Self-contained breathing apparatus must contain a minimum air supply of 80% 90% of the rated capacity of the cylinder to be considered in-service.

Purchases of new harnesses for respiratory apparatus by a fire department must be constructed of fabric that provides thermal protection consistent with the minimum requirements for protective clothing. Harnesses must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

8. Personal alert safety system. Each firefighter wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus must be provided with and shall use a personal alert safety system device in a hazardous area.__The device must meet National Fire Protection Association standards. Purchases of new personal alert safety system systems, PASS, by a fire department must meet or exceed the National Fire Protection Association standards.

9. Fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware. Purchases of new fire service life safety rope, harness and hardware by a fire department must meet National Fire Protection Association standards.

10.__Hearing protection.__Each fire department shall provide and each firefighter shall use hearing protection when the firefighter is operating or riding on fire apparatus and is subject to noise in excess of 90 decibels.__Hearing protection must be provided and used when the firefighter is exposed to noise in excess of 90 decibels from power tools or equipment, except in situations when the use of the protective equipment would create an additional hazard to the user.__Hearing protection must conform to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1910.95.

Sec. 4. 26 MRSA §2104, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 356, is amended to read:

1. Eye, face protection. Each fire department shall provide and each firefighter shall use eye and or face protection, or both, when the firefighter is engaged in fire suppression and other operations involving hazards to the eyes and face at all times when the face is not protected by the full facepiece of self-contained breathing apparatus.