MSA donates $400,000 in safety equipment to Ukraine firefighters

by Breathing ApparatusFeatured NewsFirefighting EquipmentPPEProducts

MSA Safety Incorporated, the global company that develops and manufactures sophisticated safety solutions, has pledged a donation of more than $400,000 of safety equipment to Ukrainian firefighters.

This donation is made in partnership with Fire Aid, a UK-based non-profit organization that facilitates the donation of fire and rescue equipment around the world.

The donation comprises a wide range of fire safety equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus, fire helmets, firefighter protective apparel, fire boots, fire gloves, and safety goggles.

Bob Leenen, president for MSA International said: “For more than a century, MSA has been dedicated to one singular mission: helping to ensure that men and women may work in safety, and that they, their families, and their communities may live in health throughout the world. For our 4,800 global associates, the devastation being faced by people in Ukraine reminds all of us of the importance of that mission.”

Founded in 2014, Fire Aid is an association of charities and services with a mutual interest in providing ethical and sustainable donations of fire and rescue equipment, as well as training services, in more than 50 countries around the world.

The non-profit organization has a long-standing experience in coordinating humanitarian aid projects, facilitating product donations, and supporting the volunteer efforts of firefighters around the world to help train more than 5,000 firefighters residing in countries in need.

Fire Aid has a history of helping support firefighters in Ukraine, commented Claire Hoyland, Fire Aid Coordinator. “Because of our relationship with Ukranian first responders, we appreciate the donation of this equipment by MSA Safety. It will go a long way in helping protect emergency workers as they help to protect civilian lives,” Hoyland said.

Stephanie Sciullo, chief legal officer and VP of corporate social responsibility and public affairs for MSA, noted that in addition to the product donation, the company is also providing support through other humanitarian efforts, like the International Red Cross. “In the spirit of our mission, we are extending our support to those in need through multiple humanitarian efforts to help ease the burden so many are facing.”

Clifton firefighters launch statewide gear collection for counterparts in Ukraine

by Americas - ProductsAmericas - ProjectsBreathing ApparatusFeatured NewsFirefighting EquipmentPPEProducts

Firefighters in Clifton, North Jersey have started a statewide gear collection drive to help their counterparts in Ukraine. 

Pat Trentacost, fire chief, Passaic said: “What I’m seeing is nothing less than miraculous as they’re working to remove victims with limited resources, regardless of the potential of being killed by Russian attack.”

Clifton’s fire chief Frank Prezioso reached out to enlist his help to collect surplus fire equipment for Ukraine’s fire service. Trentacost had seen photos of firetrucks and apparatus buried in rubble after Russian attacks.

Prezioso said the idea came from third-year Clifton firefighter Oleg Skachko, who emigrated from Ukraine when he was 14.

Skachko’s first thought was to gather personal protection equipment, also known as turnout gear, for Ukraine’s firefighters. He had been contacted by friends in Ukraine who knew he was a firefighter, and their requests resonated, first with him and later with his peers. 

In Ukraine, Skachko lived next to a fire station and when he moved to the US in 2022, he lived just down street from a Paterson fire station. He wanted to be a firefighter for as long as he could remember, he told NorthJersey.com. 

Clifton is taking the lead in organising the effort to collect equipment and has reached out to fire departments across the region. The aim is to get departments from around New Jersey to contribute equipment to help their firefighters in Ukraine. 

The worry is that as the war continues and resources are destroyed, firefighters would be forced to work in their street clothes.  

Passaic discovered that neck collars, backboards, bandages and other supplies would soon be in high demand. In terms of shipping, the heavy, bulky equipment is being shipped to nearby areas which will then be transported to Ukraine. This is because several airports in Ukraine were targeted by Russians forces early on in the invasion.  

Meiko introduces new respirator warewasher

by ActiveBreathing ApparatusFeatured NewsProducts

Meiko has launched a new respirator washing machine that claims to save on labour, chemicals, hygiene, and most importantly ensures consistent results and eliminates the risk of human error. The German engineering brand specialises in manufacturing warewashing and food waste handling equipment.

