Research

As the fire service becomes more aware of the potential health effects from occupational exposure to hazardous contaminants, personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers, and fire departments have responded by developing and implementing improved means of firefighter protection, including more frequent laundering of PPE after exposures. Read this article for more information.

The MSA team recently had the opportunity to work with the Boston Fire Department during a field demo of LUNAR. Watch the video to hear what the Boston firefighters thought of LUNAR!

Conducted by Gavin Horn, this webcast will help you get a deeper understanding of the chemical and thermal exposure risks associated with fire training activities.

The fire service continues to drive the movement for science-based research to better understand how the fire environment, firefighting PPE, and fire department practices can impact firefighters’ risks. During this recently held webcast, Gavin Horn, PhD, shares some of the latest firefighter research on contamination control along with lessons learned from ongoing efforts to implement some of these practices.

Do firefighters in the U.S. fully recognize the benefits of post-fire cleaning and decontamination of themselves and their equipment to reduce the risk of developing cancer? Common wisdom would say yes, given the amount of information that’s been promulgated by fire service organizations like the IAFC and IAFF as well as non-fire service organizations.

Researching and specifying new turnout gear for your department may seem like an arduous task given all the choices of materials and styles available today. That’s why we offer an easy 5-step process to help you learn the basics and get started.

There are ways to mitigate the risks of exposure firefighters face in the field. Although it is an outcome we want to avoid at all costs, there may come a time when a firefighter will be diagnosed with cancer as a result of occupational hazards.

We recently sent a pair of our SUPRAFLEX™ boots to Chris McCloone, senior editor at Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, for his review. The boots included Vibram’s Arctic Grip Pro soles that are specifically engineered to perform on wet ice.

Wearing PPE properly is only one of many steps in helping to prevent illness and injury. In order to help reduce exposure to agents that can cause cancer and other serious diseases, firefighters must know decontamination techniques to assist in mitigating toxic substance contamination on their gear and bodies.