Firefighter Health and Safety - News

Fire on board! This is a grave danger for any ship, but especially so when a ship is ostensibly safely docked in the harbor, where 'normal' firefighters are on duty and have to cope with the special challenges on board a ship. Firefighters’ safety Since 2005, 44 potentially disastrous incidents have occurred in German ports alone, including 15 fires and 13 spills of hazardous materials. EFAS, a joint project coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processi...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and Masimo will honor the San Antonio (TX) Fire Department (SAFD) and the Chesterfield County (VA) Fire and Emergency Medical Services with the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award. The award presentations will take place on April 30th at the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC. EMS awards program First presented in 2011, the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award has recognized fire departments fr...

Through this website, the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU) said its member credit unions can offer commercial and business loans to volunteer and municipal fire departments, first responder businesses, and associations. “CUFR’s Referral Credit Union solution allows smaller credit unions to provide incremental and tangible value for their customers, while giving them the opportunity to recruit new members,” the organization said. “FinanceResponders.c...

Rethinking fire toxicity – inaugural conference featuring speakers from across the globe – focus on long-term effects of firefighter health. As part of the review of Building Regulations (Approved Document B), and in response to emerging evidence on long-term firefighter health issues, the government is investigating whether the effects of fire toxicity should be a legal requirement when choosing materials for high risk buildings. To assist in this research, the Fire Protection Asso...

The Fire Industry Manufacturers’ (FIM) Expo is heading to Northern Ireland this spring with a one-day stop on Wednesday, 22nd April to the impressive Titanic Centre in the heart of Belfast, Ireland. Organized by the Fire Industry Association (FIA), FIM Expo features many of the UK's renowned fire detection and alarm manufacturers and focuses on showcasing the latest products and developments in this sector of the industry. Fire Industry Manufacturers’ (FIM) Expo FIM Expo is a road...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of man-made chemical compounds found in a wide range of consumer products, such as nonstick products, polishes, waxes, paints, and cleaning products. Two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctane acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), may be present in firefighting aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) solutions. Certain PFAS can accumulate and stay in the human body for long periods of time. Long-term exposure to PFAS/PFOA/PFOS, in h...

Halma, the global group of life-saving technology companies, has acquired Sensit Technologies, LLC (“Sensit”), a gas leak detection company based in Indiana, USA. Sensit’s technologies are closely aligned to Halma’s purpose of growing a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Sensit manufactures products that enable natural gas utilities to detect leaks in their pipes, reducing climate change effects by minimizing emissions of methane, protecting worker...

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ is honored to announce that Whistler Fire Chief John McKearney has been appointed as the President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), effective immediately. He will serve the remainder of past CAFC President, Chief Ken Block’s term. Chief Block stepped down in order to accept the role of Fire Commissioner in the state of Victoria, Australia. “I’m honored to have been appointed by my colleagues and to serve in this...

When performing decontamination, maintenance, inspection and cleaning work, handling oil or filling and transferring materials, there is often a risk that skin may come into contact with solid or liquid chemicals. Only a full-body protective suit can prevent this. Dräger has expanded its portfolio with the new splash protective suits SPC 4400 and 4800 made from innovative-coated CPM and CLF material, offering users the best protection possible in different conditions. All suits offer prote...

When performing decontamination, maintenance, inspection and cleaning work, handling oil or filling and transferring materials, concerned people often face the risk that their skin may come into contact with solid or liquid chemicals. Only a full body protective suit can prevent this from happening. Dräger (Drägerwerk Verwaltungs AG) has announced extending its portfolio with the new splash protective suits SPC 4400 and 4800 made from innovative coated CPM and CLF material, offering u...

A fire at a high-rise block of flats in North Wales has been successfully extinguished thanks to an effective sprinkler system. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a report of a fire at Bolingbroke Heights, Flint at 1749, and appliances from Flint, Deeside, and Holywell were mobilized to the incident. Firefighters rescued a man in his 70s from a heavily smoke-logged flat within the building. He received a precautionary check for smoke inhalation at the scene. The fire was...

West Yorkshire Fire was first called to a fire at 1317 today, on the ground floor of the Speedibake building on Chald Lane in Wakefield. By 1550, 75% of the ground floor had become consumed by the fire. About 140 firefighters were at the scene from across the country and it is clear the fire service was stretched for available water using a nearby park lake to secure additional supplies for their efforts. There were no reported injuries. Fire Service Statement In a statement released at 1800,...

Angus Fire has announced that the company will be attending The JOIFF Foam Summit 2020, hosted by JOIFF (The International Organization for Industrial Emergency Response and Fire Hazard Management), and held at the Edwardian Radisson Hotel at Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom on February 10th 2020. The theme for the JOIFF Foam Summit 2020 is ‘Fire Fighting Foam – Where Are We Now & Where Are We Going’. Speakers from around the world, including renowned scientists, e...

The Firefighter Preparation Workshop series, organized by the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) and Alameda County Firefighters Association (ACFFA), will introduce fire service practices and processes to anyone interested in a fire service career. The firefighter preparation workshop series are open to access for the public, and no registration is required to attend it. Firefighter Preparation Workshops The Firefighter Preparation Workshop series will help to prepare individuals interested...

The Fire Protection Association’s (FPA) Building a Safer Future Seminar, held on Monday, January 27th, 2020 in London (sponsored by BAFE), played out the on-going discussion of competency within both the combined construction and fire safety industries. Chair of the event and Managing Director of the FPA, Jonathan O’Neill OBE, opened the seminar affirming his continued “whole-hearted” support for Third Party Certification, stating “I have been banging the drum for...

