Email Enquiry

prEN137:2002 Standard

Initial Email Enquiry –

I am just wondering how one will control the correct application – the “Industrial set” I suppose is for non-emergency work, but in the event of an emergency (fire) resulting from “non-emergency work” the operator will first have to change sets before handling the emergency.

This does not make sense, or am I missing it totally?

1^st Response –

I believe the standard relates as you have correctly interpreted to the perceived normal/standard work use. The standard makes clear delineation between those sets designed and intended for industrial none emergency use and those for emergency responders. It would seem and I open it up for debate that this is further evidence that RPE protection (PPE) is following in the footsteps of clothing PPE for fire-fighters in that we can overprotect the fire-fighter! This is very subjective and the views held quite divergent.

However, should I find myself engulfed by a 1000 degree Celsius + conflagration I am sure that one or two of you may be so good as to throw a little earth on my coffin - once you have peeled the set from my body! My body works best at 37degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit)

2^nd Response –

In total agreement with your last statement,"it do's not make sense".

Confusion can arise under extreme emergency response situations if allowed, where " working sets" and "emergency fire fighters sets" are the norm on site, this mix will happen at some time, and unknowingly set up a course of events that will result in a loss of life due to the incorrect equipment and training.

Remove the problem and simply keep to one standard fire fighting set, bearing in mind that if you allow working sets to be out on your site will allow personal to do something other than maintenance work, human nature will take its course to attempt to assist others if needed and endangering themselves, so control is needed.

I see no problem is using Emergency Fire fighters set for so called maintenance work, at Coryton we allow only one such event for boom loading on our shipping only if high H2s is known in the crude inventory at a specific ppm, below a set ppm a simple powered respirator, above SCBA, SCBA is used due to the height of shipping from jetty to boom connections, (we would need some 500 meter of air line) all of our the jetty operators are trained up to a set standard with controls in place, the fire station controls are such that the fire department issues all refinery BA to the work force, control is from start to finish through correct training, certification with "FIT" facial integrity testing which includes a BA medical.

Its good to discuss on matters like this.

3^rd Response –

At Sullom Voe in Shetland we have a similar approach to the last email, we do not have different Sets and we always ensure that personnel using the BA sets are trained by us and receive further familiarisation training prior to any work activity using SCBA. we always try to use air lines wherever possible.

4^th Response –

At our production facility in Montrose we also have a similar approach as the 2nd email response & the 3rd email response. The only SCBA sets we have are located on the 2 fire appliances and a mobile airline trolley unit which is housed in the fire station.The only personnel on site permitted to use, and trained to use SCBA are full/retained members of the site Fire service.

Some specialised contractors brought onto site for specific tasks bring their own SCBA,but this is checked for the correct spec and reg. requirements as necessary.

For day to day tasks,if the need for air supplied RPE is identified through COSHH assessments,then hard piped respiratory air is supplied through air lines,which are then attach to the airhood/suit via flexible lines.

5^th Response –

At Pfizer we use Interspiro fire fighting sets + airline which are also used by Kent Fire Rescue. About six years ago we started the process of removing working sets from around the site. That included BA sets from designated safety squads, as we found that they were using the sets without the proper controls. Leaving us to just service the sets and put them back on the run after the event.

There is only one locations where BA sets are used for escape purposes only these are maintained by us. A new purpose built control room currently under construction will remove that requirement.

Here at Pfizer Sandwich Fire and Rescue has full control of all BA sets including training by both an internal qualified BAI and an approved external provider.

End of email correspondence on Topic to date.

Author’s identities are concealed for privacy and security reasons. Further information on the information contained in this topic can be directed to the JOIFF secretariaty.