You may think the comfort of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is subjective, but it’s really not. Here are 10 obvious — and not so obvious — ways firefighters should judge the comfort of their SCBA. 1. Realistic Movement The SCBA feels nice on your back, right? When you tried it on in the training room, it felt good. When

ANSI/ASA published the first standard setting the criteria that fit-test systems should meet to improve accuracy and reporting of hearing fit test results. This new standard is titled ANSI/ASA S12.71-2018, American National Standard Performance Criteria for Systems that Estimate the Attenuation of Passive Hearing Protectors for Individual Users. This standard is the first of its kind worldwide and is a

The 3M Scott Fire & Safety Firefighter Combat Challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to the public. Wearing "full bunker gear" and the 3M Scott Air-Pak™ SCBA breathing apparatus, competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a series of tasks they could encounter in a live fire rescue

*** This year's submission period has closed. Good luck to all applicants! *** Are you a student pursuing graduate-level education in Occupational Health or Safety/Industrial Hygiene in the United States? Are you someone who wants to become a leader regarding worker health and safety? Do you have a solid track record of service and achievement as a student in this

After a growing number of reports of firefighters being diagnosed with cancer, a variety of organizations collaborated to study this newly recognized risk. Recently, one of the largest studies of firefighter cancer risks among United States firefighters, conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health with funding by the U.S. Fire Administration and led by the Centers for

Selecting and purchasing SCBA can be a complex process. Not only is it capital-intensive, it also represents a long-term investment in arguably the most important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) that a firefighter puts on. The SCBA is a critical lifeline to the firefighter and should be given careful consideration before making a 12 to 15-year investment. The National