I am sure this has been addressed before, but it just came up the other day in a dicussion I had.
What is the effect of hazardous materials exposure to leather helmets and boots?
I know that leather can be impregnated with chemical and can become a health hazard. This often happens with leather boots in many ocupations, from weed sprayer, garbage collector to a highway department laborer.
Fire fighters are exposed to just as many toxic materials as any other ocupation, excluding dedicated haz mat techs.
So, in normal day to day FF ops, do leather boots and helmets become contaminated with hazardous materials to the point of becomeing a health hazard?
A local trainer realy stresses washing off your turnouts after any and all exposure to any amount of any material. He is VERY paranoid when it comes to cancer and such.
The effects of contaminated leather, weather you wear it on you feet or head, would drive this guy up a wall. He does have a point IMO, but just how much danger is there? If you helmet is a chemical sponge, putting it on your head may not be wise.
Has there been any NFPA OSHA reserch into this?
Thanks
What is the effect of hazardous materials exposure to leather helmets and boots?
I know that leather can be impregnated with chemical and can become a health hazard. This often happens with leather boots in many ocupations, from weed sprayer, garbage collector to a highway department laborer.
Fire fighters are exposed to just as many toxic materials as any other ocupation, excluding dedicated haz mat techs.
So, in normal day to day FF ops, do leather boots and helmets become contaminated with hazardous materials to the point of becomeing a health hazard?
A local trainer realy stresses washing off your turnouts after any and all exposure to any amount of any material. He is VERY paranoid when it comes to cancer and such.
The effects of contaminated leather, weather you wear it on you feet or head, would drive this guy up a wall. He does have a point IMO, but just how much danger is there? If you helmet is a chemical sponge, putting it on your head may not be wise.
Has there been any NFPA OSHA reserch into this?
Thanks
Comment