Fire/emergency medical services

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Tumwater, WA – Thermal stress caused by intense heat during live fires, including live-fire training exercises, could cause the facepiece lenses on firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus to worsen rapidly and fail, warns a new hazard bulletin from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Washington – Congress has reauthorized funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care and medical coverage to workers who responded during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Washington – NIOSH has developed the first database of firefighter body measurements, aiming to help improve the design and safety of firefighter equipment.

Quincy, MA – Firefighter injuries in 2014 decreased almost 4 percent from the previous year, according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association.

Greenbelt, MD – For a limited time, the National Volunteer Fire Council is offering 16 health and safety classes at no cost.

Quincy, MA – A newly funded research project aims to determine if current methods are sufficient for removing toxins from firefighters’ personal protective equipment.

Gaithersburg, MD – A four-year effort on the part of researchers has led to recent safety improvements for emergency responders and an updated standard for ambulance design.

Pittsburgh – Emergency medical services workers whose shifts last longer than 12 hours have double the risk of an occupational injury or illness, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh.

Montreal – Emergency dispatchers who work at 911 call centers face a variety of physical and mental challenges in a high-stress environment, according to a study conducted by scientific research organization IRSST.

Washington – An updated manual from OSHA is intended to improve safety for emergency responders by informing them about various building features and designs.