I. Training and education in the care, use, inspection, maintenance and limitations of the protective equipment assigned to fire department firefighters or available for their use.

2. Records. Each fire department shall maintain complete records of individual training and education for firefighters.

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §2103, as amended by PL 1987, c. 552, §§1 to 3 and c. 769, Pt. B, §7, is further amended to read:

§2103. Standards for equipment and clothing

Any Unless otherwise specified, any reference in this section to a standard is to the most recent standard in effect.

1. Protective equipment. Except as provided in subsection 2, the The fire department shall provide each firefighter with the appropriate equipment to protect the firefighter from the hazards of the work environment to which the firefighter is likely to be exposed. The firefighter shall use the protective equipment whenever exposed to the hazards for which that equipment is provided. If a fire department purchases new protective equipment, that equipment must meet the standard in effect at the time of the purchase.__If a fire department acquires protective clothing that is not new, that protective clothing must, at a minimum, meet the standards that were in effect in 1987.__Any protective clothing that was purchased or acquired prior to 1987 that does not meet National Fire Protection Association standards must be replaced. Protective equipment must consist of:

A. Protective clothing;

B. Head protection;

B-1.__Helmet ensemble, including eye and face protection;

C. Foot protection;

D. Hand protection;

E. Eye and face protection;

F. Hearing protection; and

G. Self-contained breathing apparatus.