According to Meiko this is the first disinfection machine to clean masks. The automated washing technology for respirators and face masks provides Log 5 protection.

Washing in a machine, rather than hand washing, protects staff from aerosols and ensures maximum hygiene and inactivation of Covid 19. Babcock’s Rosyth site is the first UK user of Meiko’s automated respirator washing technology, which provides Log 5 protection.

Colin Chrystal, health, safety and environmental manager, Babcock’s Rosyth said: “Along with being able to evidence compliance with regulations, we know that our people are supplied with fully maintained kit, to the highest levels of cleanliness.”

“We anticipate being able to fully inspect, disinfect and maintain 60 units per day, comfortably. Babcock’s Rosyth site is currently washing 10 masks per day using the Meiko TopClean M Cleaning and Disinfection system (3M 6000 full face respirators and 3M 7500 half mask respirators).

“We are also investigating the possibility of cleaning our powered Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) head tops using the same system (3M M-200 series Versaflo and Speedglas head tops).”

Latvia National Armed Forces awards a contract to Avon Protection for respiratory protection

by Breathing ApparatusProducts

The Latvian National Armed Forces has awarded a contract to Avon Protection for supply of their market leading CBRN respiratory protection including FM50 mask systems, filters, spares and accessories.

Latvia joins other NATO Nations and Partners including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and The Netherlands in purchasing the FM50 to protect their armed forces. In 2020, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded Avon Protection a 10-year contract to supply a complete CBRN personal respirator system. Since the contract award Avon Protection has received orders for over 200,000 masks and has successfully delivered world class training on the system to users across NATO.

Today, over 3.5 million users rely on Avon Protection products that have been developed to counter the multitude of CBRN threats in modern conflict, anti-terrorist and peace-keeping operations. The FM50 product range, as deployed through the NSPA contract, is the most operationally proven and widely deployed armed forces respirator in the world.

Commenting, Steve Elwell, Vice President at Avon Protection, said: “We are proud to continue supporting NATO in enhancing CBRN capability and enabling greater interoperability among coalition nations. The growth of both new partners to the framework such as Latvia and increasing deployment of capability to existing partners demonstrates the continued confidence and reliance on Avon Protection to supply products of the highest quality and performance to protect armed forces around the world.”

Experience a virtual demo of LUNAR from MSA

by Americas - Breaking NewsBreathing ApparatusProducts

Firefighting is an inherently dangerous environment and firefighters are exposed to risk while performing their duties. The workload of a fire and rescue services has also changed throughout the years. In addition to fighting fires, they are at the forefront of many other rescue operations. Therefore, advanced tools that can help to keep firefighters connected who are on- and off-scene, maintain situational awareness and provide actionable data is a key element in firefighter safety.

MSA’s Connected Firefighter Platform, driven by LUNAR, provides that solution.

The Connected Firefighter Platform

MSA´s Connected Firefighter platform is a suite of products designed for every firefighter on-scene, both those on air and off. Linked together they create visibility, increase efficiency, situational awareness, and enable accountability for everyone on the scene. This set of products connects the fireground to the cloud. comprised by the M1 SCBA Telemetry solutions, the FireGrid Software suite, and the latest breakthrough technology LUNAR.

Key Components of Connected Firefighter Platform

The Connected Firefighter ecosystem is comprised of:

LUNAR – a cloud-connected, comfortable to carry in hand and wireless device to provide enhanced thermal imaging, what’s beneficial for firefighters’ situational awareness. With LUNAR firefighters know who’s in distress and needs help with direction and distance information to help find separated teammates and decrease response time. This technology alerts incident commanders to who’s down and who’s searching for them – all while still having a remote monitoring piece.

