(3) Any employee riding on or in a fire apparatus shall be safely secured by a seat
belt or safety harness any time the fire apparatus is in motion. No employee may stand or
ride on the tail steps, sidesteps, running boards, or other exposed part of a fire apparatus
while the fire apparatus is in motion, except for hose loading operations as provided in
this subrule. Hose loading operations may be performed on a moving fire apparatus only
when all of the following conditions are met:
(a) Hose loading operations must be specified in a written procedure that includes
the conditions set forth in this subdivision. All employees involved in the hose loading
operation must be trained in these procedures.
(b) There must be an employee, other than those employees loading the hose,
assigned as a safety observer. The safety observer shall have an unobstructed view of the
hose loading operation and be in visual and voice contact with the fire apparatus driver.
(c) All vehicular traffic must be excluded from the area or be under the direction of
qualified traffic control individuals.
(d) The fire apparatus must be driven at a speed of 5 mph or less.
(e) No employee may stand on the tail step, sidesteps, running boards, or any other
location on the fire apparatus while the fire apparatus is in motion unless otherwise
allowed by the manufacturer’s specifications.
(f) Employees using a travel restraint system or appropriate fall protection may be
in the hose bed, but no employee may stand while the fire apparatus is in motion.
(g) Before each hose loading operation, the situation must be evaluated to ensure
compliance with the written procedure. If the written procedure cannot be followed, or if
there is any question as to the safety of the operation for the specific situation, the hose
may not be loaded on a moving fire apparatus.
(4) Any fire apparatus manufactured and purchased after April 17, 2013, must meet
or exceed the requirements of the NFPA 1901: “Standard for Automotive Fire
Apparatus,” 2009 edition, as adopted in R 408.17405.
(5) Except on instructions of a designated signalperson, an operator of the fire
apparatus shall not move the fire apparatus when his or her vision is obstructed.
(6) A minimum distance of 10 feet from unprotected energized equipment or high-
voltage transmission lines, as distinguished from low voltage secondary lines and series
streetlight construction, must be maintained when using fire apparatus. The training of
firefighters must include development of the ability to recognize and identify primary,
high-voltage transmission lines and series street lighting construction.
History: 1979 AC; 1988 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2001 AACS; 2013 MR 8, Eff. April 17, 2013; 2013
MR 11, Eff. June 12, 2013; 2016 AACS; 2022 MR 12, Eff. June 21, 2022.
R 408.17422 Fire apparatus tires and rims.
Rule 7422. (1) A thorough visual inspection of the tread and sidewall areas of fire
apparatus tires for cuts, cracks, splits, or bruises, including a tread depth measurement,
must be made at least annually. A record of this inspection must be maintained for a
minimum of 10 years.
(2) A tire must be replaced if 1 of the following occurs:
(a) The average tread depth is worn to 5/32 of an inch or less.
(b) The tread depth at any 1 location is 2/32 of an inch, or less.
Page 6