Much has been written and said about contamination issues in the fire service. These issues range from on-scene preliminary exposure reduction (PER) to apparatus, the fire station, and likely firefighters’ residences.
It is an appropriate statement to say that firefighters are harvesters of carcinogens and other hazardous substances. Like farmers harvest their crops, we harvest the bad stuff, place it in and on the apparatus, and take it to the station.
We certainly need to do everything we can to minimize these exposures. Leaving the bad stuff on the scene or taking it to a designated location that is different than the fire station is a righteous goal. However, with PER, there are still residual contamination issues. The apparatus cab is one of the areas of focus in a contamination control program. Underwriters Laboratories has conducted a study that shows that off-gassing from PPE inside a cab can lead to firefighters inhaling hazardous substances. According to science, the coronavirus is more likely to be transmitted through the air than through surface contact. And the threat of airborne hazardous substances will always be a threat to firefighter health.
This past January, I had the privilege of attending the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Symposium in Scottsdale, AZ, and attending a noncommercial presentation on cab air filtration by a team of three filtration manufacturers. I was most impressed by the capabilities of these systems. Of utmost importance is that they can be installed in existing cabs, not just new apparatus. The manufacturer representatives who gave the presentation were from Task Force Tips, ActivTek Environmental, and United Safety & Survivability (Valor Seating).
So, what are these airborne threats? There are four basic hazards: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, particulates (soot), and carcinogens. For the past couple of years, there are two leading causes of firefighter deaths: COVID and cancer. From a risk management perspective, there are many steps we can take to minimize these exposures.
As with most products, there are pros and cons of each manufacturer. Here are five of the currently know methods of air decontamination:
- UVC light devices where the light disinfects the contaminants. This is effective for surface areas of the cab more so than the air.
- Ionization devices, which create positive and negative charged ions in the air that attach to some contaminants and break them down. However, this process does not impact viruses.
- Fogging devices, which typically use aerosolized hydrogen peroxide. This has to be applied when the cab is empty, and it is a process that takes about 20 minutes.
- Hydrogen peroxide technology, which creates low levels of hydrogen peroxide that is safe for human exposure for extended periods of time.
- Air filtration systems designed specifically for fire apparatus. These are robust systems that continually “scrub” the air. When assessing these units, be sure to understand the amount of time it takes for all the air to be exchanged and the maintenance required—i.e., frequency of filter replacement and filter cost.
Important questions that fire departments should ask include the following: What are the time considerations for treatment? What training is required? Is operation interaction required, and is human error a possibility? What are the maintenance requirements? Can the vehicle be occupied during the process? Is the process effective for all areas? Does the company understand the fire service?
As with any new equipment and processes, there are testing requirements of which fire departments should be aware. Is the product third-party tested and certified? Was the testing performed by a certified lab, and is it a certified Environmental Protection Agency facility? Was the testing performed in a chamber large enough to simulate the size of an apparatus cab?
Numbers four and five above seem to make the most sense to me. These are systems that are working all the time without firefighters having to perform separate tasks. These systems are similar to systems used in health care facilities.
One final thought: Please consider adding air decontamination systems to your fire stations. There are fixed and portable systems available.
ROBERT TUTTEROW retired as safety coordinator for the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department and is a member of theFire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. His 44-year career includes 10 as a volunteer. He has been very active in the National Fire Protection Association through service on the Fire Service Section Executive Board and technical committees involved with safety, apparatus, and personal protective equipment. He is a founding member and president of the Fire Industry Education Resource Organization (F.I.E.R.O.).
