Why Do Fire Restoration Professionals Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage restoration is no DIY project. SERVPRO has the manpower and equipment for every size of disaster.

Safeguarding Residents from Toxic Residues and Airborne Contaminants Starts with Deep Cleaning, Possible Only When North Little Rock Fire Restoration Technicians Wear PPE

Burning structural components and contents in your North Little Rock residence can release toxic gases. Organic materials produce nitrogen, and inorganic materials produce sulfur during burning. Both nitrogen and sulfur are hydrocarbons, potential carcinogens. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen, cyanide, and hydrogen chloride can be present inside your home after a fire, and all can be toxic. Inhaling these substances or contacting them through the skin is hazardous to you, your family, and restoration workers.

How Can Fire Damage Restoration Happen Amid Toxic Residues?

When planning for your residential fire damage restoration in North Little Rock, we make sure our crews wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Some articles of PPE, such as respirators, must fit precisely the dimensions of each worker. The sharing of PPE is contraindicated unless it is cleaned per OSHA and other regulations between users.

What Kinds of PPE Should I Expect to See On Restorers?

SERVPRO fire damage restoration technicians wear comprehensive PPE when responding to your fire loss. You might see all or most of the following:

What PPE Protects the Head and Face?

• Hard hats
• Face shields
• Goggles
• Earplugs if noisy machinery causes concerns

What PPE Protects Respiratory Function?

Respirators -- professional-grade, subject to proper:

• Fit
• Use training
• Maintenance
• Periodic inspection

What PPE Protects Skin, Hands, and Feet?

"Head to toe" covering including:

• Gowns (Tyvek suits)
• Gloves
• Shoe coverings
• Boots (preferable in fire settings because of water damage)

I Can See How PPE Protects Technicians -- How Does It Protect My Family and Me?

An adjunct to PPE's use by SERVPRO crews is the construction of containment areas within which our employees work while wearing the PPE. The contained space plus the PPE pair up to prevent tracking of soot drift of contaminated air into the rest of your home. These containment areas can be erected with tension pipes and 6-mil polyethylene sheets. Using air movers and air scrubbers, negative air pressure may be deployed to channel foul odors and airborne particulates to the exterior.

Count on SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock to complete fire restoration comprehensively and safely. Call (501) 803-9700 day or night to schedule an assessment.