Overview

Title

Webinar - Following the Science: Considerations for a Safe Transition to Non-PFAS in Firefighter Protective Clothing

Description

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a class of man-made toxic chemicals that have been used in thousands of consumer and industrial products and processes. There is heightened concern of its use in the fire service due to the multiple potential routes of exposure that firefighters experience. PFAS-based materials have been used in firefighter gear as well as in aqueous film-forming foams. Following pressure from firefighters, the fire service industry has transitioned to now offering outer shell and moisture barriers that are not manufactured with PFAS. As with any major change to protective clothing, it is critical to assess the differences in performance of the new gear and determine any limitations that may need to be considered. In this webinar, R. Bryan Ormond, PhD, will provide updates on research efforts to better understand the risk and extent of PFAS exposure to firefighters from their gear and then provide a comprehensive comparison of the effectiveness of PFAS-treated and newly available non-PFAS-treated turnout gear in both new and aged conditions.

This webinar is sponsored by ESO.

Day and Time

May 20, 2025, 1400-1500 EST

Presenter

R. Bryan Ormond, Ph.D.

Contact

NVFC: Amanda Tegtmeyer, amanda@nvfc.org, 202-887-5700

Webinar Sponsor

ESO is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, and hospitals. For more information, visit eso.com.

Speaker(s)

Dr. R. Bryan Ormond

Ph.D, Assistant Professor

N.C. State University

As an associate professor at NC State University's Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC), Dr. Ormond has focused on developing test methods, standards, equipment, and ensembles for first responders and military personnel to address protection from chemical, particulate, and thermal hazards. His most recent research has centered on reducing firefighter exposure to toxic chemicals through developing particulate-blocking PPE, assessing gear cleaning methods, evaluating on-scene decontamination methods, and investigating the impacts of PFAS and PFAS-free finishes and materials on PPE performance.

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Virtual Event

Webinar - Following the Science: Considerations for a Safe Transition to Non-PFAS in Firefighter Protective Clothing

Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. | 60 minutes

Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. | 60 minutes Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a class of man-made toxic chemicals that have been used in thousands of consumer and industrial products and processes. There is heightened concern of its use in the fire service due to the multiple potential routes of exposure that firefighters experience. PFAS-based materials have been used in firefighter gear as well as in aqueous film-forming foams. Following pressure from firefighters, the fire service industry has transitioned to now offering outer shell and moisture barriers that are not manufactured with PFAS. As with any major change to protective clothing, it is critical to assess the differences in performance of the new gear and determine any limitations that may need to be considered. In this webinar, R. Brayn Ormond, PhD, will provide updates on research efforts to better understand the risk and extent of PFAS exposure to firefighters from their gear and then provide a comprehensive comparison of the effectiveness of PFAS-treated and newly available non-PFAS-treated turnout gear in both new and aged conditions. This webinar is sponsored by ESO.

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Resources

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5/20/2025 - Presentation Slides

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Evaluation

Virtual Classroom Evaluation

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Certificate

Certificate - Webinar - Following the Science: Considerations for a Safe Transition to Non-PFAS in Firefighter Protective Clothing

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