Firefighter Health and Safety - News
The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to incorporate a number of technical changes as a result of the recently published Government guidance on Working Safely during Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Construction and other Outdoor Work. Version 4 inclusions The changes in Site Operating Procedures – Version 4 are minimal and include: Removal of the requirement for face-to-face contact to be kept to 15 minutes or less. The section on PPE links to the latest Government guidance...
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is calling on Kent residents at home to tune into the first-ever online fire station open day on Thursday 28 May. Aimed at families of all ages, the virtual event has been organized in place of a number of the service’s annual ‘Family Open Days’, which were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. online open day The online open day will take place from 11 am on Thursday 28 May on the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page, start...
DuPont Personal Protection announced that face coverings made with DuPont Nomex may be used along with (FR) garments, such as those made of Nomex, in response to the protection needs of COVID-19. When used as face, nose and mouth coverings, properly designed masks, balaclavas, gaiters and hoods made with Nomex may help meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) social distancing guidance on wearing masks in worker environments that also require FR protection. Nomex is a trusted F...
Now that businesses are starting to operate again, there are some key fire safety matters for organizations to consider, in order ensure employees can return safety back to work. The Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service (RBFRS), Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) and Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (OFRS) are helping businesses return to work safely, in these extraordinary times. Adapting to new ways of working Businesses have had to adapt to new ways of working, over...
Twiceme Technology is entering the protective work gear segment and launching the first safety helmet ARMET together with the Swedish-innovative brand Guardio. The Twiceme technology provides a fast and reliable safety tool in the workplace and takes Twiceme one step further to the vision of making vital info accessible – everywhere to everyone. Twiceme x Guardio In 2020, only a year after the launch of Twiceme technology in the market, they are expanding into the protective work gear s...
Ian Moore, CEO of the FIA, has been working closely with the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on behalf of the FIA members on several issues, more recently the work has focused mainly on the business issues created by COVID-19; such as working safely during COVID-19 in offices, construction industry recovery plans, key worker status, training while on furlough, etc. He states “BEIS has posted a lot of valuable guidance for businesses affe...
Firetrace Ltd announced that the company is operating business as usual, in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. During these very uncertain times, the company added that they are still providing their services throughout UK and Ireland, while abiding to government guidelines on operations. safety of staff and Customers While continuing business as normal, the company reaffirmed that their main priority is the safety of suppliers, clients, customers and staff. In some cases, fire sup...
Eric Lounsbury has joined the Hannay team as the new Facilities Director and Coatings/Finishing Manager. For the past 4 years, Eric has been the site facilities manager at GlaxoSmithKline’s plant in Oak Hill, New York. Prior to GSK, Eric acquired several years of wide-ranging experience as a chief building engineer for CBRE amongst other positions. Eric’s hands-on skills and knowledge are expected to be a great asset to Hannay Reels.
The Ontario government has taken additional steps to protect people and property during the wildland fire season, including an increase in base funding for emergency forest firefighting by $30.2 million, and ensuring safety measures are in place to protect Ontario's highly trained fire rangers from COVID-19. On May 16, 2020, Ontario is lifting the Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) designation that was put in place last month across Ontario's fire region. The province will continue to assess fore...
In the frame of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Airbus and Fraunhofer FKIE have created an independent panel of experts on the responsible use of new technologies to define and propose ethical as well as international legal 'guard rails' for Europe’s largest defense project. The expert panel, which was first initiated in Germany in 2019, currently includes stakeholders such as the German Ministry of Defence, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foundations, univers...
Rosenbauer America is donating 24,000 KN95 face masks to first responders, as thanks in appreciation for their dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The facemasks will be distributed to fire departments across the United States and Canada. KN95 face masks “Our communities rely on first responders answering calls for service. We need to protect their health and safety,” said John Slawson, Chairman and CEO of Rosenbauer America, adding “COVID-19 is personal and the virus...
The industry’s first watertight battery-powered extrication tool line is expanding, as HURST Jaws of Life introduces nine new tools that will give first responders a full selection of extrication solutions that are completely operational underwater. HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT line The company that has revolutionized the rescue industry time and again, HURST Jaws of Life, introduced its innovative eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line, with water-resistant casing, in 2019....
The document “Our Plan To Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy” has been published. HM Government has released “Our Plan to Rebuild,” a document outlining the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Section 4 outlines the “roadmap to lift restrictions step-by-step”. Regarding returning to work, Government guidelines state “All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if thei...
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joined with other major national fire service organizations in asking Congress to provide full funding, $750 million each, for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs in FY 2021. The letter also asks Congress to waive local matching funds requirements under AFG and SAFER and to increase flexibility for using SAFER funds to retain personnel in FY 2020, FY 2021, and for any s...
First responders and emergency workers risk their lives and wellbeing on the COVID-19 front lines every day to care for families, friends, and communities. To support these everyday heroes and shoulder some of their to-do lists at home, Cub Cadet is partnering with TaskEasy to offer them free lawn mowing. Free lawn mowing service Cub Cadet, a manufacturer of lawn care equipment, and TaskEasy, an on-demand lawn care service serving more than 12,000 U.S. cities, are offering a free month of lawn...
