FEMSA OFFERS USER SAFETY GUIDES FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
BY JOSEPH LOUDERBACK
With emphasis on making sure emergency responders get the most out of their protection when operating at an incident, the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association, Inc. (FEMSA) now offers Official User Information Guides for that clothing. These 20-page manuals–separate handouts that cover garments, helmets, footwear, gloves, and hoods–come attached to every coat, boot, helmet, hood, and pair of gloves issued by participating manufacturers and have been included with new orders since January 1997.
“This is a wonderful tool,” says Jack Petrone, president of Global Fire Equipment and a member of the FEMSA Board of Directors. The large red booklets are prepunched so they may be added to training binders and used in a “hands-on” manner by department safety officers. FEMSA wants fire departments to use the material in the booklets. “It`s perfect for in-service seminars or drill nights in the winter,” says Petrone, a 20-year member of the volunteer fire service.
Since firefighters already know their job is dangerous, why is this so important? Manufacturers want firefighters who wear their products to know how strong they are but also want them to be aware of the products` limitations. Proper care of garments is also addressed in the publications.
The FEMSA Warning Label Project grew out of what manufacturers felt was a dire need to replace the old National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warning labels previously required for NFPA-compliant products. “We want to promote safety and produced a guideline to enhance training and protect people from on-the-job injuries or death,” Petrone says.
Mary Grilliot, executive vice president of Morning Pride Manufacturing Inc., of Dayton, Ohio, served as chairperson of the consortium that worked two years to develop the warning labels. “Addressing the need to inform emergency personnel is a priority for our members,” she explains. “They care.”
Grilliot says the group relied on product-labeling lawyers, technical authorities, fire service groups, and even a linguist to produce easily understandable text. The text was circulated to emergency personnel for review before final adoption. These publications supersede the labeling required in pre-1997 editions of NFPA 1971 (Protective Clothing and Equipment for Structural Firefighting).
Do users of fire protective clothing respond to warning labels? Grilliot says, “It`s hard to objectively test it. It`s a matter of perception for each wearer. Labels shouldn`t just reflect the manufacturer`s interest. In drafting this material, FEMSA considered the wearer`s needs first.”
The bright red manuals (their color emphasizes the seriousness of their purpose) come with a glossary of firefighting terms that addresses misinformation or training items about which firefighters may need a refresher course. For example, definitions of radiant, convective, and conductive heat burns are covered on page 6 of the Protective Garments book, which also explains: “Your protective ensemble will not protect you from all burns and injuries. There are limits to the protection given by your protective ensemble.”
A warning about conductive heat burns states, “U Depending on conditions, this or any sort of contact can burn you underneath your protective ensemble element with no advance warning and no sign of damage to your protective ensemble U.”
Page 15 of the Protective Helmets book lists what may seem simple reminders for fire service veterans. Still, they are vital guidelines when it comes to proper use: “Adjust all helmet, hood and SCBA and coat components so that they interface properly and so that no gap occurs in protection in any body position encountered during use.” Another warning states: “Do not store accessories in or on your helmet that are not explicitly authorized by the manufacturer. Storage of gloves, wedges, lights or other equipment could dramatically change the helmet`s protective capacity.”
Hazardous materials and biological contamination also are addressed. Easy-to-read sections cover proper care of the apparel, inspection, and record keeping. Highlighted boxes of text headlined by the word “DANGER” tell users about possible life-threatening changes that occur in their garments as they age: “Even the most harmless changes to the protective element may increase your risk of death, burns, injuries, diseases and illnesses.”
FEMSA wants wearers to use the products properly. Petrone says it`s as simple as making sure a helmet fits correctly or avoiding thermal burns by wearing a coat or hood for maximum effectiveness. “If they glean one thing from reading the manuals and we cut injuries by 10 percent, then we`ve accomplished something,” he says.
Companies participating in the program include Belleville Shoes, Cairns & Brother Inc., Fire-Dex Inc., Fire Gear Inc., Globe Manufacturing, LaCrosse Footwear, Morning Pride Manufacturing Inc., Norcross Safety Products, Quaker Safety Products Corp., Securitex Inc., Warrington Group Ltd./Cove Shoe, and Weinbrenner Shoe Company Inc.
Questions or comments regarding the program may be directed to the FEMSA Warning Consortium, FEMSA Administrator Gwendolyn Hogan; 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 8; Reston, VA 20190 (703) 437-4377.
JOSEPH LOUDERBACK is a 20-year member of the Milmont Fire Company in Milmont Park, Pennsylvania, and conducts media relations programs for the fire service.
