Firefighter Health and Safety - News
The importance of wearing a safety helmet should not be neglected, especially if working on a construction site, mining industry or anywhere that involves heavy machinery and objects. Safety helmets are designed to protect head from any fatal injuries, like shock impacts, electric exposure, anything heavy falling on head, untoward impacts, etc. According to the numbers, the most common causes of head injuries are heavy or sharp objects falling on head. The consequences of such injuries ma...
The NFCC Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Group (ACER) will get to work this autumn, led by Nottingham Trent University academic Dr. Rowena Hill. ACER will review research from both the UK and across the world, keeping a watching brief on lessons learned that could apply to UK fire and rescue services. The NFCC is keen for ACER to encourage approaches from academics who share areas for potential research. NFCC set up The NFCC set up NOL that analyzed incidents to then share lea...
Christmas markets and festive light switch-ons are among the most popular annual events in the United Kingdom (UK), bringing together communities and attracting tourists from far and wide. In 2020, many Christmas markets that had been a tradition for decades could not take place, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the subsequent restrictions, thereby causing disappointment to many visitors. Importance of security at public events However, in 2021, a number of UK Christmas markets are bac...
The IAFF Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC) is excited to offer supplemental insurance to members and their immediate family members for cancer and critical illness. The IAFF’s number-one priority is the members’ health and safety. Cancer And Critical Illness insurance Cancer in the fire service remains one of the most pressing concerns, along with other occupational illnesses. Firefighters are more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer than the general public...
Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings solutions, has introduced Tyco Kantech KT-2, adaptable two-door controllers, which is cost-effective, easy-to-install and operate, for small-to-medium sized businesses. Tyco Kantech KT-2 door controller This new door controller expands Johnson Controls line of multi-door control solutions, purposely designed for retailers, medical offices, warehouses and businesses, with needs ranging from one door to t...
Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings solutions, has announced the release of the Zettler Profile Lite range of addressable fire alarm control panels, to the Asia Pacific markets. The two new addressable panel models, Pro215 Lite and Pro415 Lite have color LCD screens with 32 zonal LEDs integrated into a simple interface, which helps reduce operator errors. Both Profile Lite panel models feature red housing options, ideal for facilities tha...
A new qualification is now available for delivery by FireQual Approved Training Centers. This new qualification provides individuals with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace, how fire risk is controlled in the workplace, the principles and practice of fire safety management at work and the role of the nominated fire marshal. Basic fire fighting equipment This new qualification also requires individuals to demonstrate their ability to safely use portable fi...
A new qualification is available for delivery by FireQual Approved Training Centers. This new qualification provides individuals with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace, how fire risk is controlled in the workplace, the principles and practice of fire safety management at work, and the role of the nominated fire marshal. New qualification available This new qualification also requires individuals to demonstrate their ability to safely use portable fire fi...
Brother Mobile Solutions, a globally renowned provider of mobile, desktop, and industrial printing and labeling solutions, has announced the release of an agile, on-demand printing solution for the quick creation of safety signage and labels, which are required in modern workplaces and public spaces. Safety Labeling Solution The new on-demand Safety Labeling Solution pairs a Brother thermal transfer 4-inch printer with highly-intuitive safety signage design software, as well as a wide variety...
Fire chiefs from Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) last week at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Mass. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed the chiefs and provided an overview of the association’s mission, reinforcing the critical role urban fire service leaders play in reaching the Association’s goals and initiatives. Guest List Special guests included Chair of...
Firefighters in Canada’s Yukon Territory are welcoming news that their government is adding a number of cancers to those deemed occupational in firefighters, including two cancers that will be the first included in presumptive legislation anywhere in Canada. On September 17, Yukon Territory announced it will introduce legislation adding thyroid and pancreatic cancer to its list of presumptive coverage, which would make it the first jurisdiction in Canada to cover those illnesses. They are...
In the case of a fire emergency at any airport, every second counts. Aircraft Rescue Fire Firefighters (ARFF) always have to be effective in a short time, in order to save precious lives from a burning aircraft. The firefighting foam must be quickly efficient and should be able to contain the fire effectively. fluorine-free foam (FFF) The world of firefighting is quickly moving towards fluorine-free foam products, moving away from PFAS-containing products (such as AFFF and AR-AFFF foams). The...
Fire Door Safety Week research reveals more than one in ten renters fear that raising fire safety concerns will affect their tenancy. There is cause to complain: a third of all renters have experienced fire doors being damaged or propped open and a quarter noticed a broken fire alarm in the last 12 months alone. With renters also concerned about whether reporting issues will even lead to them being fixed, the Fire Door Safety Week campaign is calling for fire safety to be urgently prioritized a...
Ardent is proud to announce that they have now obtained the latest version of P-Mark SPCR 199 certification for the Ardent Dual Agent Fire Suppression Systems. The P-Mark SPCR 199:2021 certification assesses the performance of fire suppression systems against realistic fire conditions and vehicle environmental aspects in engine compartments with combustion engines. The 2021 certification standard presents a new rating classification system over the previous 2017 version. SPCR 199:2021 certific...
The IAFF welcomes the Canadian election result and is prepared to work with the Liberal minority government and MPs from all parties to continue advancing firefighter and public safety issues. “We congratulate all MPs elected to the House of Commons on September 20 and look forward to collaboration from all parties on the issues that matter most to Canadians, and the issues that we bring forward on behalf of Canada’s professional firefighters,” says IAFF Assistant to the Gener...
