Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - News

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,...

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. Tower evacuation kit 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 outer wall....

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...

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...

Fire-Dex announces the acquisition of Marken PPE Restoration, a UL verified Independent Service Provider (ISP) of clean and repair services based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. This business is the third ISP Fire-Dex has acquired, following the purchase of Gear Wash in 2019 and Done Right Fire Gear in 2020. This acquisition will allow the company to expand its efforts to provide clean and repair services to departments in untouched regions throughout the West. Making solid connections The broad se...

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...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has published three new Advisory Notes offering guidance on the fire protection of structural steel. 2021 version Addressing specific concerns identified by the industry, the ASFP's Advisory Note 19 sets out its position on the use of critical steel temperatures above 650°C. In an update to the previous edition from July 2020, the 2021 version notes: 'It is vital to ensure that the appropriate limiting temperature is used in the spe...

Steve Emery shares his thoughts on what conservation professionals should put into fire strategies for historic buildings. In the latest edition of the Built Environment Journal published by RICS, the issue of fire safety in historic buildings is explored by the University of Oxford’s fire officer. Fire risk assessment He takes the view of the conservation professional and how they need to look at historic buildings through a fire safety lens to avoid the experience of high-profile fire...

For the second year, DripDrop Hydration (DripDrop ORS), a renowned rehydration therapy company, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the global association representing the volunteer fire, EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and rescue services, have teamed up to provide dehydration relief to volunteer firefighters. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) DripDrop is providing 200,000 sticks of their oral rehydration solution (ORS) to volunteer fire departments across the U.S. The donation co...

Ballyclare has revealed details of a major new tender win with the latest additions to its XENON range of multi-functional structural firefighting clothing. The contract, which covers PPE for some 3,200 firefighters, has been awarded by three fire and rescue services in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and includes new additions to the XENON range which have been developed to meet the specific demands of this customer. Provide bespoke solutions “With today’s firefighting and re...

Cancer is a hidden killer amongst the force. In fact, firefighters have a 68% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer than the general population! Why? It’s simple, exposure to cancer-causing particles is high. But, this hidden killer can be stopped in its tracks, with careful PPE inspection and maintenance. Here, Reece Buchner, Technical Sales Manager at FlamePro, a British specialist manufacturer of life-saving garments for firefighters, explains how to maintain and inspect the kit....

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2021 Annual Fire Service Achievement Awards. NVFC’s awards recipients Theodore Schroll Jr. will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by ADT, Robert James will receive the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award, co-sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems, Paige Davis will receive the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, sponsored by California Casualty, and t...

Continuing consultations between VIKING Life-Saving Equipment and its growing offshore client base has brought a new lifejacket to the oil & gas and wind energy markets whose form is as innovative as the range of new details to overcome longstanding safety challenges facing offshore crews and maintenance personnel. VIKING YouSafe™ Vanguard inflatable lifejacket The VIKING YouSafe™ Vanguard inflatable lifejacket has been developed after the major supplier asked designers to retu...

Women in Fire Safety is seeking nominations for its inaugural awards recognizing excellence in the fire safety industry. The Women in Fire Safety Awards honor the outstanding achievements and contributions of all women within the fire safety community. Founded by Chloe Vickery and Kate Blake, the awards strive to address the historical gender imbalance and champion a more progressive industry. More progressive industry They said: “We hope to encourage the next generation to see fire saf...

The IAFF’s political action efforts in Canada have led to two major advances in firefighter safety. On August 11, the Canadian government announced an action plan to reduce the harm that chemical flame retardants pose to the nation’s firefighters. On the same day, the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes finalized a new language for the 2020 edition of the National Building Code that finally recognizes the unique roles firefighters play during residential structure fires a...

America’s first electric fire truck was in Maryland Wednesday. The revolutionary technology electric fire truck stopped by the Howard County Public Safety Training Center in Marriottsville. Completely emissions-Free The truck was developed by Rosenbauer America. It’s fully electric and completely emissions-free. The truck's batteries last about two hours, it has an on-board generator that can fully charge the truck in 20 minutes or while the truck is driving. There are three truck...

A draft of PAS 8673 is available for public comment and contains competence requirements for the new role of Building Safety Manager. This PAS is based on the recommendations and core competence criteria set out in BSI Flex 8670. It supports the introduction of the Building Safety Manager that is contained in the Building Safety Bill currently going through Parliament. PAS 8673 The BSI has facilitated the development of PAS 8673 and it is sponsored by MHCLG. Brian Atkin is cited as the techni...

