Firefighter Health and Safety - News

‘Project EDWARD – Every Day Without a Road Death’ campaign is running until September 17, 2021 and is backed by the UK government, the emergency services, highway authorities and road safety organizations. The long-term objective of the Project EDWARD’ campaign, which includes a number of UK-wide awareness-raising events, is a road traffic system that is free from death and serious injury. Key role in the fight against road deaths With its range of road safety and host...

Masimo announced the CE marking and commercial launch in Europe of the single-patient-use adhesive rainbow® SuperSensor™, compatible for use with both Masimo and third-party monitors with Masimo rainbow® technology inside. In an industry first, the comprehensive, convenient, and multi-purpose SuperSensor uses 12 LEDs to simultaneously offer 12 blood constituent parameters noninvasively and continuously: SET® oxygen saturation (SpO2), total hemoglobin, SpHb®, carboxyhemoglo...

Thermal imaging technology can be used for a range of different purposes. Thermal imaging cameras can have a range of uses and formats for detecting different temperatures.  These cameras work by combining heat sensors and a specially adapted lens. This allows the user to efficiently identify regions of excessive temperature.  How do they work? Any object with a temperature above absolute zero will emit a detectable amount of infrared radiation Cameras must be fitted with a lens th...

Hardstaff Barriers is reminding every member of its workforce that they are valued and supported and that there is always somebody available to listen. As a long-standing advocate for workplace mental health support, Hardstaff issued the reminder to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, on September 10, 2021. Raising awareness In the UK in 2019, 6,524 people took their own lives. Men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide. Women are more likely to report suicidal thoughts. Men...

Fire Rescue Services (FRSs) respond to thousands of fire incidents every year, with a large number of incidents not being directly linked to fires. Fire incidents will often lead to casualties and in worst-case scenarios, fatalities, where occupants are unable to escape ravaging smoke and fire. UK Building Regulations compliance Envirograf urges all building structures to be in compliance with UK Building Regulations, which ensures the structures are built to a high standard, complete with ade...

  VIKING Life-saving Equipment is maintaining momentum in its development of the most complete range of safety solutions to cover the risks facing wind turbine service technicians, by introducing an easily accessible and self-contained evacuation kit located in the tower. Following a collaborative design project, VIKING has launched a tower evacuation kit that fits snugly into what is currently an unused space between the platform handrails and the tower’s ou...

In May 2021, sparks in a ventilator ignited a deadly blaze in the intensive care unit of a COVID-19 treatment building at an Indian hospital. Investigations into the incident later revealed a variety of gaps in the building’s fire protection measures. While incidents of this severity are thankfully relatively rare, this tragic example serves to remind us of the particular risks associated with healthcare settings. The presence of countless fire hazards, the difficulties of effectively m...

Pegwell Bay Country Park is Kent Wildlife Trust’s largest nature reserve and is of international importance for its bird populations, including nightingales and cuckoos.  However, a number of these animals and their habitats were destroyed when a campfire became out of control at the site, which sits between Sandwich and Ramsgate, and spread across a large area of grasslands and undergrowth.  Kent Wildlife Trust Kent Wildlife Trust has thrown its support behind KFRS campaign t...

New training for firefighters aims to fight the cancer threat to them from fires, by taking aim at the toxic substances that fires produce. UK firefighters surveyed as part of University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) research were four times more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer than the general population. It’s thought that firefighter’s exposure to those toxic substances could be playing a part in their increased risk of getting cancer and other diseases. Better cleaning...

Wildland fires are an increasing threat in the United Kingdom. They’re high risk, difficult to manage, and create a set of very particular circumstances for firefighters, who are battling the blaze. And with wildland call-outs measured in days, rather than hours, fire services need a kit that’s as tough as the terrain that they’re working on. Defender wildland firefighting suit FlamePro, a British manufacturing specialist of life-saving garments for firefighters, has unveiled...

South Yorkshire’s fire service has won a national award for its response to a major wildfire, which crews spent 22 days tackling last year. The fire affected a huge area of rare peat moorland, which is a site of special scientific interest and home to several rare species of animals and plants. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue won the Incident Management Award at CIR Magazine’s Business Continuity Awards 2021 for its work in coordinating the response to the incident, which inv...

The Fire Standards Board for England has released a new Fire Standard to help fire and rescue services address capacity and skills when it comes to inspecting fire safety in non-residential buildings. The announcement at the National Fire Chiefs Council conference in Warwick comes after an extensive consultation process. eighth Fire Standard This is the eighth Fire Standard to be published and it is an overarching standard for Fire Protection with further standards relating to more specific a...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging businesses that have reopened their doors, not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. The call comes as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council's (NFCC) Business Safety Week which runs from the 6th - 12th September. The campaign aims to make businesses aware of their fire safety responsibilities, so they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire. Reviewing fire safety Man...

Granite Workwear has announced the return of its Fristads workwear for craftsmen. The globally renowned PPE (personal protective equipment) and uniforms manufacture has introduced the new 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers. Designed with outstanding stretch and durability, these Craftsman Trousers deliver in terms of quality and above all else, in terms of functionality. 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers This new range of 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers has many features, including enhanced vis...

