| (a) General statement. It shall be clearly understood
that the specified minimum standards described in this section are
designated as a minimum program. Employing entities are encouraged
to exceed the minimum program wherever possible. Continuous in-service
training beyond the minimum standards for fire protection personnel
is strongly recommended. Nothing in these regulations shall limit
or be construed as limiting the powers of the Civil Service Commission,
or the employing entity, to enact rules and regulations which establish
a higher standard of training than the minimum specified, or which
provides for the termination of the services of unsatisfactory employees
during or upon completion of the prescribed probationary period.
(b) Functional position descriptions.
(1) Structural Fire Protection personnel. The following
general position description for structural fire protection personnel
serves as a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications,
competencies, and tasks required of the fire fighter operating in
the State of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer
to define specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. Successfully complete a commission
approved course; achieve a passing score on written and performance
certification examinations; must be at least 18 years of age; generally,
the knowledge and skills required show the need for a high school
education or equivalent; ability to communicate verbally, via telephone
and radio equipment; ability to lift, carry, drag, and balance weight
equivalent to the average human weight; ability to interpret in English,
written and oral instructions; ability to work effectively in high
stress situations; ability to work effectively in an environment with
loud noises and flashing lights; ability to function through an entire
work shift; ability to calculate weight and volume ratios; ability
to read and understand English language manuals including chemical,
medical and technical terms, and road maps; ability to accurately
discern street signs and address numbers; ability to document in English,
all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifications
of such; ability to converse in English with coworkers and other emergency
response personnel. Good manual dexterity with ability to perform
all tasks related to the protection of life and property; ability
to bend, stoop, and crawl on uneven surfaces; ability to withstand
varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold, and moisture;
and ability to work in low or no light, confined spaces, elevated
heights and other dangerous environments.
(B) Competency. A basic fire fighter must demonstrate
competency handling emergencies utilizing equipment and skills in
accordance with the objectives in Chapter 1 of the commission's Certification
Curriculum Manual.
(2) Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting personnel. The following
general position description for aircraft rescue fire fighting personnel
serves as a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications,
competencies, and tasks required of aircraft rescue fire fighting
personnel operating in the State of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility
of an employer to define specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for basic structural fire protection personnel: familiarity with geographic
and physical components of an airport; ability to use and understand
communication equipment, terminology, and procedures utilized by airports;
ability and knowledge in the application of fire suppression agents;
and ability to effectively perform fire suppression and rescue operations.
(B) Competency. Basic fire fighting and rescue personnel
must demonstrate competency handling emergencies utilizing equipment
and skills in accordance with the objectives in Chapter 2 of the commission's
Certification Curriculum Manual.
(3) Marine Fire Protection personnel. The following
general position description for marine fire protection personnel
serves as a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications,
competencies, and tasks required of the marine fire fighter operating
in the State of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer
to define specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for basic structural fire protection personnel: familiarity with geographic
and physical components of a navigable waterway; ability to use and
understand communication equipment, terminology, and procedures used
by the maritime industry; and knowledge in the operation of fire fighting
vessels.
(B) Competency. A marine fire fighter must demonstrate
competency in handling emergencies utilizing equipment and skills
in accordance with the objectives in Chapter 3 of the commission's
Certification Curriculum Manual.
(4) Fire Inspection personnel. The following general
position description for fire inspection personnel serves as a guide
for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications, competencies,
and tasks required of the fire inspector operating in the State of
Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer to define
specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. Successfully complete a commission
approved course; achieve a passing score on certification examinations;
must be at least 18 years of age; generally, the knowledge and skills
required to show the need for a high school education or equivalent;
ability to communicate verbally, via telephone and radio equipment;
ability to lift, carry, and balance weight equivalent to weight of
common tools and equipment necessary for conducting an inspection;
ability to interpret written and oral instructions; ability to work
effectively with the public; ability to work effectively in an environment
with potentially loud noises; ability to function through an entire
work shift; ability to calculate area, weight and volume ratios; ability
to read and understand English language manuals including chemical,
construction and technical terms, building plans and road maps; ability
to accurately discern street signs and address numbers; ability to
document, in writing, all relevant information in a prescribed format
in light of legal ramifications of such; ability to converse in English
with coworkers and other personnel. Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics
and behavior of fire, and fire prevention principles. Good manual
dexterity with the ability to perform all tasks related to the inspection
of structures and property; ability to bend, stoop, and crawl on uneven
surfaces; ability to climb ladders; ability to withstand varied environmental
conditions such as extreme heat, cold, and moisture; and the ability
to work in low light, confined spaces, elevated heights, and other
dangerous environments.
(B) Competency. A fire inspector must demonstrate competency
in conducting inspections utilizing equipment and skills in accordance
with the objectives in Chapter 4 of the commission's Certification
Curriculum Manual.
