Assessment of Firefighters’ needs for personal protective equipment

Abstract

This study performed focus group interviews with 54 firefighters in four states in the United States to assess the needs for design of firefighters' personal protective equipment. Firefighters' responses indicate three major issues to be considered for improved mobility, comfort and safety: 1) consideration of human factors, 2) sizing and fit, and 3) integrity of protection in the interface between protective equipment and turnout ensemble. Ergonomic design issues were identified through firefighters' responses about their limited mobility of the head and arms while wearing helmet and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), restricted access to coat pockets, back pain and soreness while wearing SCBA. Sizing and fit issues such as the excessive length and bulkiness of glove fingers were identified as a major concern regarding fire gloves resulting in limited mobility and dexterity, negatively effecting firefighters' work efficiency and safety. The integrity of protection in the interface between turnout ensemble, gloves and boots was reported as an important consideration for firefighter comfort, mobility and protection against heat hazards. Possible design solutions were also discussed.

Decreased Pulmonary Function Over 5 Years in US Firefighters

“…In 1981, the NFPA required US firefighters to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and SCBA. 38 Although the use of respiratory protection has become standard in the fire service, certainly in large career fire departments, the systematic use of SCBAs is arguably more important now than when first introduced due to the increasing toxicity of smoke in modern fires. 39 Unfortunately, there may be inconsistent and inadequate use of respiratory protection in the fire service.…”

Impact of Size of Fire boot and SCBA Cylinder on Firefighters’ Mobility

“…In particular, several researchers (Park & Hahn, 2014; Park, Hur, Rosengren, Horn, & Hsiao-Wecksler, 2010; Park, Kim, et al, 2015; Park, Park, Lin, & Boorady, 2014; Park, Trejo, et al, 2015) have recently indicated, through a series of biomechanical tests with firefighters, that SCBA and fire boots are the two major contributors to musculoskeletal fireground injuries (e.g., lower back pain, trips, slips, and falls) that result in loss of work as well as increased medical costs. Park, Kim, et al (2015) showed that wearing inflexible fire boots significantly restricts firefighters’ natural foot pronation, alters gait, and slows down their response time as they negotiate with the fireground.…”

Graphene Modified Multifunctional Personal Protective Clothing

“…Heavy weight, inferior ventilation, and bulky nature makes it a burden for firefighters. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2014, Springer Nature.…”