Strengthening Decontamination Procedures To Protect Health
Research around the world is increasingly finding links between smoke particle exposure and higher rates of cancer in firefighters. While specialist protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus help firefighters to stay safe during incidents, there is increasing concern that toxic residues from smoke can linger on PPE long after a fire is extinguished, where they can later be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, potentially causing harm.
In 2023, a study by the University of Central Lancashire, commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, revealed that UK firefighters who remain in PPE for more than four hours after attending a fire are more than twice as likely to develop cancer than those who remove PPE within 30 minutes.
In February this year, the London Assembly Fire Committee published a report investigating contamination exposure within the London Fire Brigade. It called for improved monitoring and measurement of exposure, and made recommendations to central Government to consider establishing a nationwide health monitoring programme for UK firefighters.
In the meantime, organisations such as the FBU have been campaigning for stronger contamination control measures to better protect firefighters. It is hoped that more robust decontamination procedures within the fire station and regular cleaning of PPE will help reduce the risks to firefighter health. In March 2025, the FBU set out several recommendations for Fire and Rescue Services in its Best Practice Report. These included ensuring PPE is decontaminated after fire incidents, designing stations with clear contamination zones to prevent dirty equipment entering clean spaces, and encouraging rapid personal decontamination such as showering and changing into clean clothing as soon as possible after incidents.
Improving Fire Station Decontamination Facilities
Fire and Rescue Services around the UK are already taking these recommendations seriously by reviewing decontamination procedures and adapting fire station layouts to reduce exposure risks. This includes assessing and improving PPE handling, equipment cleaning and staff training. A growing number of services are also upgrading their decontamination rooms and PPE cleaning facilities, creating clearly defined red, amber and green zones around the station to ensure designated areas stay clean.
Rescue Intellitech is proud to be working with many Fire and Rescue Services across the UK to support them with this process. The company offers a full suite of station-based equipment to help make the decontamination process effective and efficient. Its Solo Rescue machines have been a regular fixture in fire stations for many years, specifically designed to clean firefighter helmets, SCBA, boots and gloves gently, swiftly and thoroughly. The recently launched next generation machine, the Solo Rescue Plus, offers even more efficient decontamination cycles, with reduced water and detergent usage. For smaller fire stations where space is limited, the streamlined DeconWasher Pro S version delivers excellent wash performance but in a more compact size.
Supporting Safer PPE Cleaning And Drying
Complementing the Solo Rescue machines, Rescue Intellitech’s specialist DE Series washing machines have been specifically designed to decontaminate firefighter clothing and specialist garments. Suitable for heavy-duty textiles as well as delicate technical fabrics, they ensure a thorough but gentle wash to preserve the integrity and protective capabilities of valuable PPE. With three sizes to choose from, fire services can scale to their operational needs.
Finally, the fast and efficient DC20 and DC8 drying cabinets offer rapid but gentle drying of PPE in a choice of two sizes. These dryers can be specifically configured to accommodate bulky kit and equipment, with a combination of shelves and hanging space suitable for clothing, boots, gloves, helmets and SCBA. Both the interior and exterior of the PPE is dried at the same time, so kit is quickly ready for use.
Fire and Rescue Services across the UK are seeing the benefits of integrating this equipment into their day-to-day operations. Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service uses a bank of six Solo Rescue machines to decontaminate SCBA equipment.
Aron Ridgely, Station Commander, comments:
“We have robust decontamination processes in place at the scene of an incident and back at the station. Contaminated PPE is bagged and sealed and only handled with a mask and gloves. By using Solo Rescue, it has continued to reduce risks, as firefighters now have minimal contact with contaminated equipment during washing.”
As the understanding of contamination risks to firefighters continues to develop, Fire and Rescue Services are increasingly focusing on robust decontamination procedures and improved facilities to help keep their crews safe. By combining clear operational guidance, effective training and appropriate equipment, fire services are taking action now to reduce exposure risks and protect firefighter health for the future.
Rescue Intellitech is proud to be supporting these efforts by collaborating with Fire and Rescue Services to develop practical decontamination solutions that make these processes safer, more efficient and easier to implement in day-to-day operations.
For more information please visit Rescue Intellitech website.
