Excerpts from FireRescue1.com:
Cancer awareness within the fire service has reached an all-time high. Recent studies are showing a growing link between the increased rates of certain cancers among firefighters, especially at younger ages, and their exposure to carcinogens during fires. This has led to a stronger focus on post-fire hygiene practices, including the proper cleaning of turnout gear.
One key issue is that turnout clothing can remain contaminated with harmful substances unless it's cleaned thoroughly after each incident. However, many fire departments are not equipped or trained to clean this gear regularly, which poses a major challenge. Even those with multiple sets of gear often struggle to maintain the required cleaning schedule.
To address this, new procedures such as decontamination at the fire scene are being adopted. These efforts aim to reduce the spread of contaminants to vehicles, stations, and personal belongings, helping to minimize long-term exposure risks.
The fire service is still in the early stages of adopting comprehensive hygiene protocols, but progress is being made. Several organizations are taking promising steps toward better safety and health practices for firefighters.
Where We Are
Over the past two to three decades, the cleaning of turnout gear has evolved significantly. In the early 1990s, groups like FIERO, NAFER, CAFER, and SAFER began advocating for better cleaning standards. This led to the creation of NFPA 1851, which outlines the care, maintenance, and cleaning of protective gear.
These early guidelines established specific washing and drying procedures, including the types of machines used, detergent pH levels, and temperature ranges. However, despite advancements in the laundry industry, the standard hasn’t kept up with modern technologies like ozone treatment, CO2 dry cleaning, and advanced detergents that claim to improve contaminant removal.
Measurable Results
For the industry to advance, there needs to be a way to measure how effective cleaning processes truly are. The Fire Protection Research Foundation, part of the National Fire Protection Association, recently launched a project to develop methods for verifying that harmful contaminants are actually removed from turnout gear.
This isn’t just a chemistry experiment—it’s a complex challenge. Each fire produces a unique mix of chemicals, making it hard to track exactly what’s present. Without a universal testing tool, identifying and measuring these substances is difficult.
Sampling is another hurdle. To accurately test contamination levels, samples must be taken from the gear. But since contamination isn’t evenly distributed, determining where to take samples and then generalizing the results is tricky.
The new project aims to create a standardized method for assessing whether contaminants have been effectively removed. Researchers will contaminate fabric samples in the lab using known chemicals and carbon particles, then test them under various cleaning conditions.
Replicating Fire Conditions
A critical part of the process is simulating real-world fire contamination. Instead of just soaking fabric in chemicals, researchers burn pellets containing known substances and expose the materials to the resulting smoke and soot. This helps ensure that the testing reflects actual field conditions.
If successful, this approach could help identify the best cleaning methods for removing specific toxins. It would also allow for comparisons between different equipment, temperatures, and detergents to find the most effective solutions.
Collateral Damage
While more frequent cleaning reduces contamination, it also accelerates wear and tear on turnout gear. This means that cleaning processes must not only remove contaminants but also preserve the integrity and performance of the gear over time.
Keeping turnout gear clean is one important step in reducing firefighter exposure to cancer-causing agents, but it’s not the only solution. Exposure occurs through multiple pathways, including inhalation and skin contact.
Still, ensuring that persistent contaminants are properly removed is a crucial step in improving firefighter hygiene and overall health outcomes.
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