Fire Industry News for October 2023

A group of 4th year University of Calgary students worked to reimagine safety– and won an award for their efforts-at the UofC’s 2022 Captone Design Fair, placing first in the electrical and software engineering category. Their project–Development of a Software Solution for Safety Visualization and Analysis–was sponsored by Blackline Safety. Blackline Live software portal Capstone design projects are the culmination of four years of study - a year-long assignment where s...

Qurlfire had a successful three days at FIREX International at ExCel, London between 17 to 19 May. After the Fire Safety Event at the NEC in Birmingham last month, FIREX has been the second event we have exhibited at since before the global pandemic.  Quelfire has been supporting FIREX with its presence since 2017, but the pandemic meant that the event had to be postponed for a couple of years so, they are looking forward to returning to ExCel, London to meet with existing and new customer...

Thank Hedy Lamarr for Wi-Fi, Marie Curie for radioactivity, Evelyn Boyd Granville for successful space missions, Rosalind Franklin for the double helix structure of DNA, and Ruby Hirose for vaccines against polio. Those are a few examples of fearless women in science who changed the world with their research and innovation. The world benefits when more women and gender-diverse people find inspiration in careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.  Sponsorship of Ope...

It has been nearly five years since the devastating fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower, which saw the loss of 72 lives. Others lost their homes, possessions, and loved ones, which changed the course of their lives forever. Since the tragic event, a public inquiry was conducted into the cause of the fire, leading the construction industry to come under heavy scrutiny. Hackitt’s Independent Review In May 2018, Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire...

Volatile organic compound (VOC) gases are a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals found in everyday life. Many VOCs are harmless, but others can dramatically affect worker health and the environment. The United Nations estimates that, globally, one worker dies every 15-30 seconds from toxic exposure at work. Those numbers are alarming and demonstrate why businesses must take air quality monitoring seriously to ensure worker health and safety. Where VOCs found VOCs can also...

The fire department of a southern U.S. city was trialing Blackline Safety technology when a dangerous fuel spill put the devices to the test. Firefighters were called to a local station where 32 gallons (120 liters) of gasoline had spilled out and was flowing rapidly onto the ground. As firefighters—equipped with G7 personal gas detectors—arrived on the scene, their G7s started sending high gas alerts to the fire department lieutenant, over five miles away. Using the Blackline Live...

Quelfire has had a successful three days at The Fire Safety Event (FSE) 2022 at the NEC, Birmingham between 5-7 April, 2022. It has been great to catch up with existing customers while opening avenues for new, potential prospects. products and solutions Like its fellow exhibitors, Quelfire is so glad to have been able to showcase products and solutions, hoping to instill just how important fire safety in the industry is. As part of the FSE’s mission to support the industry in achieving...

Efficient response to dangerous situations is paramount to any Fire and HazMat incident. This makes connected safety technology a valuable asset for every First Responder team. Having suitable and easy-to-use equipment and technology will enhance the speed, efficiency, and safety of an incident response. There are relatively recent developments in technology that can be game changers in an effective response including real-time visibility of the safety of every team member, integrated plume mode...

On September 19th, the Crumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands erupted, with devastating consequences. The eruption forced the evacuation of 7,000 people (close to 10% of the island’s population), destroyed almost 2,000 buildings, spread over 1,800 acres, and released 250,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. Rapid response during a natural disaster G7 personal gas protection devices were deployed with the Dirección General de Seguridad y Emergencias...

Following the success of the virtual roundtable discussion last November at London Build Online, have arranged another one this November – this time in person – at the London Build Expo 2021, taking place at Olympia, London, UK, between 17 November and 18 November 2021. While the first discussion looked at the importance of early engagement in fire stopping mostly from the design point of view, are planning to build the forthcoming discussion around the coordination and management o...

Happy First Responders Day! In 2021, Congress passed a bill designating Oct. 28 as a federal holiday to honor the sacrifice of firefighters, EMTs, and police officers around the country. The law declares that “during times of national crisis, first responders have consistently been a source of aid, hope, and comfort for all Americans.” GEFD thanks volunteers and all the tireless professionals in the community for the time and toil they dedicate to service.

Working alone is inherently dangerous, then layer on additional risks like hazardous gas exposure, health incidents, wildlife encounters, extreme weather, vehicle accidents, trips and falls, and the threats multiply. Cell and radio coverage is often spotty at remote locations such as exploration areas, well sites and compressor stations, making communication with the people and dispatching help difficult if problems arise. Extra care must be taken to ensure the safety of the most vulnerabl...

On September 12, 2021, recently retired Sycamore Island Club caretaker Joe Hage was presented the Glen Echo Fire Chief’s Citation recognizing his contributions to an August 1, 2021 rescue operation. A woman was seriously injured while hiking on a trail along the Potomac River in Virginia. The ruggedness and remoteness of the rescue scene prevented Fairfax County from evacuating the patient by land; low water precluded access from Virginia boat ramps; and a helicopter with hoist capability...

Digital transformation has become an imperative for the oil and gas industry, and connected technologies have proven especially valuable for maximizing uptime and revenue. When production is taken offline, getting back up and running quickly, efficiently, and safely is critical to mitigating costs and preventing future unplanned downtime. Whether downtime is the result of a planned turnaround, shutdown, or an unforeseen outage, these short-term operations face many unique challenges. For exampl...

A natural part of business is allocating and reallocating investments and resources into various areas. And, often, each department is asked to achieve more with less, pioneering to difficult decisions in order to achieve business goals. One key area where there can’t be any compromise is protecting workers from accidents, injuries, and illnesses while they’re on the job. When creating a safety plan for lone workers, companies often need to broaden their definition of what a lone wo...