FireGrid – a web-based cloud platform composed of FireGrid Monitor tablet application and FireGrid Configure mobile application. It’s easily accessible from anywhere which provides an additional layer of firefighter safety by collecting smart data to increase a department’s capability for managing products, people, and processes. On-scene information is aggregated from products and is available for immediate usage or stored for post-scene data reporting. So, it could be used by a department’s incident commander, someone monitoring off-scene remotely, a fleet maintenance manager, or even a training officer.

MSA HUB – the wireless gateway to the cloud for telemetry-enabled MSA SCBA. It enables active monitoring of air management information both on-scene for local monitoring and remotely from anywhere in the world. MSA HUB can be used as a local system by using its own hotspot for connectivity or by connecting to an existing internet connection. The wireless capability enhances mobility and introduces the use of FireGrid Monitor to allow Local Incident Command the option to not be tethered to their command vehicle and to be closer to the action.

Other Products Considered as a Part of Connected Firefighter Platform

M1 SCBA –  For those wearing MSA M1 SCBA, embedded Bluetooth technology connects to LUNAR, providing estimated air pressure, time remaining, and battery life all on-screen for a complete safety point-of-view.

ALTAIR® 4XR and ALTAIR® 5X – these portable multigas detectors have embedded Bluetooth technology to connect to LUNAR and the MSA M1.

A Virtual Demo of LUNAR

Watch a virtual demo of LUNAR where MSA’s experts explain in-depth how LUNAR works and the advantages of the product network. The videos are available in English, German and French language.

Frontline Communications secures Pasco County Fire Rescue order

by Americas - Featured NewsBreathing ApparatusProducts

Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today that it has secured a purchase order for two highly customized vehicles from Pasco County Fire Rescue in Florida including a C-45 Velocity® mobile decontamination (decon) unit, and a C-45X-2 Velocity mobile rehabilitation (rehab) unit. These specialized vehicles will provide critical support at structural fires and long-duration deployments to aid with the removal of harmful carcinogens from gear and equipment. Additionally, they will provide respite to avoid overexertion from heat and weather with access to fluids, energy snacks, medical evaluations, and more.

Industry standard is to issue every firefighter two sets of turnout gear, so after one is soiled, it can be bagged and stored on the truck, with another set available in the event the crew needs to go immediately to another scene. According to Chief of Pasco County Fire Rescue, Scott Cassin, the cost and storage of two sets of gear was prohibitive and a challenge they aimed to solve.

“We turned our sights to selecting purpose-built vehicles that would handle the on-site decontamination of gear and rehabilitation needs our dedicated team of firefighters require during complex structural fires or long-duration deployments,” said Chief Cassin. “We worked with Frontline Communications to design a custom decon unit that is an industry first configuration and will help us save time and energy cleaning equipment. We also collaborated with Frontline Communications on the design of a custom rehab unit that will provide necessary aid. Our biggest return on investment is knowing we are protecting our firefighters from as many risks as possible.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Additionally, the physical and emotional demands of the job put firefighters at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, which are responsible for 45-percent of on-duty deaths. Mobile decon and rehab units help manage carcinogen exposure and offer a reprieve by providing vital on-site decontamination and recovery resources for firefighters at a fire scene.

Pasco County Fire Rescue’s new vehicles feature:

C-45 Velocity Mobile Decontamination Unit

  • Pierce® Velocity® chassis
  • Cummins 450 hp engine
  • Command Zone™ electrical system
  • Two Meiko decontamination wash units designed for structure fire decontamination. The units are supported by dual 100-gallon water tanks and storage bins
  • Onboard generator (Lima-Mac 40kW PTO-driven generator for Meiko decon equipment)
  • Four custom swing-out tool boards
  • Dual-side hose bibs with an on-board water pump and 100-feet of heavy-duty hose on an electric reel

