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GeoTek Teams with Sioux Falls Fire & Rescue to Conduct Exposure Monitoring

The Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue (SFFR) project is an air monitoring and data gathering study to determine exposures to firefighters. The rescue teams currently utilize respiratory protection during and after fires until the site is turned back over to the property owner. GeoTek Certified Industrial Hygienists, Jason Cook and Wes Otheim, trained the SFFR Hazardous Materials teams to perform the air sampling according to applicable methods for petroleum, particulates, asbestos, and several common chemicals. Sampling will be evaluated on a regular basis and possibly changed if warranted. The data will be used to evaluate issues such as protective equipment and policies for use, cleaning/useful life of equipment and turnout gear, and possible changes to medical monitoring of firefighters. It could even be used to make changes in the way they fight fires.

To our knowledge, only limited data for firefighter exposure assessment is available. A study such as this has the potential to improve firefighter safety and focus spending for maximum effectiveness.