Kokosing Materials, Inc. (KMI) has been in the asphalt production business since 1980 and operates 17 asphalt plants and two asphalt cement terminals throughout the state of Ohio. Given the operational risks of asphalt plants, the company places a high emphasis on all aspects of team members’ well-being, including physical, psychological, and emotional health. This has led to KMI adopting a holistic, human-centered approach to safety and team member engagement, where managers travel to ea...

In a post-pandemic world, the outlook on workplace safety is changing. While physical and economic recovery is critical, organizations are placing an equally large focus on the psychological toll the pandemic and other aspects of the workplace have had on individuals in the past. Holistic approach This change in outlook is centered around implementing a holistic approach to health and safety, prioritizing all aspects of employee wellbeing. It’s a conversation that is no longer only taki...

On October 26, 2019, a worker and his wife were both fatally injured due to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure at a waterflood station in Odessa, Texas—one of six fatal H2S accidents in the United States in the last two years. On May 4, 2021, the US Chemical and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) published its final report of the incident with guidance on how future incidents can be prevented with appropriate safety measures. This blog post describes what happened, why H2S safety is a critical...

Throughout a hazmat response, portable gas detectors and area monitors give first responders and command centers the data and visibility they need to make time-sensitive decisions in the moment. In addition, when each team member wears a personal gas monitoring device that also tracks their location in real-time, it creates a completely connected safety ecosystem. During the incident, these personal monitoring devices can help locate, position, and mobilize resources on the map....

Implementing effective safety protocols and standards is key to mitigating employee injuries and incidents in the workplace. However, building a strong safety culture, from those in leadership to employees at every level in an organization, is what drives compliance and productivity up, and risks and incidents down. Key indicators of safety culture Blackline Collective was formed to bring experts together to help advance each other’s safety programs, practices, and cultures. Through the...

From chemical fires to gas leaks and explosions, emergency responders are the first on the scene and take control of potentially devastating situations. And during those critical moments, preparation is more than key, it’s vital. Effective response starts before the team even arrives at the scene because every second matters when it comes to saving lives and protecting the Hazmat team, the environment, and neighboring communities against potential harm. The following are four key ways to...

On April 9, 2021 evening, units from Glen Echo Fire Department responded to next-door house fires in Potomac, MD. When a severe thunderstorm passed through the area, two houses were struck by lightning, sparking attic fires. aid station While crews worked to put out the flames in the two separate structures, GEFD volunteers established an aid station to assess and treat any injured civilian occupants and firefighters. MCFRS units were on the scene for several hours with dozens of personnel to...

The Capital Crescent Trail was crowded as bicyclists and walkers captured a few final moments of summer-like days before fall fully took hold when witnesses saw a man in his early fifties collapse a few yards from the Massachusetts Avenue pedestrian bridge. Bystanders called 911. Within moments the youthful-looking man laying on the pavement stopped breathing. Someone checked for a pulse, but none was found. Recognizing the man was in cardiac arrest, a companion began hands-only CPR. Medical e...

At three in the morning, members of the Glen Echo Fire Department began waking up. It was not a fire or medical emergency, but it was another call to serve. Glen Echo volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, along with the Department’s Chief and Operations officer were designated to support the 59th Presidential Inauguration. In previous years, the Department had deployed one or two units to the event, but this year the little Department nestled in a small community at the bottom edg...

Glen Echo Fire Department and Santa are pleased to announce the 2020 “Santa Run” schedule. This year, Santa will be visiting from December 14th to December 23rd. As with years past, Santa will do everything he can to make sure he visits each neighborhood on the appointed dates, but this year he wants to make doubly sure everyone stays warm and safe. Some modifications have been made to help protect all of you, as well as Santa and his helpers: Santa asks that they wave from the ho...

Evaluating and mitigating risks for the lone workers in the company allows them to protect most at-risk employees while also ensuring compliance with regulations.  To optimize lone worker safety programs, systematically assess working environments and then create targeted policies and procedures to address any hazards. This guide will provide an in-depth look to help discern where the program is performing well, as well as determine where gaps may still exist. Overall Risk Assessment Ass...

While some companies may have one type of lone working scenario to manage, other businesses may have many. Depending on the number and variety of lone-worker situations involved, the company may need to perform multiple lone-worker risk assessments to accommodate for the various circumstances faced by these higher-risk employees.  These checklists are used when reviewing existing sites where people work alone and when setting up new sites involving lone workers. A lone worker checklist can...

On August 7, 1954, the Glen Echo Fire Department relocated to their present home on Massachusetts Avenue and Sangamore Road. The dedicated volunteers at the Glen Echo Fire Department provide tens of thousands of hours of service responding to emergency calls and training in their roles as firefighters, EMTs, medics, and trainees.  Providing these services while maintaining a 66-year-old building is a financial challenge. The Glen Echo Fire Department thanks everyone for being so gener...

Because of new social distancing standards brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are increasingly operating physically further apart from one another. At times, this may be due to a workforce that’s been reduced in numbers due to affected team members or it may be because employees are working different shifts to accommodate for new work standards. The underlying reason for these changes is the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus disease.  This pandemi...

Maximize safety with minimum hassle with Blackline Safety's next-level G7 portable gas detection system. Learn the benefits of choosing the G7 for the company's safety monitoring solutions and what makes it unique from other options on the market. Gas Detecting System benefits "Regulations require businesses to ensure that their gas detection fleet is fully tested, calibrated, and regularly being used by personnel, this is one of the safety industry’s biggest gas detection challenges,&...