C-45X-2 Velocity Mobile Rehabilitation Unit

  • Pierce Velocity chassis
  • Cummins 450 hp engine
  • Command Zone™ electrical system
  • Bauer SCBA 6,000 PSI compressor and fill station with three additional air cylinders to supply breathing air for air tanks
  • Two lavatories on the front side of the body accessible from either side
  • Onboard generator (20kW diesel generator for rehabilitation elements, communication gear, and other accessories)
  • Rehabilitation area with oversized slide-outs to maximize interior space. Features include bench seating with recline capabilities and storage, equipment rack for communications gear, large 20 cu ft refrigerator, and a handwashing sink
  • Rest area/kitchen with two 20 cu ft refrigerators, one freezer, two coffee makers, sink, and a large pass-through window to service/supply crew members outside the vehicle
  • Exterior monitor compartment with area for exterior viewing under a full-size electric awning
  • Equipped with two DirecTV HD receivers to view local programming
  • On-board wi-fi, perimeter security cameras with network video recorder, and an Extron video router that sends video to monitors located throughout the vehicle

Pasco County is located on the west-central coast of Florida, with its fire rescue department operating out of 29 stations with over 600 personnel serving a population of nearly 500,000. The department provides fire protection covering all unincorporated Pasco County, including the cities of Dade City, San Antonio, and Saint Leo.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to expand our longstanding relationship with Pasco County Fire Rescue to include apparatus that supports the crucial work of their dedicated team,” said Dustin Bouwer, Pierce apparatus representative with Ten-8 Fire Equipment. “The design of these vehicles will integrate Frontline Communications’ extensive experience in the development of specialty vehicles. We know these custom vehicles will be an essential and efficient health and safety resource for many years to come.”

To learn more about Frontline Communications and the latest mobile decontamination and rehabilitation vehicle developments, visit www.frontlinecomm.com.

Belfast City Airport chooses Dräger’s new PSS AirBoss SCBA to safeguard passengers and staff

by AviationBreathing ApparatusIndustry SectorsProducts

The Emergency Fire and Rescue team at George Best Belfast City Airport has become the first in the UK to opt for Dräger’s newly-launched AirBoss self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), to provide its firefighters and emergency services teams with the most advanced fire safety protection.

The 34-strong emergency service crew at Belfast City Airport is required by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deploy and attend any fire safety incident in the airport or on the runway within three minutes of being alerted.

Although a previous user of Dräger’s equipment, the decision to choose AirBoss followed a rigorous review of SCBA systems from different providers and is part of a multi-million pound investment in all aspects of the Airport’s fire safety response. Seamus MacMahon, Chief Fire Officer and Head of Emergency Planning, says he is assured knowing Dräger is the global industry leader, and that they have chosen the most advanced equipment possible:

“By choosing Dräger, we are ensuring the longevity of our investment which is key for continuity. With a strong footprint in Northern Ireland, Dräger’s ability to support its customers with dedicated resource in training, aftercare, spares, service, and maintenance is invaluable and second to none.”

Dräger’s next-generation AirBoss includes a carrying system with pneumatics, monitoring systems, masks and communication technology and numerous accessories such as the ultra-lightweight Type 4 Nano compressed air breathing cylinders and lung demand valves. State-of-the-art ergonomics provide improved wearer comfort and mobility, complemented by a pivoting waist belt and three-step height adjustments.  

Belfast City Airport has opted for the AirBoss Connect as this model provides the most advanced situational awareness.

“We will benefit from Airboss Connect’s digital displays, and the new ‘Buddy Light’ feature – an innovative element allowing immediate and highly-visible signalling amongst our firefighters to alert them on aspects such as cylinder pressures and the physical condition of their colleagues.

“The advanced modular design of AirBoss means we can build in additional functionality as and when required to ensure we stay at the forefront of fire and rescue response capabilities.”

Seamus says that AirBoss’s easily adjustable backplate is a significant benefit: “Emergency Service teams have changed considerably during my career – minimum height requirements, for example, are a thing of the past – and so systems need to be easily borne by different physiques, both male and female.

“Overall, the whole team agreed that the system is very appealing, especially its lightness and ‘snag-proof’ design. Our overriding commitment is to the wellbeing and safety of passengers and staff, it is what underpins every decision in the business and has been the driving force behind this latest investment,” he concludes.

