The fire department has developed a decontamination and hygiene program aimed at curbing that risk and reducing exposure to harmful contaminants, reports Niagara This Week.
Under the new program, firefighters will use specialty products for decontamination of their clothing and equipment while still on the scene of a fire before getting in the truck to leave. Studies have shown that effort alone — using soap, water and brushes — can reduce contamination on protective clothing by 85 per cent.
On top of that, the department has added a second layer of risk mitigation with new access to industrial washing machines and dryers for their protective gear when they return to the station.
