PPE Accessories news

The American Fire Sprinkler Association is pleased to announce that Jason Williams, C.E.T., manager of ITM technical training, and Tom Noble, C.E.T., technical programs specialist, have been appointed to several 2017 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees. Jason Williams has been appointed to serve on the technical committee for NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. He has nearly 20 years of extensive han...

Avon Protection is pleased to announce the launch of the CFP100 Particulate Filter, a development driven by increased demand for particulate protection as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The NIOSH approved CFP100 Particulate Filter compliments Avon Protection’s foremost respiratory protection portfolio, adapting proven technology to create their lightest and most comfortable filter canister to date. This development was an immediate response to the changing global operational condit...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Association of State Fire Marshals, and National Volunteer Fire Council urge governors and state health officials to make career and volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics a top priority level for COVID-19 vaccines. They are vital parts of the national public health system and should be treated at the same priority as other frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff. The nation’s...

Bristol Uniforms, a globally renowned designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe, has launched a brand new, state-of-the-art PPE design for structural firefighting, offering advanced protection to combat the new and emerging risks faced by modern day firefighters. EOS, PPE for structural fighting EOS, named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, builds on the success of Bristol’s XFlex and UK Collaborative Framework ranges, retaining the popula...

FlamePro, a British manufacturer of life-saving garments for firefighters, is celebrating a string of recent appointments within the firm, following recent business success. The specialist FR PPE provider has recently welcomed four new recruits over recent months; Vicki Jackson has joined as Internal Sales Executive, while Lorraine Costello, Zoe Colbeck, and Ellie Smith have all joined FlamePro’s NPD and design team. Enjoying significant growth The new recruits joined shortly before and...

A father of three is urging Kent residents to test their smoke alarms once a week, after a fire that left him and his daughter fearing for their lives, destroyed the family home. David Sercombe and his 22-year-old daughter Bronte, were the only ones home on the morning of 18 November, when a fire broke out in the stairwell leading to the basement of the property off Sandling Lane, in Saltwood, Hythe.  Their smoke alarms didn’t sound, and instead, a builder made David aware of smoke...

Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind designed without an exhalation valve to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. elastomeric half-mask respirators...

It will all be over by Christmas, at least that’s what everyone thought (and hoped) when COVID-19 first hit back in the spring season. However, adapting to life and work in a COVID-19 world has proved a longer and harder road than many ever anticipated. For many unlucky COVID-19 sufferers too, the effects of the virus have been long-term. Whether symptoms are very mild, or more problematic, for most people, COVID-19 infection is a brief, acute illness. However, it is now medically recogni...

Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated has announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind, designed without an exhalation valve, to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Advantage 290 LS APR An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. The U....

Grassroots political organization Firefighters & EMS Fund worked directly with Neighbors for a Safer Kirkland to support Proposition 1, which would provide funding for new and renovated fire stations, 20 new fire/EMT positions, and the purchase of more PPE and other safety gear. Firefighters & EMS Fund got involved ahead of the election on November 3rd, and worked together with local organizations and leaders to contact and activate local voters. Mark Jung, campaign co-chair as well as...

Ground-breaking research has revealed the serious health risks to UK firefighters following exposure to toxic fire effluents, the chemicals emitted during a fire, in an independent University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) report commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The work is the UK's first and the latest in a growing body of international evidence suggesting an increased risk of firefighters developing cancer and other diseases. Fires produce a cocktail of toxic, irritant, and carci...

A firefighter needs to evaporate about 1 liter of sweat per hour to be able to regulate the body temperature when exposed to extreme heat. The human body is designed to function within a very specific temperature range between 36.5 and 37.5 Celsius. However, fighting fires test these limits and can increase a firefighter’s body temperature to over 38 degrees. Selection Of PPE While there are many factors to consider to reduce the impact of heat stress on firefighters – such...

The mission is to develop the Twiceme concept into a global standard and the vision is to create safer adventures and working environments for people exposed to a greater risk of accidents. An essential part of this is building trust and recognition of the Twiceme symbol among rescue professionals and end-users. With increased support from the global rescue community, Twiceme Technology is on the right track to becoming a worldwide pioneer of accessible vital info. A Future Tool for Rescue Pro...

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is researching the impact of COVID-19 on first responder organizations and asking for your help. The START project hopes to measure the impact of COVID-19, identify and share best practices, and identify ways to strengthen first responder organizations for future pandemics. Research This research is part of a larger study funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorat...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors have introduced the latest video interview in their six-part campaign series, Faces of Fire/Electrical hazard awareness campaign, which features personal stories of people impacted by electrical incidents, demonstrating the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards in the workplace and at home. Firefighter safety Awareness Luis Nevarez, Fire Chief in the City of Tulare Fire Depa...

LION First Responder PPE, Inc., one of the largest family-owned manufacturers of first responder protective equipment (PPE) and training products, launched a new line of lower cost, turnkey container-based training structures. TrainingReadyTM Container Systems are designed to be ordered and delivered in a fraction of the time it takes for construction of a typical container-based structure. TrainingReadyTM Container Systems are packed with innovative safety and training benefits that come stand...

