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Improving Coordination and Interoperability through Standardization

This article discusses the importance of standardization in personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency responders and the challenges they face. Topics covered include identifying responder needs, evaluating PPE effectiveness against terrorist agents, and setting standards for responder PPE.

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Improving Coordination and Interoperability through Standardization

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  1. Improving Coordination and Interoperability through Standardization Daniel K. Shipp, president International Safety Equipment Association June 4, 2003

  2. ISEA • The trade association for personal protective equipment (PPE) • Standards developer • Advocate for worker safety and health • 70+ member companies

  3. Head protection Eye and face protection Hearing protection Respirators RPEDs Protective clothing Gloves Fall protection High visibility apparel Gas detection instruments First aid kits Emergency eyewash & shower Warning devices ISEA product coverage

  4. ISEA standards • ANSI/ISEA 101 Limited Use and Disposable Coveralls • ANSI/ISEA 102 Gas Detector Tubes • ANSI/ISEA 104 Air Sampling Devices-Diffusive Type for Toxic Gases and Vapors in Working Environments • ANSI/ISEA 105 Hand Protection Selection Criteria • ANSI/ISEA 107 High Visibility Apparel • ANSI/ISEA 110 (draft) Air Purifying Respiratory Protective Escape Devices

  5. ISEA secretariat • ANSI Z89.1-1997 Industrial Head Protection • ANSI Z308.1-2003 Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits • ANSI Z358.1-1998 Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment

  6. ISO participation • TC94, Personal Safety – Protective Clothing & Equipment (vice chair USTAG) • TC94 SC1, Head Protection (secretariat) • TC94 SC4, Fall Protection • TC94 SC13, Protective Clothing • TC94 SC15, Respiratory Protection (USTAG administrator)

  7. ANSI participation • Organizational Member Council • Homeland Security Standards Panel • A10, Safety in Construction & Demolition • S12, Hearing Protection • Z10, Occupational Safety and Health Systems • Z49, Safety in Welding and Cutting • Z87, Occupational Eye and Face Protection • Z88, Respiratory Protection • Z117, Confined Spaces • Z359, Fall Protection Equipment • Z535, Safety Signs and Colors

  8. NFPA participation • Fire & Emergency Service Protective Clothing and Equipment • Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health • Hazardous materials Protective Clothing and Equipment • Respiratory Protection and Personal Alarm Equipment • Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment • Structural Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment

  9. Homeland security “…if a catastrophic terrorist attack occurred today, emergency first responders – police, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel – in most of the nation’s cities and counties are no better prepared to react now than they were prior to September 11. The tools of emergency preparedness are in very short supply.” America -- Still Unprepared, Still in Danger Council on Foreign Relations, 2002

  10. Challenges for readiness • Identifying responder needs • Defining the “responder” • Evaluating PPE for effectiveness against terrorist agents (CBRN) • Designing and manufacturing

  11. Emergency responders • Firefighters, EMS, Haz-mat, USAR • Law enforcement • Health care workers • Emergency response teams • Construction trades • Utilities

  12. PPE for responders

  13. ISEA’s goals • Ensure that responders have appropriate PPE, immediate access, and proper training • Increase use of appropriate PPE in the response community

  14. ISEA’s goals • Ensure that federal grant programs specify appropriate PPE • Ensure that PPE purchased through federal grants meets standards • Ensure openness and fairness in the process of selecting PPE eligible for purchase

  15. Standards for responder PPE • PPE standards are not new • Well established • Understood by user community • Necessary for testing, certification • Set minimum requirements • Allow for customization

  16. Standards for responder PPE • Developed in the open • Ensures broad representation, consensus • ANSI process can be tedious • Essential to the marketplace • The shorthand of commerce

  17. Standardization issues • Need for comprehensive response standards • Threat-based • What do you wear/use? • When do you wear/use it? • Liability issues • Ordinary products in extraordinary circumstances

  18. Standardization issues • Interoperability • Resist the temptation to customize • Adaptable to user needs • Standards/guidelines for use and selection • SEL • Make it user-friendly • On-line product links

  19. Standardization issues • Industry participation • Use manufacturers’ expertise • Users will still make the final decisions

  20. www.safetyequipment.org

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