Cited: Business Wire

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company sponsored a national survey of firefighters that indicates negative economic effect on Arizona fire departments. The survey was taken by 9500 are departments or 30% of our departments in the country including €109 on a fire departments. The survey was called “Supporting Safer Communities: A National Firefighter Survey.” According to the survey the top challenges in Arizona facing fire departments today are:

• Three-quarters of all fire departments believe staffing, recruitment and retention is at least somewhat challenging in the current economic climate.
• Seventy-two percent say insufficient gear is at least somewhat challenging and 74% state old/outdated gear is at least somewhat challenging.
• Fifty-nine percent of departments have had to increase fundraising efforts and/or grant writing because of budget cutbacks.
• Six in ten departments have delayed replacing equipment and three-quarters have delayed purchasing new equipment.
• Forty-three percent of departments do not have adequate training when it comes to hazardous materials incidents.

“When you consider that firefighters are the first responders to nearly every fire, medical emergency, and natural or man-made disaster in our local communities, it is imperative that we have adequate funding to ensure we keep our communities safe,” said Jeff Piechura, Northwest Fire District Fire Chief, and Chairman of the Arizona Fire Services Institute. “This study is extremely valuable for both its depth and scope - one that effectively shows the needs of today’s fire service in communities across the country and particularly here in Arizona.”

The study was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs based in New York, and was available online for six weeks from mid-February to March 31, 2009 to all career and volunteer firefighters. Nearly 17,500 firefighters participated, 61% of which hold the rank of fire official (chief, captain or lieutenant). Full results can be found at www.firemansfund.com/firesurvey.

For those working in an industry where fire can be a work hazard. . . There are online vendors that provide clients with Carhartt workwear at an affordable price. With secure online ordering service that offer customer’s access to Carhartt and Bulwark flame retardant work wear from the comfort of their homes. Some may also embroidery and corporate pricing on purchases of 25 or more pieces with FREE Shipping in the U.S. on orders above $100 and the highest quality service possible!

Not all Arizona findings were grim:

Seventy-five percent of fire departments have adequate extrication equipment needed to safely and quickly remove injured people from a vehicle crash.

Eighty-two percent of departments have at least one thermal imaging camera, considered a critical tool to identify hot spots and locate injured or sleeping persons in a burning building.

“As a company, Fireman’s Fund believes it is extremely important to raise awareness of the needs of local fire departments,” said Chuck Kavitsky, Chairman of Fireman’s Fund. “Supporting the fire service means safer communities. That is why we have focused our philanthropic giving to directing grants to fire departments throughout the country.”

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s nationwide philanthropic program is designed to provide needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued grants to more than 1,100 different departments totaling more than $21 million. Independent insurance agencies that sell Fireman’s Fund products are able to direct these grants to support fire stations in their communities. In the last five years, Fireman’s Fund has issued 23 grants to Arizona fire departments, totaling $183,144.

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. Ipsos Public Affairs conducts strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research company. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos-pa.com.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products nationwide and is a member of the Allianz Group (NYSE:AZ), who provide insurance and financial services around the world.. It is rated ‘AA-’ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services. It was founded in 1863 with the express purpose of supporting firefighters, Fireman’s Fund continues this effort today through its national philanthropic efforts. For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.

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My Take: I am very glad that there is somebody out there helping Fireman! Firemen do not get paid enough as it is. Does it still are on the job, feel it is their duty. This makes them honorable men. The same goes for police officers. These two professions are the most underpaid professions in the United States today.

The police and the fire department keep communities alive. In turn, communities should keep police and firefighters happy. It is true that legally neither one of these groups can go on a full, all-out, strike. A full all-out strike is one where nobody is working. Therefore, the only alternative they have is what the police department calls the “blue flu”. It was so named because many police officers uniforms are a dark navy blue. Basically, at least half, if not more, of the working force of either the police or fire department, get sick and cannot come in to work.

Many city governments have started requiring medical proof from employees who are suffering from the “blue flu”. Ironically, almost all of them have the proof. This tells me that the medical profession supports our police departments and our fire departments. If only more of our communities would stand behind these two departments, they would probably have more people working than they do now to save lives.

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Some fantastic things are happening in the advancement of flame resistant clothing. According to Science Daily in July 2008, protective clothing worn by firefighters and other emergency workers may soon get a germ-fighting upgrade. Researchers in South Dakota reported progress toward the first Kevlar fabrics that can kill a wide range of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and the spores that cause anthrax. The researchers also said that the coating is long lasting, can be reactivated and will not cause any loss of fabric comfort or strength.

At Texas A&M, a Dr. Jaime Grunlan has developed a thin film composite coating of polymer and clay that three-dimensionally lines the walls of a foam object and renders it flame resistant. Where fabric is concerned, each thread can be individually coated with a flame retardant clay-filled thin film and remains soft and flexible.

And down under in Melbourne, Kiwi scientists have developed a revolutionary new fabric, which is not only flame resistant but is stab resistant as well and is as light as wool. According to Dr. Ingram of AgResearch, the new fabric is tough enough to withstand a blowtorch as well as other commercial applications. This new fabric is not only flame resistant but may also help protect soldiers from flying shrapnel.

This means that Carhartt will be getting new material to make its Carhartt coats out of as well as its various other flame resistant work wear. It also means that firefighters and other emergency workers will be safer when doing their jobs protecting us.

Heat, fire, combustible dust related explosions can all cause severe burn injuries and fatalities for workers in the construction, electrical and related fields, as well as firemen and other emergency crews.

That’s why it’s so important that these workers and others who may be exposed to these hazards wear some form of protective work wear, including flame resistant clothing, also known as FRC.

There are many companies out there catering to the needs of these workers by offering a wide supply of clothing designed for men and women, including Carhartt coats, waterproof overalls, high visibility vests and outerwear and hats, gloves and flame-resistant accessories.

But all the best gear in the world won’t cut it when it comes to protecting the crew if management doesn’t enforce standards for properly protecting their workers.  You might want to take a few tips from  David Osbon, product manager at Unifirst uniforms and services.  He’s put together a pretty thorough podcast on the importance of wearing FRCs, particularly when it comes to handling combustible particulate solids that generate combustible dust.

In his podcast, Osbon contends that many manufacturing facility managers are not aware of the fire hazard from combustible dust explosions and that in many of these instances, when vapors carry the potential for flash fires and explosions, that wearing FRC is actually a requirement by OSHA.   In fact, the  OSHA general duty clause requires that employers provide FRC’s to all employees when a hazard is potentially present from combustible dust related fires and explosions. Furthermore the OSHA Dust NEP states:

Visit the site and listen to the podcast for much more information about OSHA and FRCs.  If you’re in the market for your own FRCs, or for heavy duty outerwear, try any retailer offering products from the Carhartt line.  These folks have been in the business of providing top-quality workwear, including FRCs, for many years.

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