Who is responsible for replacing soft goods on the structure helmet?

• A. End user
• B. Maintenance supervisor
• C. Procurement
• D. Battalion office

Answer: (D)

Soft goods on a structure helmet—like liners, headbands, pads, and chin straps—wear out from use and exposure, so their replacement has to be coordinated through the department’s PPE management system. The battalion office typically oversees this program, keeping replacement schedules, maintaining inventory, and coordinating orders with procurement to ensure the correct parts are available and properly recorded. This centralized control ensures consistent fit, hygiene, and compliance with safety standards across the crew.

The end user wears the gear and may notice when something is worn, but they don’t drive replacements. The maintenance supervisor may handle repairs, but the authority to authorize and arrange replacements and maintain PPE records sits with the battalion office. Procurement handles the actual purchasing once a replacement need is approved, but it doesn’t determine when replacements are required.