The cost of safety: Dave Matthews sheds light on the lack of global urgency to address occupational cancer risks
Iain Hoey
Share this content
By Dave Matthews, Global Expert, Fire & Industrial PPE Ltd
As a BSI, CEN, ISO Convener for over twenty years, also a member of the NFPA Correlating Committee for Fire & Other Emergency Services we have witnessed progress is some quarters, yet challenges in others.
Witnessing the dominance of some CEN & ISO PPE committees by multi-national companies whose intention is to protect their product portfolio is disappointing for end users.
It is becoming more difficult to recruit new delegates to BSI, CEN & ISO committees, from End User organisations virtually impossible.
In ISO SC14 we formed a PG Contaminants, making good progress but this was halted following complaints by a member state as to due process.
The WHO designation of firefighting as a category 1 occupation at risk from cancer ought to have brought immediate attention from the leading organisations, yet the silence has been deafening.
This has left industry to develop what they believe is required to protect end users
Only recently I received a scientific report from a test laboratory in Czech which causes further alarm: ‘Practical evaluation of the protective properties of firefighter suits against the penetration of combustion products’.
It clearly identifies that present firefighters PPE provides virtually no protection against vapours generated during fire incidents.
This has never really been addressed, more we were looking at the particulate challenge, so now having to address “vapour” is a real game changer.
I have forwarded the report to lead organisations and standards committees in the hope that they can all consider the scientific report and data and make a concerted effort to address the known and now new challenge of protecting end users.
John Lord, PGI and Hunter have led the way with conferences addressing the challenges and hazards associated with firefighting.
The recent scientific report indicates that cleaning of firefighters PPE is a key issue to be addressed and shows the low percentage obtained by normal washing as opposed to the high percentage obtained by LCO2.
There are costs involved in moving to LCO2 cleaning, but as deaths of firefighters from cancers globally continue to be recorded, it is vital that the lead organisations do in fact demonstrate some urgency on these matters.
As indicated my stint as a Convener has been lengthy often challenging, rewarding and sometimes disappointing but we need independent minded delegates who represent the end user safety perspective.
About the IFSJ Influencer
Dave Matthews is a dedicated firefighter from Leeds, West Yorkshire.
He served as the FBU National Health and Safety Officer for nearly two decades.
He was appointed by the Fire Minister as Chair of UK Fire Service Health and Safety Advisory Board.
Dave was also a visiting lecturer at the Fire Service College and is the director of Fire & Industrial PPE, a health and safety consultancy specialising in PPE.
He has chaired BSI, CEN, and ISO PPE Committees for over 20 years and is a delegate on the NFPA Correlating Committee for Fire & Other Emergency Services PPE.
IFSJ Influencers Edition 2024
The 2024 Influencers Special Edition of International Fire and Safety Journal is a collection of some of the most influential voices across the fire and safety industry, representing a collective following of 4.2 million.
Together, they provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments, challenges, and forward-looking insights shaping the global fire and safety sector.
Read all 30 influencer articles in the digital magazine now.
