Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented the report which included the background to the development of new fibres and fabrics that provided enhanced personal protection in line with European firefighter personal protection equipment standards. 

Over the past two years the Service had been researching and evaluating a range of options for improving operational efficiency and enhanced firefighter health and safety as part of its future fighting strategy.  The concept of Technical Rescue Jackets was to provide firefighters with an alternative level of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which would provide an increased level of personal safety and improve the performance of firefighters in the varied tasks undertaken during modern operational activities.

The concept of the Technical Rescue (Multi-Function) Jacket had been around for some time. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service had purchased a layered approach version approximately 18 Months ago however, this had proved problematic with wearers (particularly when utilising the garment for structural Firefighting) suffering from retained heat issues due to the extra layers. They had also had issues with the Multi-Function inner layer (Orange) jacket due to the textiles used in manufacture.  Therefore LFRS, Cumbria FRS and Cheshire FRS had looked at an alternative approach of having separate Multi-function and structural Jackets. An example of a Technical Rescue (multi-function) Jacket was demonstrated.

Advantages

The Technical Rescue (Multi-function) jackets were also less bulky and therefore provide greater comfort and dexterity for rescue type incidents, providing greater freedom of movement due to the garment’s ergonomic performance and reducing the effects of heat stress during warm weather and whilst worn under strenuous working conditions, such as at road traffic collisions when operating heavy rescue cutting equipment. The specification written for the jackets was for them to meet the relevant Hi-Viz standard; this enabled the jackets to be worn on Highways without the need for the current conspicuity coats which were issued to each appliance. The current conspicuity coats were issued per appliance and not per individual so there were current fit issues and maintaining the Hi-Viz standard, because when the coats got to a certain degree of discolouration they no longer met the standard. The Jackets would be issued on the pool system so this would be part of the cleaning and maintenance contract ensuring LFRS met obligations under the Health and Safety At Work Act and that LFRS staff were safe when operating on the roads.

The lighter-weight garment offered heat protection making it suitable for Moorland firefighting. Moorland Firefighting had historically caused issues for Firefighters becoming too hot wearing structural PPE. This was due to a number of factors, being the weather (usually warm weather related fires), the terrain to get the fire (generally involved a long trek over undulating ground) and the physical exertion of the Firefighting and close proximity to the fire involved with certain extinguishment techniques. This had led to Firefighters removing their structural tunics to prevent themselves overheating. However this practice then caused a serious health and safety issue, due to Moorland fires having the potential to spread faster than a person could run, thus putting Firefighters in a dangerous position of not having the correct personal protection. The Lighter Jacket would enable Firefighters to undertake the Moorland Firefighting duties much more safely with full personal protection.

The above would also have a knock on effect of staff being able to undertake Moorland firefighting duties not only safely with full PPE, but would also be able to undertake these duties for longer periods without the need to be relieved by alternative staff due to heat stress. Therefore less staff would be required to be deployed to these incidents, reducing mobilising costs and also enabling efficient emergency response cover to be maintained for other incidents.

Feedback from wearer trials

Trials of the jackets had taken place at Fulwood, Cumbria FRS and Cheshire FRS and feedback had been very positive with crews particularly liking the freedom of movement and the reduced thermal stress afforded by a lighter jacket.

The only observation from the wearers during the trial was that due to the jacket not having a liner, during colder weather this could be an issue. This was alleviated by LFRS, Cumbria FRS and Cheshire FRS as all 3 services already issued a personal fleece jacket for staff to wear during cold weather which could be worn underneath the jacket. During the recent cold spell the crews taking part in the trial in LFRS attended a road traffic collision on the M6 with the temperature at minus 3 degrees. They stated that with the fleece underneath they were warm enough during the incident.

The technical rescue (multifunction) jacket has been trialled at Fulwood for over 6 months and during this time has been utilised for a number of incidents and has stood up extremely well to the challenge, the garments have only been laundered a few times and have retained their condition and as well as still meeting the relevant Hi Viz standard they still look aesthetically pleasing.

Collaboration

The wearer trials have been conducted in 3 different Services in the North West with close contact being maintained between the three. All 3 Services are keen to move forward with the project and LFRS had been chosen as the lead organisation for a tender process. LFRS had written a specification for a jacket which would enable the jacket to be worn for most incidents apart from structural firefighting where the full protection of the current jacket would be required by firefighters.

The specification written improved on the current offerings of the manufacturers to offer greater heat protection for staff and also protection against blood borne pathogens for technical rescue work. This would improve the safety for the firefighters and would enable the technical rescue (Multi-Function) jacket to be the primary worn garment for non-structural incidents.

In response to a question from CC O’Toole, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the introduction of the Technical Rescue (Multi-Function) Jackets could be offered for consideration to the North West Fire Advisory Forum.

RESOLVED: - That the Authority note the contents of the report and support the introduction of the Technical Rescue (Multi-Function) Jackets to enhance the current PPE provision and safety of staff.