Keeping It Safe Robert Tutterow
Those of us who are old enough to remember the old “Gomer Pyle, USMC” television sitcom from the 1960s may recall Sergeant Carter yelling at Gomer, “I can’t hear you.” Well, in today’s fire service, the statement “I can’t see you” appears to be a growing problem.
The issue is the fascination with using apparatus and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) that is not visible in all lighting conditions. This column will stir up some emotions, but I hope it makes you think.
I will start with PPE. Black turnout gear is not as visible as nonblack. If we have a firefighter down/missing on the scene, do we not want him to be as visible as possible? And, it is a scientifically proven fact that black gear absorbs more heat than nonblack gear while the wearer is engaged in interior and exterior firefighting. Manufacturers spend tons of money on research to find ways to reduce heat stress, yet many of their customers insist on black gear. Moreover, with the emphasis on using clean gear, black gear hides dirt. As a profession, we need to use PPE products that show dirt and contamination so they can be cleaned. If the dirt/contamination is hidden, then we probably are using PPE that is harmful to our health. Tradition is great for museums, ceremonies, comraderies, and celebrations but not for the present-day emergency scene. Why would any department or fire chief insist on using products that are known to be more harmful to the members, especially when it comes to something as simple as color? There are no cost issues involved.
I have another concern over the acceptable use of black on our apparatus. When I look at photos of new apparatus deliveries in this magazine and apparatus on display at trade shows, the amount of black on apparatus is increasing. Black is the least visible color in all lighting conditions—a blinding snowstorm aside. Chrome bumpers and bright shine aluminum diamond plate are being replaced with black steel or black-painted treadplate. Those beautiful shiny aluminum polished wheels or chrome wheel covers are being replaced with black wheels. From a safety point of view, the egregious use of black reflective striping along the sides of apparatus and part of the chevron striping on the rear of apparatus is concerning. This is a total disregard for the safety of both firefighters and the avoidance of other vehicles crashing into the apparatus. Insurance companies should consider a rate increase for apparatus that are designed and built with disregard for safety-related visibility features.
This past June, this column was about the Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) study “Effects of Emergency Vehicle Lighting Characteristics on Driver Perception and Behavior.” One point made in the column was a quote from the study, which stated, “The presence of high-reflectivity chevron markings seemed to make it more difficult for drivers to see responders working around their vehicles at night, even when the responder wear safety vests.” I have since