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey here and that one re-takes the survey once a week so that NVFC can track changes over time. The more responses the survey receives the more robust and useful the data are, keeping NVFC informed about...
Angloco Co. has announced partnering with Adaro Tecnologia to supply the Adalit range of professional safety torches. Adalit professional safety torches Designed for emergency services teams and other demanding professional applications where safety is critical, every Adalit torch features advanced optics, high quality engineering and has received ATEX approval. The Adalit range of professional safety torches include the L-10, the first re-chargeable flashlight to be specifically designed for...
On the 8th June, 2020, the North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service will be opening recruitment process for wholetime firefighters. Between now and then, the fire and rescue service wants to raise awareness of the role of modern day firefighters and encourage applications from all parts of the communities. Raise awareness on fire safety When the recruitment application window opens, the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting wholetime firefighters for the following fire st...
Darley are currently working closely with numerous supply partners to stock essential items, such as: face masks, sanitizers and protective gloves. This situation, and the availability of response-focused equipment in critical demand, is changing by the hour. While Darley cannot guarantee availability of supplies from the industry, they can work with suppliers to better understand availability, and if appropriate, assist with identifying alternative solutions.
Bryx, a globally renowned provider of first responder technology products, is selling t-shirts to raise awareness of mental health resources available to first responders and emergency rescue personnel. mental health Awareness All proceeds for the sale of the t-shirts will benefit The Code Green Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving mental wellness for first responders and eliminating the stigma surrounding the discussions around mental health. Resources available specifi...
The Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) week-long sprinkler campaign, taking place from 18-24 May, 2020. Sprinklers are widely recognized as the most effective method of fighting the early stages of a fire, can save lives and reduce damage to property. RBFRS’ Area Manager for Prevention and Protection, Doug Buchanan, said “Although times are challenging at the moment, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we w...
Residents across the county are being urged to stay at home and keep fire safe over the upcoming bank holiday weekend. With the weather set to be warm and sunny for most of the weekend, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to follow the government's advice to stay home, while also keeping fire safe. Protecting NHS Group Commander Paul Clarke, the Service's Head of Community Fire Safety, said, “This has been a challenging time for many people and we want to thank ev...
FIREX International is proud to announce the free Digital Week content series on 18-22 May 2020. This five-day digital gathering delivers interactive and curated webinars, video interviews, technical reviews, and live Q&A sessions to keep you connected with your fire safety colleagues. The program will address major industry issues including COVID–19 and the fire sector, sourcing PPE, post-Grenfell regulatory updates, and third-party certification. It’s users' chance to hear the...
Evita V600 and V800, and Babylog VN600 and VN800 are Dräger's new devices for the intensive care ventilation of adults to premature babies. For the intensive care and neonatal ventilation devices, Dräger has developed an operating concept that makes orientation even easier and provides clearer user guidance. Evita and Babylog ventilators The user is intuitively guided through the individual menus with larger icons, important functions at the top menu level, and a clear, color-coordin...
Perimeter Solutions, globally renowned company in fire safety chemical solutions, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Colorado-based LaderaTech, a biomaterials company with commercial technology in wildfire prevention and the delivery of agriculture chemicals. The acquisition includes LaderaTech's FORTIFY Fire Retardant technology and rights to associated intellectual property. FORTIFY Fire Retardant technology The addition of FORTIFY technology, which is used in ground-bas...
If there’s one thing that everyone has learned in the last few months, it is that the world can change at a moment’s notice. While there will certainly be more surprises to come in the future, a few things are certain, including population and climate change. How will humans change the way they build to tackle these challenges? and How can fire safety be maintained in the buildings of the future? These are some of the key questions. Ageing global population The world’s popul...
A dynamic new digital community is bringing together fire experts and policy makers to share insight and information as well as inspire improved building fire safety in Europe. Since its official launch in November, the European Fire Safety Community (EFSC) has attracted more than 260 individual members, ranging from firefighters, fire engineers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers to policymakers, architects, association members, and fire specialists. Fire Safe Europe The communi...
The well-being of the people, customers and partners is always the number one priority. Lorient took the decision to close the manufacturing sites and depots from the 27th March, following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. They confirmed it will be re-opening the sites in a phased approach starting from the 11th May. They have taken this decision following a series of government updates and strict internal reviews to make sure they can safely resume operations. It has also been positive to see...
As of 6th May, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is changing its response to automatic fire alarm activations during the coronavirus pandemic. Full statement from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Pre-determined attendance at automatic fire alarm actuations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is taking all necessary measures to minimize disruption to the emergency response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Demand on front-line resources...
Throughout April and into the foreseeable future the FIA will continue providing its online CPD sessions across the breadth of the fire industry with '99% of delegates saying that the training meets their needs well to extremely well and 98% are satisfied or very satisfied with the CPD content. Hundreds of enthusiastic delegates took part in the FIA’s second industry-recognized online CPD day. The fire industry has adapted incredibly well to the impacts of COVID-19 and it has not hindered...
