Title:
Cancer Prevention/ Decontamination
Policy or Guideline Number: / Date Issued:
Date Revised:
ISSUED and Approved By:

PURPOSE: 9/28/2018

Given the data that occupational cancer rates are higher among firefighters than they are for the general population this policy is provided in an effort to reduce exposures to known carcinogens and provide methods of decontamination.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Fire Chief and other Suppression Officers will have the primary responsibility to ensure this policy is followed and implemented. However, all members have a responsibility to themselves and their families to ensure this policy is followed.

GENERAL:

Health:

  1. All members who use tobacco should seriously consider stopping the use of all forms of tobacco. The department should consider implementing a tobacco cessation program to assist members.
  1. Eat a balanced meal of fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods.
  1. Eat less processed meat/red meat and high calorie foods.
  1. If alcohol is consumed do so in moderation.
  1. Get an annual physical to include screenings for cancer. Ensure your doctor knows you’re a firefighter.
  1. Get an annual check-up from a dermatologist. Ensure the doctor knows you’re a firefighter.

GENERAL:

While engaged in firefighting activity:

  1. A risk benefit analysis should be completed by the Incident Commander in an effort to limit personnel being exposed to toxic exposure. (For example cancelling units not needed.)
  2. To limit airborne contaminants from entering the cabs of vehicles, apparatus should be parked uphill and upwind whenever possible. Windows should be closed and air conditioning and heating units turned off.
  3. Apparatus not being used should be shut off to reduce diesel exhaust on the scene.
  4. All personnel entering the Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere shall wear and use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
  5. All personnel will wear full protective clothing to include flash-hoods.
  6. Even when smoke is not visible during overhaul SCBA will be worn until and officer gives the approval to remove SCBA.

POST FIRE ACTIONS ON SCENE

GENERAL: Dry Decontamination.

Dry Decontamination may be the best practice during cold weather. Soaking turn-out gear in cold weather could create additional hazards.

Procedures:

  1. If practical firefighters should attempt to perform gross-decontamination while still on breathing air. This will help in keeping contaminates from being splashed in to their face and protect them from breathing airborne contaminates.
  2. If the air-cylinder is empty or the low air warning has activated, the individual will remove the face-mounted regulator and keep the face-piece in place.
  3. Use a long handled brush to brush large particles from the turn-out gear. Start at the head and work down to the boots.
  4. Try to remove all visible contaminates.
  5. Remove firefighter gloves and replace with rubber gloves.
  6. Remove helmet and place in large plastic bag.[1]
  7. Prior to removal of face-piece every effort should be made to wipe around the face-piece with a wet wipe or damp towel.
  8. Remove breathing apparatus after being decontaminated and place it in a large plastic bag. If practical SCBA should not be placed in the cab.
  9. Remove remaining protective clothing and place in large plastic bag.[2]
  10. Use fresh wipes or damp towel to wipe, neck, face then hands.
  11. Stow bag containing SCBA, helmet and gloves in an area other than cab if possible.

POST FIRE ACTIONS ON SCENE

GENERAL: Wet Decontamination.

Wet Decontamination is the preferred method for decontamination.

Procedures:

  1. If practical firefighters should attempt to perform gross-decontamination while still on breathing air. This will help in keeping contaminates from being splashed in to their face and protect them from breathing airborne contaminates.
  2. Ensure the neck closure of turn out coat is closed to prevent water entering around the neck area.
  3. Ensure all pockets are closed.
  4. Rinse turn out gear with water from hose to remove heavy debris.
  5. Add soap to the brush begin washing from the helmet down.
  6. Wash gloves by placing a small amount of soap on them wash as you would your hands.
  7. Remove gloves and replace with nitrile rubber gloves.
  8. Once all gear including SCBA has been washed, remove helmet.
  9. Remove flash hood.
  10. Remove face-piece.
  11. Remove SCBA.
  12. Remove turn out coat.
  13. Remove turn out pants.
  14. Place all gear in oversized plastic bag. Bag containing gear should be placed some place other than cab if at all possible.
  15. Use water and soap to wash hands, face and neck. If water and soap are not available use wet wipes.
  16. Wet wipes and rubber gloves will be disposed of in a separate garbage bag.

Post Fire Actions on Scene (Special Circumstances):10/23/201710/23/20179/28/2018

Whenever practical personnel who were engaged in firefighting activity should decontaminate each other while still wearing their protective clothing, including SCBA. However when this is not possible the following procedures will be followed.

  1. An individual from the department who was not exposed to contaminates (IE: a driver) wearing full protective clothing and at least a filter mask will follow the steps for dry or wet decontamination as out-lined above.

This policy is not limited to structural fire suppression activities, it may also be applicable for other types of fires such as vehicle fires, dumpster fires, etc. The ultimate decision to implement this policy at the conclusion of fire suppression activity shall rest with the Incident Commander.

Post Fire Actions at Station:

Protective clothing to include flash-hoods, helmets and gloves will be washed in accordance with the appropriate department standard operating procedures and manufacturer’s recommendations.

Self-contained breathing apparatus will be cleaned in accordance with the appropriate department standard operating procedures and manufacturer’s recommendations.

Personal Post Fire Actions for Personnel:

  1. Wear disposable rubber gloves when handling contaminated gear and equipment.
  2. Wash hands with soap and water.
  3. Wash face and neck with soap and water.
  4. Don’t enter living areas of fire station with protective clothing or contaminated street clothing or work uniforms.
  5. Shower within the hour [3] whenever possible.

10/23/2017Special footnote 1: When performing wet decontamination the outside of boots including the soles should be washed to reduce cross contamination of apparatus cabs, etc.

Special footnote 2: Departments should work with the local EMS organization that provides firefighter rehab to establish procedures to reduce cross contamination to EMS personnel and rehab equipment. Gross decontamination should not be an EMS function. EMS is there to perform rehab and medical monitoring not perform gross decontamination.

Special footnote 3: It is an accepted fact that not all departments will have the resources to provide all of their members with a second set of protective clothing. In these cases dry decontamination should be completed as an absolute minimum. Consideration should be given to removing all protective clothing and placing in a plastic bag prior to boarding apparatus to return to quarters. The protective in these bags should not be carried in the cab of apparatus. Protective clothing should be washed as soon as possible upon returning to quarters. Washing one or two sets of protective clothing at a time would help prevent placing an entire company out of service due to a lack of protective clothing. It should also be noted that there are hundreds of videos available by doing a simple Google search for cleaning firefighter gear.

Special footnote 4: Station uniforms or street clothing should be changed as soon as possible after taking a shower to avoid re-contaminating the skin. Firefighters should consider having extra uniforms or street clothing to include under-garments at the station to enable the changing of clothes. If at all possible the contaminated clothing should be washed at the station to avoid taking the contaminated clothing home. If this is not possible every effort should be made to reduce cross contamination of the firefighters privately owned vehicle. If the contaminated clothing will be washed at home it should be done as soon as possible and should be washed by itself. After washing the contaminated clothing a wash cycle using hot water and bleach should be ran through the machine to help remove contaminates from the machine and prevent contamination of other clothing.

Draft as of 10-23-17

1

[1] The plastic bag should be clear to ensure the bag will not be mistaken as trash and thrown away.

[2] During inclement weather consider the use of oversized disposable Haz-mat suits to worn over protective clothing. This will reduce cross-contamination of the vehicle cab.

[3] Attributed to Firefighter Cancer Support Network. firefightercancersupport.org