An operational committee to ensure fire and rescue services collaborate to agree the relevant risk assessments and specifications for all items of PPE, to source modern, fit for purpose PPE and clothing to ensure wearer safety in all operational environments and day-to-day functions

The committee is chaired by Steve Topham, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Service Support Delivery. The committee works through a regional network of fire and rescue service representatives and national accredited work groups, such as the Fire Brigades Union, Fire Officers Association, AFSA and Women in the Fire Service. Each representative is responsible for bringing the thoughts and ideas from their region or work group.

The committee is divided into sub-committees which focus on particular areas of PPE and clothing, these being: risk assessments, structural, workwear, specialist, disposable, as well as a commercial sub-committee for direct links with the NFCC Procurement Hub. The links with the NFCC Procurement Hub ensure compliant routes to market, and effective market engagement, enabling fire and rescue services to access garments through numerous collaborative procurement frameworks, saving a significant amount of time and money in consolidating spend and complex/lengthy processes.

 

PPE and Clothing Specifications

 

The future firefighter concept

 

National firefighters PPE project

 

Useful documents

• Committee Representatives Contact List
• NFCC PPE/Clothing Committee Terms of Reference
• PPE and Clothing PIA
• Collaborative PPE Technical Committee - Risk Assessment

Committee minutes

• July 2023
• February 2023
• September 2022
• June 2022
• March 2022
• November 2021
• September 2021
• June 2021
• April 2021
• January 2021

 

NFCC PPE and Clothing Conference

The inaugural NFCC PPE and clothing conference held in May 2023 had over 40 fire and rescue services attend the two day conference, joined by a similar number of PPE suppliers for day 2.  The event saw the sharing of problems and issues affecting firefighters PPE, and information around research which should look to address these issues. Presentations can be viewed here:

• Conference Agenda
• Dr Anna Stec
• Challenges Facing Firefighters' PPE
• Cleaning and End of Life
• Mitigating Issues within the Tender Process
• Complexities of the Supply Chain - Understanding Specifications
• PPE Conference - EDI

PFAS in firefighting presentation

Meet the Chair and Vice-Chair

Steve Topham Chair of the NFCC PPE / Clothing Committee

Steve joined Humberside Fire and Rescue Service in 1995, and his first posting was on Red Watch at Cromwell Road fire station in Grimsby. Steve has gained broad experience across a wide range of functions undertaking a variety of roles within the Service covering operations, training, safety and supporting functions.

In September 2015, he was promoted to the role of Director and was responsible for Public Safety Central Support, Emergency Preparedness, ICT, Fleet and Equipment, Estates, Workshops, Water Supplies, Stores, and the Service Support Centre.

Steve has recently been promoted to Corporate Management Team as Assistant Chief Fire Officer within Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service. In addition to a range of responsibilities as a strategic leader, other responsibilities include leading a wide range of functions, including Prevention, Protection and Organisational Support. Required to provide cover and respond as a strategic (Gold) commander in addition to commanding appropriate emergency incidents.

Previous roles include; Head of Community Risk at both Group Manager and Area Manager level with responsibility for establishing strategy, directing and implementing all prevention (community safety), protection (enforcement of Legislative Fire Safety) activity and managing strategic partnerships in addition to driving change. Significant experience also been gained as the Corporate Communications Manager with the remit for internal/external communications including organisational reputation management. Prior experience at various management levels includes; Learning and Development (Training), Fire Safety, as an experienced inspecting officer (Legislative Fire Safety) and Operational response as a (emergency response) shift manager at all levels.

Brett Egan-Briers Vice-Chair of the NFCC PPE / Clothing Category

Brett Egan-Briers is a retired operational fire officer with 35 years’ fire service experience. Brett became responsible for firefighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) in 2000 and now has over 20 years’ direct experience of firefighting PPE. Brett works for Kent Fire and Rescue Service as National Technical Advisor for PPE, working specifically on National procurement projects for the Procurement Hub.

Brett is vice-chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) PPE and clothing committee and was an integral part of this committees formation. Brett is also NFCC representative on British Standards committees; PH 1 — Safety Footwear, PH 3/2 — Heat and Flame protection and PH 14 — Firefighters’ PPE. This National level standards representation also involves work within CEN and ISO standards.