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) is urging businesses that have reopened their doors not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. The call comes after many businesses had to implement and enforce new ways of working due to the pandemic. MFRS is reminding businesses about the everyday fire risks in the workplace and both the legal and moral responsibility to ensure premises are safe from fire. Many businesses had to respond quickly to the pandemic...

The Welsh Government has published new guidance on water mist systems aimed at local authority building control and installers to assist compliance with building regulations. Automatic water mist systems for domestic and residential premises was published on 27 August. This new guidance sets out how installers of water mist systems can satisfy the requirements of Regulation 37a of the Building Regulations 2010. Automatic fire suppression is mandatory in new residential premises in Wales....

Verint Systems (Verint), the globally renowned customer engagement company, has announced the completion of the previously announced transaction to acquire Conversocial, a renowned company in conversational customer experience services, delivered over messaging channels. Conversocial acquisition On August 10, 2020, Verint issued a release, ‘Verint Expands its Cloud Platform Capabilities to Help Brands Accelerate Digital-First Customer Engagement’, stating its intent to acquire the...

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us. It has and continues to be very stressful on and off the job for our members and their families. We have now lost 49 members to COVID-19 – eight since August 3.” “Our union continues to encourage and strongly recommend that all members be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease. The reality is, the vaccines work and our union can collectively fight COVID-19 and its variants. Please watch my video encou...

Volunteer firefighters who are also National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) members have one final chance to enter and win a personalized MSA Safety Incorporated’s MSA Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet. This is the last of three helmets that will be given out in 2021. MSA Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet The jet-style design of the Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module. Plus, the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable,...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging Berkshire residents to ‘Be Water Aware’ as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week (26 April – 2 May).  Accidental drownings In 2019, 223 people tragically lost their lives in accidental drownings and 44% of those people had no intention of ever being in the water. More people died in the UK in 2019 from accidental drowning than cyclists did on the road. R...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has teamed up with Thames Valley Police (TVP), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) the Environment Agency and local councils to support the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, running from 19-26 June. Over 400 people tragically lose their lives in accidental drownings each year in the UK and Ireland and many more suffer life-changing injuries. In order to reduce the number of accidental drownings...

During 6-12 September, Royal Berkshire Fire, and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Business Safety Week. Business Safety Week urges local businesses that have re-opened their doors not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. Throughout the week, RBFRS will be reminding businesses of their fire safety responsibilities so that they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire. Steps to...

REV Fire Group, part of REV Group Inc., a foremost manufacturer of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, announces it will introduce the first fully electric North American-style fire apparatus. Developed with technology partner Emergency One Group LTD – maker of the world’s first EV fire truck – this new electric fire truck packs 316 kW of proven automotive-grade batteries to deliver the longest electric pumping duration in the industry. This enables...

RESCUE Intellitech AB is excited to announce the launch of their new product, the DeconFilter Pro S. When the company first developed the Solo Rescue Decon Washer, its goal was to develop a decontamination solution that could help reduce firefighter’s exposure to carcinogens and other hazardous substances, in a quick, easy and safe way. RESCUE Intellitech AB ended up doing a great job and their machines have now been shipped throughout the world to countries on four different continents....

This month, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Home Fire Safety Month campaign. Over the course of four weeks, from Monday, 30 August until Sunday, 26 September, they will share safety advice to help keep the user safe in their home or business. Each week will focus on a different area, covering chimney fire safety, business fire safety, fire door safety, and gas safety. Fire Safety Month James Whitton, West Hub Protection Manager, s...

Granite Workwear puts the spotlight on the Welding & Foundry industry. One of the most dangerous industries to work in is where workers are constantly working with dangerous equipment and machinery. Welding gear needs to be incredibly flame retardant, so as to prevent any sparks igniting clothing. Another important attribute for welding and foundry gear to have is UV protection. The intensity of the light produced can induce sun burns and even blindness. As such, it is vital to make sure no...

Loudoun County has established a voluntary database that provides emergency responders with important health information, in compliance with Virginia’s Marcus-David Peters Act, which was signed into law in December 2020. Virginia’s Marcus-David Peters Act The law aims to provide behavioral health responses, when an individual is experiencing a crisis, related to mental health, substance abuse or developmental disability, in the US state of Virginia. The bill requires that by July 1...

Attenti, a pioneer in the electronic monitoring industry, will be presenting their domestic violence deterrence solution at The Emergency Services Show. Taking place at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre on the 7th and 8th of September, The Emergency Services Show is the UK's largest event for the emergency services. Law enforcement officials Comments Roni Weinberg, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Attenti, "Domestic abuse is the world's hidden pandemic. We're excited to be pre...

Armstrong Fluid Technology has unveiled its industry-renowned Design Envelope Fire Pump unit, along with Fire Pump Manager, a new and connected service for tracking pump performance. In addition to providing important new safety benefits, Armstrong’s new Design Envelope Fire Pump holds the distinction of being the first self-regulating, variable-speed fire pump, to meet NFPA-20 (2019 Edition), Section 4.8 standards. variable-speed fire pump This innovation allows simplification of the p...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed nine new on-call firefighters to stations across the county. The group completed their phase one, 10 week training course this month and now have the core skills required to operate safely as a firefighter with their new stations. The on-call firefighters will now respond to a wide range of emergencies in their communities, which could include anything from rescuing people trapped in cars following a collision, to responding to a local house f...