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a <br />Standard that addresses the issue of firefighter safety, as below: <br /> <br /> Safety risk mitigation is the responsibility of the fire department. It <br />shall be the responsibility of the fire department to research, develop, <br />implement, and enforce an occupational safety and health program that <br />recognizes and reduces the inherent risks involved in the operation of afire <br />department OVFPA 1500, I997). <br /> The fire department shall be responsible for compliance with ail <br />applicable laws and legal requirements with respect to member safety and <br />health OIFPA [500, 1997). In the event of a firefighter injury or death, the <br />fire department is the agent responsible for demonstrating compliance with <br />such issues. It is vital for fire departments to be cognizant of safety and <br />health issues in order to facilitate adherence to any such standards. <br /> Since fire departments are required to develop procedures for <br /> defining the number of members to perform each function, NFPA 1500 <br /> <br /> <br />