A necessity in most places, fire extinguishers are designed to be recognizable and practical. In case of an emergency, people need to be able to spot fire extinguishers quickly and know what extinguisher to use and how to use it. That being said, Anglia Fire Protection understands that fire extinguishers are not the prettiest of things and people often want them to be discrete, or even worse, completely out of sight. This is a complete health and safety no no! extinguisher engineers offer expe...
Working at an industrial site involves its dangers and one of the major risks is head injury. The human brain is very fragile and is most susceptible to being affected by shock, bumps, or any other head injury. In fact, according to the research, head injuries seem to be one of the major causes of fatal accidents on industrial sites. Whether it is a construction site, where users are hanging 50 ft above the ground, or a mining site, where users are 50ft below the ground, protecting the head is...
Module 5 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry focuses on firefighting, with opening statements setting out a detailed analysis of operational, cultural, and leadership shortcomings of the London Fire Brigade. The Inquiry is interested in how the London Fire Brigade trained and prepared its staff for responding to fires in all buildings as construction methods have changed over the decades. Different legal firms Module 5 began with opening statements from three different legal firms, representing the...
Fire Chiefs and Fire & Rescue Services across the United Kingdom have recognized the emerging practice of ‘wedging fire doors open’ as an increased threat to fire safety in a post-COVID world. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said, “We have identified that some premises are wedging open self-closing fire doors as a COVID-19 control measure intended to reduce the need to touch locks and door handles. Self-closing fire doors are fitted within your premises to...
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) has implemented Dräger’s Cleaning Solution as part of its new state-of-the-art decontamination facility, designed to ensure optimal cleaning and disinfection of firefighter equipment. The initiative will not only help protect firefighters from harmful carcinogens and germs, but the innovative nature of the new decontamination and cleaning regime will also help improve the useful working life of the equipment the firefighte...
To help support the Fire Door Safety Week 2021 campaign, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland has announced the launch of a new best practice guide - ‘Fire Doorsets’ guide, on how to specify, install, maintain and inspect fire-certified doorsets in residential and commercial buildings. ‘Fire Doorsets’ guide The ‘Fire Doorsets’ best practice guide has been compiled, based on the knowledge and expertise of ASSA ABLOY’s FDIS-trained inspectors, a...
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has been awarded a grant from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund. This is a new funding pot encouraging the creation of a UK regulatory environment that supports innovation and growth. Teaming up with the National Fire Chiefs Council, the University of Northampton, and Eyecademy Ltd, the West Sussex-led project will deliver a new web-based fire risk assessment tool. The interactive tool will improve users' understanding of fire safety. fire risk assessment...
FireQual is developing a qualification that will look to provide the underpinning knowledge and the skills required by those who work within the area of fire door installation. In addition, reflecting on the core messages of the reports, Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (May 2018) and Setting the Bar (2020), FireQual will be looking at how core practical competencies of individuals can be accurately and consistently assessed. FireQual t...
Amid a tumultuous time for the healthcare industry due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the top 25 health insurance companies remained in tight competition when it came to member satisfaction, according to new research released by Verint®, The Customer Engagement Company™. The range for satisfaction (SAT) scores from highest to lowest was just under nine points out of a possible 100, suggesting that all the top 25 health insurers are highly competitive, according to the Verint Experie...
Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA safety) has opened the doors of a new 20,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA. Celebrated this morning with a formal ribbon-cutting event, the building opening establishes MSA Safety’s Cranberry Township campus as global center of excellence for gas detection technology. Cranberry Township Manufacturing Facility The single-story manufacturing facility, which is located next to M...
Following the successful 2014 launch of the AirCore TAF35 firefighting robot and the 2020 launch of the TAF60 firefighting robot, Magirus is now taking the logical next step in the field of robotics, remote-controlled firefighting, and emergency vehicles. Wolf R1 tactical robot The company’s new Wolf R1 tactical robot has been specially developed to meet the significantly increased requirements of complex, high-rise firefighting and rescue operations. It combines performance and multi-fu...
East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is supporting the World Health Organisation's (WHO) global event, World Patient Safety Day. EEAST has been celebrating World Patient Safety, which will be culminating in World Patient Safety Day, held on the 17th of September. The 2021-2022 goal is 'Safe maternal and newborn care'. World Patient Safety Day The company's website has a dedicated page that focuses on, what to expect when calling 999 for pregnancy or childbirth. EEAST has been sharing lot...
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and West Suffolk College are working together to broaden the scope of the Health and Social Care course, with the aim of attracting more students. A six-week taster module has been designed by EEAST staff for the Health and Social Care course, which starts on the 23rd September, 2021, in order to offer both skills and an insight into career development opportunities in the ambulance service. EEAST course covering ambulance service...
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has come out with one of the best scores from 13 other fire and rescue services in the first tranche of the Government’s second round of inspections for fire and rescue services. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has assessed the Service as Good across the three main pillars of efficiency, effectiveness and how it looks after its people. The inspection took place in April just aft...
While studies show that it is likely that a second burglary can occur after an initial break-in, many people are slow to act in securing their home, after a burglary. This leaves opportunities open for the intruder to return with much more knowledge about the property. The intruder will already know easy entrance and exit points, the floor plan and if they are smart enough, they will wait until all the things that have originally been taken are replaced. The replacement of these stolen items wi...