(5) Fire Investigator personnel. The following general
position description for fire investigator personnel serves as a guide
for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications, competencies,
and tasks required of the fire investigator operating in the State
of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer to define
specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. Successfully complete a commission
approved course; achieve a passing score on certification examinations;
be at least 18 years of age; generally, the knowledge and skills required
to show the need for a high school education or equivalent; ability
to communicate verbally, via telephone and radio equipment; ability
to lift, carry, and balance weight equivalent to weight of common
tools and equipment necessary for conducting an investigation; ability
to interpret written and oral instructions; ability to work effectively
with the public; ability to work effectively in a hazardous environment;
ability to function through an entire work shift; ability to calculate
area, weight and volume ratios; ability to read and understand English
language manuals including chemical, legal and technical terms, building
plans and road maps; ability to accurately discern street signs and
address numbers; ability to document, in writing, all relevant information
in a prescribed format in light of legal ramifications of such; ability
to converse in English with coworkers and other personnel. Good manual
dexterity with the ability to perform all tasks related to fire investigation;
ability to bend, stoop, and walk on uneven surfaces; ability to climb
ladders; ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such
as extreme heat, cold and moisture; and the ability to work in low
light, confined spaces, elevated heights, and other potentially dangerous
environments.
(B) Competency. A fire investigator or arson investigator
must demonstrate competency in determining fire cause and origin utilizing
equipment and skills in accordance with the objectives in Chapter
5 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual.
(6) Hazardous Materials Technician personnel. The following
general position description for hazardous materials personnel serves
as a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications,
competencies, and tasks required of the hazardous materials technician
operating in the State of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility
of an employer to define specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for basic structural fire protection personnel: successfully complete
a commission approved course; achieving a passing score on the certification
examination; the ability to analyze a hazardous materials incident,
plan a response, implement the planned response, evaluate the progress
of the planned response, and terminate the incident.
(B) Competency. A hazardous materials technician must
demonstrate competency handling emergencies resulting from releases
or potential releases of hazardous materials, using specialized chemical
protective clothing and control equipment in accordance with the objectives
in Chapter 6 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual.
(7) Hazardous Materials Incident Commander personnel.
The following general position description for Hazardous Materials
Incident Commander serves as a guide for anyone interested in understanding
the qualifications, competencies, and tasks required of the Hazardous
Materials Incident Commander operating in the State of Texas. It is
ultimately the responsibility of an employer to define specific job
descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for awareness and operations level personnel, the Hazardous Materials
Incident Commander is an individual who has met all the job performance
requirements of Hazardous Materials Incident Commander as defined
in Chapter 8 of NFPA 472, Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials
Incidents/Weapons of Mass Destruction. The individual should demonstrate
knowledge in the policies, plans, and procedures regarding hazardous
materials response as adopted by the local jurisdiction; and all components
of the incident command system and their proper utilization.
(B) Competency. In addition to the competencies of
awareness and operations level personnel, a Hazardous Materials Incident
Commander must demonstrate competency in such areas as: analyzing
an incident via the collection of information and an estimation of
potential outcomes; planning appropriate response operations; implementing
a planned response; evaluating the progress of a planned response
and revising as necessary; terminating an incident; conducting a post-incident
critique; and reporting and documenting an incident in a manner consistent
with local, state, and federal requirements.
(8) Driver/Operator-Pumper personnel. The following
general position description for driver/operator-pumper personnel
serves as a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications,
competencies, and tasks required of the driver/operator-pumper of
a fire department pumper operating in the State of Texas. It is ultimately
the responsibility of an employer to define specific job descriptions
within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for basic structural fire protection personnel: ability to perform
specified routine test, inspection, and maintenance functions; ability
to perform practical driving exercises; ascertain the expected fire
flow; ability to position a fire department pumper to operate at a
fire hydrant; ability to produce effective streams; and supply sprinkler
and standpipe systems.
(B) Competency. A driver/operator-pumper must demonstrate
competency operating a fire department pumper in accordance with the
objectives in Chapter 7 of the commission's Certification Curriculum
Manual.
(9) Fire Officer I personnel. The following general
position description for Fire Officer I personnel serves as a guide
for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications, competencies,
and tasks required of the Fire Officer I operating in the State of
Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer to define
specific job descriptions within each jurisdiction.
(A) Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications
for basic structural fire protection and Fire Instructor I personnel:
the ability to supervise personnel, and assign tasks at emergency
operations; the ability to direct personnel during training activities;
the ability to recommend action for member-related problems; the ability
to coordinate assigned tasks and projects, and deal with inquiries
and concerns from members of the community; the ability to implement
policies; the ability to Cont'd... |
