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Firefighter Health, Safety and Cancer Initiative

The top program accomplishments for the Houston Fire Department for fiscal years 2018 through 2019 involved policy and program improvements in six distinct categories; Health and Safety, Fleet and Equipment, Homeland Security/Disaster Response, Deployment Protocols, Professional Development and Facilities. Due tremendous support from the Mayor’s office and budget approvals from Houston City Council, State and Federal Grants, as well donations through the Fire Fighter Foundation of Houston and other donors, we have made significant progress in providing Houston firefighters with the tools and equipment necessary to safely perform their job and care for the community we serve.

Fire Chief Sam Peña’s efforts to improve the health and safety of firefighters has moved to the next phase with recent award of the Assistance to Fireﬁghters Grant (AFG). Read More >>>

HFD Decon bucket and supplies Cancer Prevention Initiatives

Accomplishments:

Compliance Officer Assignment: A Senior Captain has been assigned as the department’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Compliance Officer. This position is tasked with ensuring that all personnel are inspecting, cleaning and caring for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851 regulated PPE. Non- participation in advanced inspection and cleaning of PPE places firefighters’ health and safety at risk. Assignment of this officer to monitor and audit departmental participation has resulted in 100% compliance with PPE advanced cleaning and inspection requirements.

Protective Hoods: To limit exposure to contaminants and carcinogens that may be deposited on the protective hood during firefighting operations, funding has been secured to issue a 2nd PPE Hood to each firefighter in Emergency Operations. These PPE Hoods are part of a firefighter’s protective ensemble designed to protect the neck and ears during firefighting operations. Issuance of a second protective hood will allow firefighters to swap to a clean protective hood while the contaminated equipment is laundered and cleaned.

Gear Bags: To limit the possibility of cross contamination from dirty PPE, a PPE gear bag has been issued to each firefighter and arson investigator. These bags are designed to protect and encapsulate a firefighter’s PPE during transport and limit exposure from soiled gear.

Gross Decontamination (Decon) Kits: One of the most effective steps to decrease carcinogen exposure for firefighters is gross decon of PPE immediately after a fire related incident. Post-Fire Decon Kits contain the tools and equipment needed to wash off the bulk of contaminants and residue from a firefighter’s personal protective ensemble. Kits are issued to all Engine companies

Decontamination Wipes: One of the first steps firefighters can take to protect themselves from cancer is on-scene personal gross decon immediately after a fire related incident. These wipes are designed for the removal of soot and other contaminants from the surface of the skin after firefighting operations, thus limiting the absorption, inhalation or ingestion of dangerous particulates.

Respiratory Protection: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Mask with particulate filter respirators issued to Arson Investigators for use during fire investigation and other environments where airborne particulate exposure is possible.

Fleet

Arson Division PPE: Tyvek suits and coveralls issued to Arson Investigators to help reduce exposure to soot and other carcinogens during investigation of fire scenes. All investigators have been issued upgraded safety helmets and fire boots for use on fire scenes.

Life Safety Bureau(LSB)PPE:Safety equipment issued to inspectors in accordance with NFPA 1031. SCBA Mask with respirator kit and Tyvek suits are issued to plan checking team for use when particulate/asbestos exposure is possible.

Atmospheric Gas Monitors:Gas monitors have been purchased and issued to Arson Investigators, certain LSB personnel and Emergency Operations District Chiefs to detect atmospheric hazards and appropriately assess atmospheric conditions.

Strategic Needs:

NFPA Compliant Annual Physicals: Establish personal base line of health and assist with early detection of cancer and facilitate action to manage cancer

HFD Exhaust Removal Hose hooked up to Truck Exhaust Removal Systems

Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña’s efforts to improve the health and safety of firefighters is in high gear with the installation of nine additional diesel exhaust removal systems in Houston fire stations. Due to the extremely busy emergency response system in Houston firefighters are exposed to vehicle fumes on a routine basis. When these vehicles are started, the exhaust infiltrates the living and sleeping areas of the fire stations that are staffed around the clock. Before Chief Pena implemented a department-wide health and safety initiative only one fire station out of 94 was equipped with exhaust removal systems . That number is now up to ten and includes stations 7,8, 9,16,21,25,51,28,60, and 31. Six more installations have been scheduled for stations 39,46,56,58,68, and 73. These are the busiest fire stations in the city and are responsible for deployment to a quarter of HFD’s emergencies. Approximately 600 of HFD’s firefighters are assigned to these stations. These systems will provide a healthier and safer work environment for Houston’s busiest first responders.

In 2017, the HFD applied to FEMA for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to begin modernizing and installing vehicle exhaust capture and removal systems. In July of 2018, the HFD was awarded the grant in the amount of $703,914, with a grant match obligation of $70,391. Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council approved the matching funds.

There are still 78 fire stations that remain in need of vehicle exhaust systems. With an average cost of $80,000 per station, the retrofitting of the remaining fire stations will cost approximately $6,240,000.

“We are making great progress with the installation of a vehicle exhaust systems in our fire stations. But we still have work to do. Installing this equipment in each of our 94 fire stations is essential to creating a healthy and safe working environment for our employees. I appreciate the Mayor and the Houston City Council’s commitment and continued support of this initiative,” Sam Peña, Fire Chief.

The HFD will continue to pursue grant opportunities in forwarding its health and safety initiative with the plan to modernize 15 additional fire stations in calendar year 2019-2020.

Ballistic Vest and helmets on table Ballistic Vests

With an increase in the number of violent incidents against first responders across the county the need for increased Firefighter personal protective equipment is great. Many times, firefighters arrive on scene before law enforcement on incidentsof violence such as shootings, stabbings and assaults. The gear traditionally worn by firefighters is designed to protect them from flames, not penetrating trauma. That’s why Fire Chief Samuel Peña pushed for the purchase of ballistic vests for HFD and thanks to Mayor Sylvester Turner, City Council, and federal grant funding, the process has begun to move forward. The total cost is more than a million dollars for this department-wide purchase.

“The threat of falling through a collapsing roof, working in busy traffic lanes, or oxygen deficient atmospheres is not the only on-the-job danger today’s firefighters have to worry about. We must now also consider protection against violent acts. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) now has standards that discuss Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for active-shooter and civil-unrest situations," said Fire Chief Sam Peña. "It is a new reality that is contrary to how we’ve always viewed this honorable profession, but protective clothing must be compatible with the environment we work in. This is the next progression of tools of the trade. Vest-wearing as PPE will come to be an industry best-practice, and this is something our Firefighters deserve for us to be out in front on."

The bid process is now ongoing. Once approved and procured, firefighters will wear the vests during calls that clearly have the potential for danger, such as domestic violence incidents, shootings, stabbings, etc. The vests will be paid partly through a federal grant and general fund allocations approved by Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“I appreciate the taxpayers, Mayor Turner and City Council for allocating funding for this purchase. Making sure our firefighters are protected in dangerous situations is of the upmost importance,” said Chief Peña.