Liz Millward, Marketing Manager Emergency and Rescue Services at Draeger Safety UK, says it is fantastic that AirBoss has been ordered so soon after launch: “It is testament to the forward thinking nature of Belfast City Airport team – and indeed the long-standing relationship and trust that they have in our brand,” she says.

3M Scott Fire & Safety release the C5 Facepiece

by Americas - ProductsBreathing ApparatusProducts

3M Scott Fire & Safety, a global leader in respiratory protection and thermal imaging solutions, proudly announces its latest facepiece solution to help firefighters communicate clearly and hear what matters, the 3M Scott Vision C5 Facepiece with Radio Direct Interface.

Designed using a platform approach, the Vision C5 facepiece with radio direct interface incorporates the latest technology to enhance situational intelligence in a customizable solution. Expanding on the 3M Scott Vision C5 Facepiece with E-Z Flo C5 Regulator, the facepiece now includes Bluetooth communications to help address critical communication challenges on the fireground.

“Two of the biggest challenges in fireground operations are communications and accountability,” said Gary Silsby, application engineer and firefighter. “Firefighters’ ability to communicate clearly over the radio and hear incoming communications is paramount to successful fireground operations.”

Utilizing proprietary noise suppression algorithms, in combination with a facepiece-integrated microphone, Bluetooth enabled in-mask communications provide enhanced voice intelligibility during two-way radio communications. An integrated bone conduction headphone assists firefighters with hearing and understanding of incoming radio communications.

“As an industry leader, our role at 3M Scott Fire & Safety is to provide innovative solutions to help improve the safety and accountability of first responders,” said John Graves, global product marketer. “Providing a modular facepiece with in-mask communications allows fire departments the flexibility to configure the best solution to meet their needs.”

The Vision C5 facepiece with radio direct interface operates with compatible 3M Scott Air-Pak SCBA, as well as compatible two-way radios. A perfect companion to the 3M Scott Air-Pak X3 Pro SCBA, the Vision C5 facepiece was designed to provide enhancements to five key areas – cleanability, comfort, connectivity, communications, and configurability – helping firefighters to see more, hear what matters, and breathe easier.

Innovations in firefighter safety: Telemetry, Technology and Connectivity

by Breathing ApparatusProductsProjects

On the 23rd of March, International Fire and Safety Journal and MSA Safety will be hosting a webinar on innovations in firefighter safety: Telemetry, Technology and Connectivity.

International Fire and Safety Journal had the pleasure of speaking with Aurélie Favre – MSA Marketing Manager First Responder, and Kevin Tomkins – MSA First Responder Specialist UK & Ireland, to find out what we can expect from the webinar, and why new innovations are vital for crew safety.

What can we expect from the upcoming webinar?

AF: “I think you can expect to be given some in-depth detail on MSA’s vision on the future of firefighting. It will provide some educational perspective to our audience, and it will explain the foundation of the connected fighter eco-system that MSA wants to go in to. We have tried to give an overview of what connectivity and Breathing Apparatus telemetry is so the audience can understand some of the technical details that are hiding behind each piece of equipment.”

KT: “It is a deep dive in to the detail of telemetry, technology and connectivity, and it’s really from the perspective of the firefighter, the command officer in charge and the fire chief. From those three perspectives, we’re going to show them how this can fit in to their life and how it can serve them.” 

How long has this new connected fire fighter solution been in the making?

AF: “This type of technology and eco-system has taken a long time to develop because it involves a lot of software development and new equipment which has to stay intuitive and most importantly, reliable. Here we designed a new SCBA called M1 and all the connected eco-system around. From the perspective of MSA, this project really started with the G1 SCBA and the success with this has been huge since it has been released to the North America/NFPA market.”

What is the driving force behind the project?