An update from Director of Schemes, Chris Auger, outlining issues raised by the new lockdown measures to be introduced on November 05, 2020. Due to the recent second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 31st October 2020, BAFE has had to review the situation regarding refresher certificates and technician assessments. different levels of restriction Although the announcement only applied to England, there are also different...

Avon Protection is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Team Wendy, a foremost supplier of helmets, helmet accessories, and helmet liner and retention systems for military and first responder markets. Enlarged helmet portfolio The acquisition brings together two foremost providers to create a global front-runner in helmets. The enhanced and broader product portfolio will include: Enlarged helmet portfolio – A full range of tactical bump helmets, ballistic comba...

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released NFPA 1700, Guide for Structural Fire Fighting, the first NFPA document connecting fire dynamics research to response strategy, tactics, and best practices for firefighters controlling fires within a structure. The 2021 guide was prepared by the Technical Committee on Fundamentals of Fire Control Within a Structure Utilizing Fire Dynamics. The document was then voted on by NFPA membership, issued by the NFPA Standards Council, and has been...

Cadiz Fire Brigade in Spain has recently taken delivery of new, state-of-the-art fire kit supplied by Bristol Uniforms, a globally renowned designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe. The contract was secured through Bristol’s international distributor, El Corte Ingles, who fought off stiff competition to secure the four-year contract. Ergonomic XFlex design Cadiz has ordered 780 sets of Bristol’s lightweight, ergonomic XFlex design (c...

VIKING Lifesaving Equipment reaches a global partnership agreement with a renowned foam manufacturer, putting marine fire safety at the center of its one-stop-shop strategy for maritime and offshore safety. VIKING, the foremost marine safety specialist, acquired Drew Marine’s Fire Safety Rescue division in 2019 and absorbed the operation into its marine fire service (MFS) business, consolidated under a management and competency center based in Rotterdam. The new agreement covers distribu...

Contractors working on the build of Theale Community Fire Station have made good progress during recent months, with the new station starting to take shape. The installation of the steel superstructure took place at the end of September 2020, following extensive work to prepare the station’s foundations. Plans to build Theale Community Fire Station got underway in January 2020. It is the latest in a series of investments by the Fire Authority, following the refurbishment of the Hungerford...

The dangers of cancer-causing particulates have never been in sharper focus in firefighting than they are today. Indeed, firefighters are becoming more aware of the risks associated with their job and exposure to carcinogens. But are all firefighters aware of the different measures that should be taken to reduce their contact with particulates? Reece Buchner, Technical Sales Manager at FlamePro, a British specialist manufacturer of life-saving garments for firefighters, explains five steps that...

Former Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) Director of Operations - Sean Bone-Knell and current Head of Procurement at KFRS, Tina Butler, have been recognized in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Sean Bone-Knell, who retired from KFRS in March 2020, after 33 years of service, has been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal – a prestigious medal given to members of the fire services in the UK and Commonwealth for distinguished services or gallantry. Steering national pol...

Firefighters across Cornwall are wearing brand new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), procured through the UK Collaborative PPE Framework.  All 560 firefighters in the county have been equipped with two sets of new gold-colored structural coats and trousers, along with flash hoods, and a set of both structural and rescue gloves. Structural PPE The new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), designed and manufactured by Bristol Uniforms, benefits from the very latest in fiber and fabric tec...

When their annual stair-climb event was sidelined back in March 2020, due to the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic spread concerns, LION and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) didn't let that stop their event. Instead, the LLS went virtual with their annual firefighter star-climb event. The event was renamed, 'Big Virtual Climb’. Big Virtual Climb event On June 13th, 2020 rather than gathering at San Francisco's Salesforce Tower, where the climb was originally scheduled to take...

Along with global safety equipment manufacturers, MSA Safety Incorporated’s mission of protecting lives, staying agile, and being responsive to customer needs has been an unwavering focus for more than a century. Best IR Website Award The company announced that its efforts to leverage digital technologies to engage with the investor community were recently recognized by IR Magazine with the 2020 Best Investor Relations (IR) Website award. The award was presented on September 16, 2020, as...

Avon Protection is pleased to confirm the award of a sole-source contract worth up to $93 million to develop and supply the U.S. Army with the Next-Generation Integrated Head Protection System. The contract will follow on from the existing low-rate initial production contract for the Integrated Head Protection System which comes to an end in 2021. Technological Excellence & Commitment Paul McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am delighted that Avon Protection will continue to...

New COVID-19 restrictions have been introduced by the Government, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.  While this does not directly affect fire safety work, BAFE would fully support the advice that the stronger requirements for face coverings should be implemented consistently within the fire safety industry. This is especially important with technicians working on-site at care facilities and other buildings where vulnerable people may be exposed to the virus. Controlling COVID-19...

Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated announced that it has been named Western Pennsylvania’s Top Workplace among large companies by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The company earned recognition through the Post-Gazette’s annual Top Workplaces survey program. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette criteria Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top Workplaces program is based exclusively on feedback from employees Although 2020 marks the seventh time MSA Safety has achieved a Post-Gazette...