TIESB

In the early 1970s, an attempt at the requirement of certification for industrial firefighters found its way into a Texas legislative committee for action.

Fortunately, it never left the committee. Fortunately? Yes, because of the potential impact on your organization. Officially formed in 1978 as a segment of the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas, the Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board provides guidance for the Texas Industrial Fire Protection Program. Since formation, it has been working closely with the Texas Chemical Council and the National Petroleum Refiners Association reviewing various industries’ differences in training needs for all emergencies and loss prevention programs. It was found that training needs vary significantly depending on the type of facility or industry.

Based on these considerations, it was concluded that the training needs of Texas industry in emergency response and loss prevention could best be assessed and recommended through a group of representatives of the state’s industries.

In 1978, the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas appointed the 20-member Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board for that purpose. In 2005, the name changed from the Texas Industrial Fire Training Board to the Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board.

1. TIESB works under direction of the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas.
2. TIESB promotes the competence of emergency service programs for industrial facilities.
3. TIESB develops, administers, and approves minimum training standards for emergency services for industrial facilities in the state of Texas.
4. TIESB issues certificates of participation to industrial organizations whose training programs have been approved by this state organization.
5. TIESB promotes legislation that would continue to make individual industrial facilities responsible for their own fire protection programs and to oppose bills seeking to do otherwise.
6. TIESB monitors legislation to prevent additional undue taxation when an industrial facility has the necessary loss prevention programs and emergency equipment to provide the facility's needed protection (i.e., code 775.032).
7. TIESB provides a process to certify industrial emergency response vehicles, which include fire apparatus and ambulance vehicles to operate under emergency transport conditions outside of the industrial facility (i.e., code 773.004).
8. TIESB provides resources for facilities to have access to the latest CFR or NFPA emergency response (i.e., fire, rescue, medical, hazmat, marine, etc.) regulations.
9. TIESB membership promotes BEST PRACTICES among facility industrial emergency services statewide.

• Promote the development of competent, effective, and efficient fire training and loss prevention programs for industrial members of the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association
• Evaluate fire training programs of member companies, based on the number of employees and the degree of hazard inherent in an industry’s operation
• Make recommendations to prospective industrial members for achieving the minimum criteria for membership
• Recommend for each member industry-minimum criteria for maintaining effective fire training, loss prevention, and educational programs
• Promote legislation that would continue to make individual industries responsible for their own fire protection programs, and to oppose bills seeking to do otherwise
• Monitor legislation to prevent additional undue taxation when industry has the necessary loss prevention programs and emergency equipment to provide their facilities the protection needed
• To provide information to state of Texas emergency response personnel such as mutual aid organizations and fire protection companies

Tax Exemption
State legislation is now in place (Health and Safety Code 775.032) to levy additional tax on industry in the event that a facility is located within an emergency services (ambulance) district.

Due to the efforts of the TIESB, exemptions of additional tax can be granted if industry meets the requirements established by the board through submission of a Yearly Training Summary. Member facilities may opt in to training summary submission through payment of an additional participation fee based on the total number of employees and contractors. At present, approximately four exemptions of additional tax have been granted saving Texas industry several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Industrial Emergency Response Vehicle Certification
Provisions have been established (Health and Safety Code 773.004) to certify industrial emergency response vehicles, which include fire apparatus and ambulances, in order to allow Texas industry to continue operation of its specialized equipment. Member facilities may request TIESB to provide a review and deposition for each Application for Certification submitted for recognition as an industrial emergency response vehicle meeting Emergency Vehicle Criteria.

Please direct any questions regarding TIESB membership or vehicle registrations to tiesb@sffma.org.

Individual Membership Benefits
Full listing found HERE

SFFMA/TIESB Annual Industrial Membership Application

Industrial Emergency Vehicle Registration

Yearly Training Summary (Updated effective January 1, 2018 to show NIMS training as an absolute)

Facility Name Change (print PDF onto facility letterhead)

Facility Membership
Baseline $120.00 annual facility membership required for any of the other following options. Membership periods run January 1 through December 31 for any given dues period.

Participation Fee
Optional payment, and only required if the facility desires to either:

1. Obtain training program certification of their fire brigade or rescue, medical and/or HazMat teams (see Yearly Training Summary), or;
2. Have one or more of their personnel apply for a seat on the TIESB, or;
3. Apply for certain tax exemption.

Fees are set on a sliding scale based on the total number of employees and contractors (nested and core) at the specific facility site:

Vehicle Registration
For the purpose of defraying the administrative expenses of registration, each Industrial Emergency Response Vehicle application requires a non-refundable fee of ten dollars ($10.00) renewing annually so long as the vehicle meets the eligibility criteria.

Individual Membership
Full SFFMA membership benefits to ERT members, including: $2K AD&D Insurance, $5K LODD Immediate Assistance, and many retail, cell phone, and travel discounts (full listing found HERE).

Friday, April 13, 2018
1:00 pm - 5:00 p.m.
TEEX-Henry D Smith Building, Rm 202
1595 Nuclear Science Rd
College Station, TX 77843