Morgantown Transition: Protective
Clothing and SCBA FFFIPP
Investigations
Angie Shepherd1
Captain Michael McKenna (ret.)2
1NIOSH
NPPTL and 2Michael McKenna and Associates, LLC
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
TRB Protective Clothing and Ensembles Team
March 20, 2012
Presentation Overview
 Development and Expansion of Program
 Laboratory Development
 Importance to Fire Service
 Future Work / Next Steps
Development and Expansion of Program
 Program developed to support FFFIPP
 Initiated program on July 1, 2011
 Located primarily in Morgantown, WV
 Transfer of SCBA evaluations
 Added personnel
 Awarded a contract to Michael McKenna and Associates
 Obtained significant laboratory space
 Participated in 8 FFFIPP investigations
Morgantown Transition:
Laboratory Development
Before and After – Heat and Flame Lab
Before and After – Laundry Conditioning Lab
Before and After – Physical Lab
Before and After – FFFIPP Lab
FFFIPP Lab
Morgantown Transition:
Importance to Fire Service
FFFIPP Protective Equipment Evaluations
and the Fire Service
 Determine if the protective equipment contributed to the
fatality or injury
 Evaluate the functionality and compliance of the SCBA
to selected NIOSH tests
 Database for program management
 Identify issues earlier before they are catastrophic
 Recognize trends over multiple incidents
 Support the FFFIPP investigation findings
FFFIPP Protective Equipment Evaluations
and the Fire Service
 Stronger protective equipment component to FFFIPP
reports
 Report findings to appropriate certification organization
and manufacturer
 Use data and findings for future research areas,
education outreach, and as a basis for recommended
changes to NFPA and ASTM standards
Future Work / Next Steps
 Further improve interaction with FFFIPP investigators
 Autopsy/injury reports, photos, incident information, location of
PPE when recovered
 Assess the addition of selected NFPA tests to the SCBA
evaluation
 Continue development of evaluation database
 Continue training for PCE team
 Develop a library of materials – long term
Acknowledgments
FFFIPP Investigators and Staff
Morgantown Facilities and Safety Staff
New PCE Team Members
Quality Partnerships Enhance Worker
Safety & Health
Thank You
Questions?
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally
disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be
construed to represent any agency determination or policy.