The value of the contract currently published on Contracts Finder is between £9 and 12 million over five years. The council is looking to install new fire sprinkler systems (and associated works) in 30 of its two and three-storey supported housing blocks as well as 102 blocks of general needs residential accommodation. The closing date for suppliers to respond is 10 September 2021. Retrofit sprinkler systems This comes after the council worked with Hampshire and Isle of W...

When working for extended amounts of time in a cold store, it’s important to make sure that the workwear of the staff reflects the environment they work in, in order to help keep them safe and comfortable in carrying out their jobs. This article covers the ideal Cold Store workwear to ensure enhanced safety and comfort for the wearer in doing the work tasks. Headwear Starting off with headwear, it all comes down to the environment, for instance, if working in a place where there might b...

Gentoo is investing over £32 million over four years in internal refurbishment works across its housing stock for 60,000 residents. In an early notification published on Contracts Finder last month, Gentoo set out details of its intentions. The contract is divided into three lots with lot 3 focused on high-rise buildings and the installation of sprinkler systems and fire alarms. The value of lot 3 alone is £7 million and will be awarded on a framework basis for up to six providers...

MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA), DuPont Personal Protection (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are helping volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed turnout gear, through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Now in its tenth year, the program has provided over US$ 1 million worth of fire safety gear to assist volunteer fire departments in need. Globe Gear Giveaway In 2021, 13 fire departments will each receive four sets of turnout gear and four helmets, in order...

  The VIKING YouSafe™ Vanguard inflatable lifejacket has been developed after the leading supplier asked designers to return to first principles and deliver a versatile, high-quality product to meet new standards of comfort and safety in order to ensure compliance. Developed to meet (275N) offshore industry standards is SOLAS/MED-approved and CE/ISO-accredited. “Based on customer feedback, our designers continuously refine our safety products on the reali...

In its latest resolution action, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) unanimously approved support of Outthink Wildfire™, an initiative of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) aimed at eliminating the destruction of communities by wildfire in 30 years. The resolution emphasizes the fact that the U.S. has witnessed a steady increase in frequency and intensity of wildfires, a trend that experts predict will continue. The number of homes lost in wildfires...

On 8th and 9th December 2021, the next VdS-FireSafety Cologne 2021 event will be held at Koelnmesse, with expert conferences, an expert trade fair, free themed forums and the new format VdS-FireSafetyTalk. Fire protection professionals can look forward to 8th and 9th December 2021, with VdS Training Center (VdS) looking optimistically towards the end of the year and expecting to be able to hold VdS-FireSafety Cologne 2021 event on these dates, featuring an expert trade fair, themed forums and e...

G3 Systems handed over its Fire Protection Service (FPS) function to DEU (German Armed Forces) Air Operations Group firefighters, marking the conclusion of a continuous working relationship at the Mazar e Sharif (MeS) airbase which began on 21st November 2014. During the last 6 and a half years, G3 Systems Limited, working through the NATO Supply & Procurement Agency (NSPA), has successfully provided the DEU at MeS with continuous aviation and structural fire cover, ensuring all airfield em...

Firefighters across the Yorkshire and Humber region have revealed new, advanced fire kits following a joint procurement deal. As part of a tri-service agreement, all firefighters in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and the Humberside region will begin wearing new fire tunics and trousers. For crews in South Yorkshire and Humberside, the personal protective equipment (PPE) revamp will also feature a pioneering, multi-function rescue jacket to reflect the changing role of the modern firefighter....

The newly created not-for-profit organization, the Building Safety Alliance will deliver a publicly accessible register of certified Building Safety Managers in a move that will increase confidence in the competence of these new duty holders prescribed in the Building Safety Bill. Emerging from the working group activity of the Competence Steering Group, the Building Safety Alliance marks a significant step forward for establishing the role of a Building Safety Manager in higher risk buildings....

Whether it’s the building, roads, schools, or offices around us, a civil engineer has been involved in the design and construction of the structure. Civil engineers are the ones who plan, design and manage construction projects, in order to create and improve buildings that make up the majority of the United Kingdom (UK) and the world at large. Workwear for civil engineers Owing to this nature of their job, civil engineers spend a lot of time on the project and are in many different loc...

Dräger, a pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase six new fire safety technologies to further firefighter health and wellbeing at September’s Emergency Services Show (ESS): the PSS® AirBoss; lightweight Type 4 Nano cylinder; BG ProAir; HPS SafeGuard helmet; HPS-COM helmet communication unit; and FireVista thermal imaging camera. The new PSS® AirBoss is the next generation in Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), providing firefighters and em...