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Author: Stephen Williamson

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Mobile decontamination units are emerging as part of health and safety best practices to protect firefighters and other emergency response personnel from dangerous toxins on turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), helmets, gloves, boots, and other equipment.

Bringing decontamination systems to the scene of a fire is a preventative approach to reduce exposure to carcinogens and other toxic materials.

Continue reading to learn more about decontamination trucks and their benefits to the firefighting industry.

 

What Is A Mobile Decontamination Unit?

A mobile decontamination unit is a vehicle designed to clean soiled personal protective equipment (PPE) at an emergency scene, minimizing the time that first responders are exposed to toxins and hazardous chemicals.

With a focus on speed and effectiveness in decontaminating people and equipment, mobile decon units are designed specifically to match the mission of the local community. In many areas, the unit travels with other emergency response vehicles to ensure quick access to decontamination systems.

Why is There a Need for Mobile Decontamination Systems?

A red mobile decontamination unit is parked in front of a manufacturing facility with a blue sky background.A single fire may ignite wood, building materials, electronics, furniture, apparel, metals, and plastics, releasing hundreds of potentially harmful toxins and gasses into the surrounding environment. It’s no surprise to learn that cancer from exposure to these toxins is one of the most dangerous threats to health and safety firefighters face.

The development of mobile decontamination units and systems is a result of a paradigm shift in the best practices that protect the health and safety of first responders.

A mobile decontamination vehicle is a preventative evolution of safety practices focused on addressing dangerous toxins at the scene.

Every time a first responder is required to don an SCBA, hazardous toxins in the air collect on equipment and protective apparel. The International Association of Fire Fighters explains this idea further in its whitepaper, “Exposures to Carcinogens" where it states the following:

“In a 2020 research study that evaluated chemicals in the air and on firefighter ensembles, researchers identified that gloves are some of the most contaminated. Some gloves had high contaminant levels and were generally more contaminated than turnout coats. The study identified that routine gross decontamination appeared to reduce many of the contaminants. This highlights the importance of on-scene gross decontamination of PPE and equipment, hand washing and showering within the hour of returning to the station.”

Fires and Emergency Response Events Are Inherently Hazardous

Mobile decontamination units adopt a hazmat approach to safety, focusing on three critical elements: time, distance, and shielding.

  • Firefighters spend less time in soiled gear.
  • Firefighters distance themselves from contaminated gear by rinsing down to remove surface toxins, removing and decontaminating equipment promptly, and changing into clean gear prior to entering the fire truck cab.
  • Other first responders are shielded from contamination exposure by cleaning equipment promptly on scene, and by storing contaminated bunker gear outside of the cab.

Addressing carcinogen exposure early and often is the best prevention method to promote long-term health and safety for firefighters.

How Do Decontamination Vehicles Support Communities?

First responders are a valuable part of our community. Not only do they support the safety and wellness of citizens, but first responders are family, neighbors, and friends. The increasing focus on eliminating time spent in soiled PPE benefits the firefighters and their families directly.

In addition to supporting the brave women and men in service, there are added psychological benefits for family members and the community at large, knowing that firefighters' health is a top priority.

Firefighters put their lives on the line for their community, and the increasing focus on their on-site protection is just one step toward providing ongoing support for their health and wellness.

Design Features of Mobile Decontamination Units

The inside of a mobile decontamination unit shows a large built-in storage rack system and an exit doorway with a window.Mobile decontamination units are designed to provide rapid and efficient decontamination services at an emergency scene but each department, station or agency approaches decontamination in a different way.

Here are some of the features you may choose to include on your custom mobile decontamination unit.

  • Separate entry and exit doors
  • Walk through bays with ramps for easy accessibility
  • Changing rooms or resting rooms
  • Storage areas for clean tools and equipment (attire, sanitizing tools and equipment, additional privacy tents, etc.)
  • Storage areas for soiled PPE
  • Shower, soap and sanitation plumbing (interior or exterior)
  • Wastewater storage area
  • Heating and/or cooling systems
  • Fume exhaust vents
  • Lead and asbestos filtration systems

Choosing what to include on board a mobile decontamination unit is based on the types of missions the specialty vehicle will support. Working with your custom mobile decontamination unit manufacturer to understand the best type of truck, storage, and equipment required to meet the needs of the local community is the best place to start.

Why Choose Frontline Communications?

Frontline Communications has been leading the industry in designing and developing highly customized communication vehicles, including broadcast vehicles, command vehicles, and specialty vehicles. With a dynamic and agile approach to design and manufacturing, Frontline Communications works with customers to understand their unique vehicle needs and builds custom products to exceed their expectations.

What decontamination features would support the emergencies you respond to? Let us know how we can help support your department’s needs.

Posted: Jul 6, 2022 2:07:26 PM by Stephen Williamson


About Frontline Communications
Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), is the leading manufacturer of custom broadcast and communications vehicles. The company’s wide range of products, including SUV’s, Vans and Heavy-Duty Custom Aluminum Bodies are valued for their quality, advanced technologies and integration capabilities that perform in the most extreme environments. Frontline Communications is an ISO 9001:2015 Registered company. Visit www.frontlinecomm.com for more information. 

About Oshkosh Corporation

At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs approximately 17,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Hinowa, Power Towers, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh AeroTech™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the extent of supply chain and logistics disruptions, particularly as demand rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company’s ability to increase prices or impose surcharges to raise margins or to offset higher input costs, including increased raw material, labor and freight costs; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, which are particularly impacted by the strength of U.S. and European economies and construction seasons; the Company’s estimates of access equipment demand which, among other factors, is influenced by historical customer buying patterns and rental company fleet replacement strategies; the Company’s ability to attract production labor in a timely manner; the strength of the U.S. dollar and its impact on Company exports, translation of foreign sales and the cost of purchased materials; the Company’s ability to predict the level and timing of orders for indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts with the U.S. federal government; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures and an uncertain U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; the impact of any DoD solicitation for competition for future contracts to produce military vehicles; the impacts of budget constraints facing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and continuously changing demands for postal services; the impact of severe weather, natural disasters or pandemics that may affect the Company, its suppliers or its customers; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks associated with international operations and sales, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; risks that a trade war and related tariffs could reduce the competitiveness of the Company’s products; the Company’s ability to comply with complex laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating and responding to data security threats and breaches impacting the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; and risks related to the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this news release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.

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