Journal Article Addresses Airborne Contamination During Post-Fire Investigations
Anyone involved in fire investigation is encouraged to review the findings in the Airborne contamination during post-fire investigations: hot, warm and cold scenes peer-reviewed journal article recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
While studies on chemical exposures from fire have mostly focused on members of the fire service during fire suppression or overhaul, fire investigators may be occupationally exposed to many of the same compounds but are often tasked with working on the scene for longer periods of time, ranging from hours to multiple days, and may do so with limited personal protective equipment.
UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the UL Asset and Sustainability Performance team to conduct this study, which characterizes the area air concentrations of contaminants during post-fire investigation of controlled residential fires with furnishings common to current bedroom, kitchen, and living room fires in the United States. Area air sampling was conducted during different investigation phases, including immediately after fire suppression and up to five days after the fire.
The study’s findings, shared in this article, highlight the need to protect investigators’ airways from particulates during fire investigation activities, as well as during post-fire reconstruction activities. Additionally, vapor protection from formaldehyde should be strongly considered at least through investigations occurring up to three days after the fire, and personal formaldehyde air monitoring is recommended during investigations.
Funding for this project was provided by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
About the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene publishes investigations that enhance the knowledge and practice of occupational and environmental hygiene and safety in the workplace and community. We publish peer-reviewed research studies that examine exposures, risks and controls that can be used to understand how exposures relate to health outcomes, and how these can be managed to the betterment of society.