Fire Service Contamination Control Research Urban Fire Forum 20-22 September 2017 Quincy, MA, USA Casey Grant PE, Executive Director
The Spectrum of Activity Examples of Completed Applicable Reports: Fire Fighter Equipment Operational Environment: Evaluation of Thermal Conditions (2017) Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting (2015) Data Collection Summary for PPE Care and Maintenance (2013) Thermal Capacity of Fire Fighter Protective Clothing (2008) Respiratory Exposure Study for Fire Fighters and Other Emergency Responders (2007) nfpa.org 2 nfpa.org
The Spectrum of Activity Examples of Current On-Going Applicable Projects: Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control (FPRF) SMARTER: Science Medicine And Research & Technology for Emergency Responders (Skidmore) Real-Time Particulate and Toxic-Gas Sensors for Fire Fighter Health and Safety (Case Western Reserve) Validation of Cleaning Procedures for Fire Fighter Personal Protective Equipment (FPRF) Non-Destructive Assessment of Outer Shell Degradation for Firefighter Turnouts (NCSU) Next Generation Smart Cyber Fire Fighting Systems (New Mexico) nfpa.org 3 nfpa.org
A Tale of Three Studies A) Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study B) PPE Cleaning Validation C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control nfpa.org 4
A) Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study Partners: Led by University of AZ (with University of Miami, NIOSH, NFFF/FSOCA, FPRF/NFPA, NDRI, IFSI) Timeline: Initial project 3 year to establish framework, for a 30 year study (currently in year 1) Tasks: A data coordination center team will design, develop and evaluate a framework for a multicenter prospective short and long term cohort study (>10,000 subjects) of fire fighters and cancer risk, and will address: Exposure Assessment; Survey Assessments; and Biomarker Collections. Funding: AFG Fire Grant, and others TBD 5
A) Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study Scope: The goal of the initial 3-year effort of this overall project is to develop and test a framework for establishing a long-term fire fighter multicenter prospective cohort study focused on carcinogenic exposures and effects. Website: www.ffccs.org 6
Mind the Gap Current Focus: Clarification of Information for Potential New Fire Department Partners nfpa.org 7
A Tale of Three Studies A) Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study B) PPE Cleaning Validation C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control nfpa.org 8
B) PPE Cleaning Validation Partners: Led by Fire Protection Research Foundation (with International Personal Protection, NIOSH, Intertek, & others) Timeline: Halfway through 3 year project Funding: AFG Fire Grant, with consortia and in-kind support. Tasks: 1) ID Contaminants 2) Establish Chemical Contamination / Decontamination Procedures 3) Establish Biological Contamination / Disinfection &Sanitization Procedures 4) Generate Fire Service Guidance How Clean is Clean? Website: www.nfpa.org/ppecleaning 9
Technical Challenges: B) PPE Cleaning Validation Variability of Gear Elements (e.g., jacket, pants, gloves, hoods, helmet, boots, etc.) Materials of each element (& each element layer, weave, etc.) Variability of Cleaning Process Cleaning equipment, process, solvents, etc. Variability of Contaminants 1) Organic Chemical Contaminants 2) Inorganic Chemical Contaminants 3) Biological Contaminants Maintaining Gear Performance Features (e.g., thermal protection) 10
Chemical Contaminants Vast number of potential contaminants Characteristics are often unique (e.g., toxicity vs. persistence vs. measurability) Focus on heavy metals and certain classes of semivolatile chemicals, such as: PAHs; Phenols; Phthalates B) PPE Cleaning Validation 11
B) PPE Cleaning Validation Proposed for next edition of NFPA 1851 12
A Tale of Three Studies A) Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study B) PPE Cleaning Validation C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control nfpa.org 13
C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control Partners: Led by Fire Protection Research Foundation (with F.I.E.R.O, International Personal Protection, Peg Paul Associates) Timeline: Halfway through 1 year project Funding: AFG Fire Grant Tasks: Identify, develop, refine, & promote baseline best practices through a clearinghouse approach. Identify, clarify and prioritize gaps. Website: www.nfpa.org/contamination 14
C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control Project Genesis: A to Z Contamination Control in Nuclear Power Plants Illustration from Healthy-In Healthy-Out Concept courtesy of Paul Erickson 15
C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control Focus: Promote a comprehensive A to Z approach Establish broad mindset, similar to other professions (e.g., nuclear, health care, military, hazmat Address all fire fighter activities, including before, during and after a fire or contamination event. Examples of NFPA documents that will be impacted include (among others): fire ground operations (NFPA 1500, 1584), fire station design (NFPA 1500, 1581), fire apparatus (NFPA 1901), PPE (NFPA 1851), and fire hose (NFPA 1962). 16
C) Campaign for Fire Service Contamination Control What s Next? Standardization Table of 94 NFPA Standards NFPA 1500 Revisions Request for New Document Training, Education, Awareness Topic Areas for Further Attention (i.e. Research) Contamination Collectors Fire Stations Ancillary Exposures Training Instructors, Investigators, Others Specific Focus Areas Gloves, Diesel Exhaust Methods, Others Workshop held in Columbus OH on 19-20/July//2017 17
Contact Information: Casey C. Grant, P.E. Fire Protection Research Foundation One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA USA 02169-7471 Phone: 01-617-984-7284 Email: cgrant@nfpa.org FPRF Website: www.nfpa.org/foundation