Taking place at the Huntingdon Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon, UK on Thursday (January 23), 2020, the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Excellence Awards celebrated the achievements of staff from across different areas of the Fire Service. The commitment, dedication and professionalism of staff which regularly go above and beyond to provide the best possible service to the people of Cambridgeshire were all celebrated by around 140 guests. Hosting the event was Chief Fire Officer Chris Strick...

Erickson Incorporated, a foremost operator, maintainer, and manufacturer of utility aircraft, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, and premier manufacturer and developer of rotorcraft and autonomy solutions have signed a development agreement aimed at tackling the future of firefighting in the 21st century. Erickson will work to develop the next generation of pilot optional nighttime firefighting solutions, integrating Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ Technology into a digitally enabled fire...

Bristol Fire Engineering Industries LLC (Bristol Fire Engineering), the United Arab Emirates-based commercial vehicle body manufacturer, including ambulances and mobile clinics, has been recognized as a ‘VanPartner’ by Mercedes-Benz. The VanPartner status has been awarded to Bristol Fire Engineering, after the company successfully completed an extensive review process of conversion solutions made on a Mercedes-Benz van chassis. VanPartner status for Bristol Fire Engineering The ev...

Infographics is excited to announce the release of the new FireWatch phone app for iOS and Android smartphones, supporting the drive towards increased mobile and flexible working in Fire & Rescue. The company has stated that the FireWatch phone app will be part of a webinar taking place on February 18, 2020. FireWatch phone app The FireWatch phone app for iOS and Android devices provides: Location aware capabilities with ‘roaming’ availability cover at any location. Automa...

It is now widely recognized that regular cleaning of PPE is important and helps reduce firefighters’ long-term exposure to harmful contamination. However, it’s not always possible to use off-site cleaning services for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Most firefighters share SCBA and often this vital equipment needs to be kept onsite in case of a major incident. This is where the Solo Rescue decontamination machine comes in. stainless-steel machines Bristol Uniforms is the...

AVK International is pleased to announce the company is launching new gate valves with PE ends in four new sizes, with outside pipe diameters of 450, 500, 560 and 630 mm. gate valves with PE ends The four new sizes are available with black/blue standard pipes in PN10 and PN16. AVK International’s range of gate valves with PE ends offers unique benefits, such as: The valve/pipe connection has no bolts and is stronger than the PE pipe itself. Possibility to obtain pipe approval that co...

Halma, the global group of life-saving technology companies, announces that it has made a strategic investment in Valencell, a renowned innovator in wearable sensor technology. Valencell’s biometric sensor technology provides highly accurate measurements of heart rate, blood pressure and other biometrics, which can be used in medical-grade wearables. Valencell has established a strong position at the convergence of the consumer wearables and health and medical devices markets. The company...

MSA has come close with their G1 SCBA. Every firefighter or officer who enters a structure fire has integrated PASS, communications, and TIC capabilities. And it’s all in an SCBA that’s been designed from the ground up to work with the firefighter, not against them. Comfort Features The G1 SCBA incorporates ergonomic principles in a big way. First, MSA stripped away all the electronics from the facepiece to make it more comfortable to wear, reduce potential snag hazards, provide an...

Streamlight Inc., the globally renowned provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, has announced the release of the low-profile TLR RM 1 and TLR RM 2 tactical lighting systems for long guns. Packaged as a system, each rail mounted light features independently operating push-button and remote pressure switches. The kit provides everything users need to mount to long guns. Also available in light-only models, the TLR RM 1 delivers 500 lumens and the TLR RM 2 de...

Streamlight Inc., the globally renowned provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, has announced the release of the TLR-9 rail mounted tactical light, designed for use with full frame handguns. TLR-9 rail mounted tactical light Featuring a slim, compact design, the new light offers ergonomic rear switches with either a low or high position to match users’ shooting styles, while providing 1,000 lumens for a variety of tactical and home defense uses. "T...

Dräger will be the title sponsor of Canada’s Inaugural Mine Rescue Competition. Hosted by the University of British Columbia (UBC) with support from the University of Alberta and Laurentian University, the competition will be held from February 21 – 22, 2020 and will have five, high-spirited and competitive challenges for mine engineering students from around the world to test their skills. “Safety and preparedness is crucial to the mining industry and we encourage profes...

In response to requests from forestry service fire departments, KIMTEK has introduced two new FIRELITE skid unit models featuring a removable and portable lightweight pump. FM-207 and FMH-208 skid units The FM-207 and FMH-208 join KIMTEK's line of versatile FIRELITE series skid units for use with UTVs and conveniently allow swift removal of the powerful yet lightweight pump for transport to locations even a UTV cannot reach.   Each of the new units features a lightweight Mercedes Wi...

Building security has faced a revolution in the last 10 years or so. Technological advancements have allowed for innovations and complex security solutions to be designed and developed, enabling building owners to vastly increase the level of protection on their property. in-trend security solutions It’s important users stay at the forefront of the security industry and keep up with the most recent security practices, technologies, and insights to ensure the safety of their premises is n...

Many studies have shown that firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) responders have a high likelihood of experiencing verbal or physical violence at least once in their career. Fire-based paramedics and EMS are at particularly high risk of experiencing an assault, since they respond to calls in varied locations, often paired with only one or two colleagues. In these situations, they may come into close contact with people who have mental health issues. Mitigating the risk of assault...

Avon Rubber is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of 3M’s ballistic protection business and the rights to the Ceradyne brand. Over the next 12 months, 3M will transition the critical business functions to Avon in a phased and controlled manner. During this transition phase, the business will be operating as usual as a stand-alone business alongside Avon Protection. Provider & Supplier As a reminder, the business is the foremost provider of next-generation armo...