Fireground Showers for Smoke Contamination?

[Messyshaw]

I am not sure whether this an operational or health area, so forgive me if I have put it in the wrong area

In the new year, I will be involved in a project aimed to provide a group of specialist workers involved (broadly spreading) in the construction industry with safe systems of work in relation to accidental and unplanned contamination. Perceived contamination risks are likely to be limited to asbestos, carcinogens and a range of common chemical type hazards.

The work undertaken may not be able to be subject to RAMS (This is a proactive system where a risk assessment is carried out in advance, leading to method statements)  Instead, a dynamic risk assessment process has been developed that is similar to fire service DRAs. This work is well underway 

I intend to reach out to fire service managers  in due course to see if we can gain from lessons already learned.

For example, with the UK fire service hopefully waking up to the huge area of contamination to equipment and kit from from smoke & fire debris, I was asked if any UK fire service has placed an operational shower unit on the run. I know there's a 1001 types of Welfare Units - but I am not sure whether that's a polite term for mobile bog - so might not have showers? Its an area that caused significant interest before Christmas 

I hadn't thought of the need fireground showers to decontaminate crews en sene of smoke particles. I know some UKFRS supply paper overalls for the most contaminated crews to travel to the station, but I wondered if any had gone any further to supply shower vehicles?. It might sound mad and an unnecessary expense - but I am a member of a Facebook Group of retired FFS and we lose far oo many too early from cancer. Its an epidemic which is unacceptable 

In the late 1970s, the LFB replaced the old ice cream van sized Chemical Incident Unit with a bread van upgrade.  The new 'nine-two ' had at least one shower (maybe 2?) in the rear for personal contamination. The victim could strip naked and take a hot shower powered by a LPG heater. I have no idea if it was ever used, but it shows that even then it was possible 

[Becile]

Hi messy,

We haven't gone down the mobile shower route  as cost v benefit. Already have paper suits. Hero wipes, spare kit. Shower within hour policy . The neatest I've seen to this is when asbestos removal workers have temp showers.

Agree too many of us old sods disappearing through the risks we took with contaminants, hopefully we're learning.(search John lord on linked in for someone who is passionate in the area) there's a conference in March but think all the tickets are gone now)

Take care 

[LFB92]

This is something that needs to happen. I thought we could all carry a small kit bag with a tracksuit, underwear and our trainers, then at a job before getting back onto the appliance in contaminated workwear, we could shower, bag up our workwear then change into clean comfortable clothes. 
 

There’s so much to be done, and I feel the fire service is half assing it still.

[Matt]

As far as I am aware other than decontamination showers there are no facilities within the UK that I am aware of.

Most Welfare vans are Transit size vehicles mainly with a toilet and hot packs in, there is a sink and that but nothing shower wise.  The only one that may is Avon who converted an old CARP into a welfare unit so has the size (as seen here) but no indication it does.

Seems to be strip fire kit on site, wipes and shower back at station.

[Becile]

8 hours ago, Becile said:

Hi messy,

We haven't gone down the mobile shower route  as cost v benefit. Already have paper suits. Hero wipes, spare kit. Shower within hour policy . The neatest I've seen to 

Strike that what do I know..was at a vehicles and equipment meeting today, seems we are looking at a welfare unit with showers!(wildfire related)

[Keith]

On 29/12/2023 at 13:39, Matt said:

Avon who converted an old CARP into a welfare unit

A Carp converted in to a crapper, you just have to laugh at the absurdity of it. Imagine being in that meeting, so what do we do with the CARP, I've got an idea!

You really do wonder, think of how much money that will have already been wasted and the additional cost of re-engineering it, to give you a "new" welfare unit on a 14 year old motor. 

[Br9mp81]

On 29/12/2023 at 17:03, Becile said:

Strike that what do I know..was at a vehicles and equipment meeting today, seems we are looking at a welfare unit with showers!(wildfire related)

shame they binned all those mass decon units,the hughes inflatables would have done the job

 

[Matt]

@Keith I can see why they did what they did, probably cheaper having a chassis already, sell off the ladder set and chuck a box on the back but I never thought about it that way when writing the reply above!!

Hughes showers, space they take up, what is needed to get them running, probably cause more work clearning it ready to go again and storing, least having a fixed install in a vehicle might make it easier I don't know.  Surely a wipe down with a wipe and bag kit up on the fireground then go back to station for a proper shower is the best option, if things are really bad then decontamination kit comes out but if your at a job and 30 FF's need a shower you have a van there with 2 showers in is it worth it, surely be quicker to go back to station and do it?