What is BS 8617- Personal protective equipment (PPE) of firefighters about?
BS 8617 discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters. BS 8617 is a standard that provides a code of practice for the personal protective equipment of firefighters.
BS 8617 gives recommendations and guidance for cleaning, maintenance, and repair of firefighters’ PPE.
BS 8617 covers inspection, testing, cleaning, decontamination, drying, repair and replacement, recording, storage and transportation, and retirement and disposal of the PPE of firefighters.
BS 8617 applies to garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and fire hoods, worn by anyone involved in firefighting and associated activities.
Note 1: Under BS 8617 it is expected that all organizations involved in firefighting and associated activities will have a procedure for dealing with contaminants at an incident before inspection and cleaning, to prevent cross-contamination and further exposure to contaminants.
Note 2: Under BS 8617 respiratory protective equipment, chemical protective clothing, marine, and water activities are not covered.
Note 3: BS 8617 does not cover garments required for protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials.
Who is BS 8617- PPE of firefighters for?
BS 8617 on PPE’s code of practice is applicable to:
- PPE manufacturers
- Any entity responsible for cleaning, maintenance, and repair of firefighters’ PPE
Why should you use BS 8617-PPE of firefighters?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses due to contact with chemical, electrical, radiological, physical, or any other workplace hazards.
BS 8617 assists in cleaning, maintenance, and repair of PPE by providing a code of conduct for guidance to enhance the efficiency of the PPE.
BS 8617 provides guidance in testing and evaluation of PPE to report loss or destruction or any fault associated with PPE.
By adopting BS 8617 the user can enhance the efficiency of its PPE to ensure the safety of firefighters by providing a code of conduct regarding its cleaning, maintenance, and repair.