AF: “The reason we wanted to continue this project and introduce more technology and connectivity in the UK is because the region is one of the most advanced countries that already use or require telemetry enabled systems. We believe that by adding connectivity as a second layer to telemetry systems, we will help to improve the safety of crew members.”

KT: “Our customers have identified what we call the safety gap. Ultimately, they are the ones that are driving the technology. It’s MSA’s engagement with the end user and working together with what we call voice of the customer and collaboration that has helped us to develop a solution. It’s not just a great idea from us, it’s what our customers have asked us to do and that has really driven this forward.”

What are some of the benefits for the fire services?

KT: “Data can teach us a lot. For example. after an incident happens to get a report quickly is something that just doesn’t exist anywhere in the world, certainly not in the UK. That is just post-incident, we can also measure the firefighter as an individual, the equipment, time, air performance, alarms and so much more. When a chief gets this information, they can look at that and achieve better benchmarking, team performance and base lines they want to achieve. There are so many areas they can dig in to, to see how they can move forward in a better and improved way.”

AF: “From a maintenance perspective, the fire service can improve the way they save and aggregate their data. We still see a lot of fire brigades who use spreadsheets to manage their inventory and maintenance scheduling. Connectivity and better software will enable brigades and technicians to improve the way they schedule, run or predict maintenance and allows them to have access to vital data at any time, anywhere right after an incident has happened.”

Is this the future of firefighting?

KT: “Absolutely. It is already changing the way they think about firefighter safety and how technology can underpin that improvement. Without doubt fire services are seeing that technology in the moment is helping improve firefighter safety, and technology of the future is helping safeguard firefighter health.”

AF: “Overall, connectivity shall be seen as a modern tool to simplify firefighters job in a world where the digital stakes are already high, a peace of mind to execute their tasks in order to keep them safe in the most dangerous situations”.

Join IFSJ’s and MSA’s webinar on the application of new technologies for increased firefighter safety and efficiency by registering for FREE on the following link – https://lnkd.in/dQbAVcM

3M Scott releases new ‘face of firefighting’

by Breathing ApparatusProducts

3M Scott Fire & Safety has announced the “new face of firefighting” with the 3M Scott Vision C5 Facepiece with E-Z Flo C5 Regulator. Designed using a platform approach, the new facepiece incorporates the latest technology to enhance situational intelligence, while providing a customisable solution to meet the changing needs of today’s firefighter.

“Firefighters go into situations that many people cannot imagine. We want to give them every advantage we can, so we work directly with firefighters to understand the challenges they face,” said Andrew P. Johnson, global product marketer for NFPA SCBA.

“Together, we were able to translate those challenges into product requirements, resulting in the improved comfort, wider field of vision and enhanced breathability you now get with the Vision C5 facepiece and E-Z Flo C5 regulator.”

The Vision C5 facepiece operates with compatible 3M™ Scott™ Air-Pak™ SCBA, including the latest Air-Pak X3 Pro, compliant to the NFPA 1981, 2018 Edition standard. A wider field of view helps to improve situational intelligence and a single reflex face seal provides a more comfortable fit and greater ease when donning the facepiece.

Expanding on the cleanability benefits of the Air-Pak X3 Pro, the Vision C5 offers a re-designed head harness enabling easy removal, without the use of tools, and simplifying the process of machine laundering to assist firefighters with exposure reduction efforts.

Complementary to the new facepiece, the E-Z Flo C5 regulator builds upon the proven design of the E-Z Flo+ with enhancements to key performance areas. Enhanced breathability helps reduce user burden and improve operational efficiencies, while a reduced frequency Vibralert End-of-ServiceTime Indicator (EOSTI) improves two-way radio communications.

The heads-up display (HUD) has been recessed into the regulator, with additional icons to provide visual alerts when paired with the Air-Pak X3 Pro SCBA configured with the SEMS II Pro Wireless SCBA Telemetry System. A simple, yet noticeable change is the incorporation of an auto air-saver switch to simplify operation and help prevent inadvertent air loss when the regulator is removed.