Scuttlebutt 8/21

MSA Safety Partners with Fotokite

MSA Safety Inc. has established a joint development agreement with Perspective Robotics AG. Zurich, Switzerland-based Perspective Robotics develops advanced situational awareness tools that utilize tethered drone technology for first responder applications under the Fotokite brand.

The companies will collaborate to advance fire scene situational awareness, both locally and through the cloud. This will involve development of enhanced products and services that leverage Fotokite’s expertise in autonomous and actively tethered drone technology and situational intelligence solutions and MSA’s deep experience in developing products, systems and technologies for firefighter safety and accountability.

For more information, visit MSAsafety.com.

Training Officer Recognition Award

Volunteer Training Coordinator James Hedrick of the Fairfax County, VA, Fire and Rescue Department is the recipient of the 2021 VCOS Training Officer Recognition Award, which honors training officers for exemplary conduct and dedication to their department’s training program. The award is presented by the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS), in partnership with Vector Solutions.

When COVID-19 hit, Hedrick took several steps to adjust the training of volunteers to allow for the continuation of training, including:

Moving of all classes possible to a videoconferencing platform to allow for continued training
Utilizing of the Vector Solutions platform, formerly known as TargetSolutions, for testing, as able, per class
Adjusting classes that required in-person activity, such as CPR, by moving most of it to online learning and creating a drive-through process in the high bay to allow members to pull in, do their skills, and drive out, which minimized exposure to all who were involved
Creating a modularized process for completing the state requirements for EMT
Transferring many smaller evaluation tasks to the volunteer chiefs at the station level
Utilizing an online tablet-based training and testing process for EMT-B to allow for safer EMT training

Through Hedrick’s efforts, Fairfax County graduated more than 70 new EMTs, on-boarded more than 150 new members, held monthly recertification training, such as CPR, and offered suppression training and EVOC, all with reduced capacity because of COVID-19.

For more information, visit VCOS.org.

Plans call for Sutphen to construct a new 160,000-sq.-ft. facility in Urbana, OH.

Sutphen to Combine Manufacturing/Service Sites

Sutphen Corp. plans to combine its three Urbana, OH, manufacturing and service sites in a new 160,000-sq.-ft. facility to be constructed in Urbana.

With this plan, Sutphen will retain the three Urbana facilities’ 160 existing jobs and add 20 to 25 more positions at the new site. The new building is being designed to optimize workflow of fire apparatus manufacturing, from start to finish.

Ground will be broken later this summer. Sutphen officials anticipate moving into the new building in the fall of 2022.

For more information, visit sutphen.com.

Bringing Home Safety Award

Paul Eichler, who is an operations battalion chief with the Anne Arundel County, MD, Fire Department, is the 2021 Bringing Safety Home Award recipient, as named by the NFPA Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC).

Eichler, who also is a volunteer member of the Dover, DE, Fire Department, chairs the Delaware Fire Sprinkler Coalition and has championed the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers for many years. Among his advocacy work, he has partnered with organizations to present live fire and sprinkler demonstrations that help the public to appreciate how fast home fires grow and the power of home fire sprinkler protection. Through his leadership, the Delaware coalition is one of the most active, with 30 members who support the group and stay engaged.

Eichler was awarded a $1,000 grant to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts throughout Delaware.

For more information, visit firesprinklerinitiative.org.

First iZ Honored for Drone Technology

FIRST iZ was selected as one of 10 Top Promising Drone Technology Solution Providers for 2021 in CIO Review magazine’s third annual Drone Tech edition. The selection process covered company offerings, core competency, news/press releases, client testimonials, milestones and other recognition.

FIRST iZ leverages drone technology to enhance emergency response teams’ abilities to de-escalate and handle problems safely and efficiently. The company’s unmanned aerial vehicle is programmed to fly autonomously to the incident location, provide live videos while in transit, detect for hazardous gases, hover while still delivering live video and provide first responders the information that they need, often even before personnel arrive on scene.

First iZ will debut its FIRST Port drone in August 2021 at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL show in Atlanta.

For more information, visit firstiz.com.

Work-Shift-Duration Research Paper

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society published “Guiding Principles for Determining Work Shift Duration and Addressing the Effects of Work Shift Duration on Performance, Safety, and Health.” The evidence-based paper helps employers to determine optimal work-shift durations for their workplace.

With a process that assesses risks, considers countermeasures, and institutes an informed approach to determine and evaluate shift durations, employers can make shift-duration decisions that manage fatigue-related risks while maintaining high productivity and safety.

When establishing work-shift durations, the guiding principles recommend an approach that includes three strategies: assess risk factors, consider countermeasures and institute an informed approach.

For more information, visit sleepresearchsociety.org.