Texas Register, Volume 38, Number 31, Pages 4821-4956, August 2, 2013 Page: 4,902
4821-4956 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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CHAPTER 421. STANDARDS FOR
CERTIFICATION
37 TAC 421.3, 421.5
The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (the commission)
adopts amendments to Chapter 421, Standards for Certification,
421.3, concerning Minimum Standards Set by the Commis-
sion; and 421.5, concerning Definitions. The amendments are
adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the
June 7, 2013, issue of the Texas Register (38 TexReg 3508) and
will be republished. The adopted amendments to 421.3(b)(17)
and (18) change the capitalization of personnel to lowercase
to be consistent with other text of the section and also change
the capitalization of commission to lowercase in order to be
consistent with other rule text. The adopted amendments to
421.5 change the capitalization of commission to lowercase to
be consistent with other rule text.
The amendments are adopted to add functional position descrip-
tions for Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Fire Officer
Ill, Fire Officer IV, Incident Safety Officer, Basic Wildland Fire
Protection Personnel and Intermediate Wildland Fire Protection
Personnel. These additions will serve as a guide for anyone in-
terested in the qualifications, competencies and tasks required
of fire fighters to operate in the State of Texas. Also, the com-
mission is expanding its definition of college credits to include
criminal justice courses related to fire and or arson investigation
which can be used to qualify for its Master Arson Investigator
certification.
The adopted amendments will provide clear and concise rules
regarding the requirements to obtain certifications offered by the
commission and to allow additional courses to be counted as
college credits.
No comments were received from the public regarding the pro-
posed amendments.
The amendments are adopted under Texas Government Code,
Chapter 419, 419.008, which provides the commission the au-
thority to adopt rules for the administration of its powers and du-
ties; and 419.032, which provides the commission the authority
to adopt rules regarding qualifications and competencies for ap-
pointment of fire protection personnel.
421.3. Minimum Standards Set by the Commission.
(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 em-
ploying 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 qualifica-
tions, 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 commis-
sion approved course; achieve a passing score on written and perfor-
mance 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 en-
tire 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 dis-
cern street signs and address numbers; ability to document in English,
all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifica-
tions 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 var-
ied 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 ac-
cordance with the objectives in Chapter 1 of the commission's Certifi-
cation 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 qualifica-
tions, competencies, and tasks required of aircraft rescue fire fighting
personnel operating in the State of Texas. It is ultimately the respon-
sibility 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 per-
sonnel 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 gen-
eral position description for marine fire protection personnel serves as
a guide for anyone interested in understanding the qualifications, com-
petencies, and tasks required of the marine fire fighter operating in the
State of Texas. It is ultimately the responsibility of an employer to de-
fine 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 demon-
strate competency in handling emergencies utilizing equipment and
skills in accordance with the objectives in Chapter 3 of the commis-
sion's Certification Curriculum Manual.38 TexReg 4902 August 2, 2013 Texas Register
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Texas. Secretary of State. Texas Register, Volume 38, Number 31, Pages 4821-4956, August 2, 2013, periodical, August 2, 2013; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth326805/m1/82/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.