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THE PROCESS IN THE SCBA WORKSHOP

Cleaning respiratory protective equipment

The work of SCBA technicians is key. Firefighters would not be able to do their frontline work without it. SCBA technicians are exposed to health risks in their work, just like their colleagues. When equipment arrives with them, they need to know how it is contaminated before they can even start work. The incident commander provides this information (what was on fire?) They also have to take precautions to protect themselves in their work, both from contamination inside the respiratory protective equipment (e.g. bacteria) and outside it (e.g. combustion residues). Only then can they start cleaning and disinfecting the kit.

Personal protection

Personal protection refers to all the precautions taken by the SCBA technician at work to protect them against contamination from sources inside the personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g. bacteria and blood, and outside the PPE, e.g. soot and asbestos.

To assess what is necessary in this regard, the type of contamination must be known. This information can be delivered using contamination tags, for example.

Protective equipment for the SCBA technician is to be selected depending on the type and degree of contamination. The minimum protective equipment is a pair of disposable gloves. These should always be worn.

THE PROCESS IN THE SCBA WORKSHOP

DIRTY AREA:

SCBA technician receives respiratory protective equipment in the dirty zone for reprocessing

1. Receipt

Accept the personal protective equipment (PPE)
The SCBA technician selects their personal protection according to the level and type of risk
Discard single-use items, e.g. filters
Prepare documentation

An SCBA technician loads the pre-cleaning washer TopCleanTopClean D with PPE

2. Pre-cleaning

Load equipment into the TopClean D: stretch out full-face masks on heads for BA masks, place full self-contained breathing apparatus in the rack or dismantle it and connect the regulator to the distributor of compressed air in the rack
Select the programme depending on degree of soiling
The SCBA technician selects their personal protection according to the level and type of risk

SCBA technician dismantles BA masks and SCBAs

3. Dismantling

• Dismantle the full-face masks and self-contained breathing apparatus.
• The SCBA technician selects their personal protection according to the level and type of risk

SCBA technician inserts pre-cleaned PPE into the TopClean M

4. Cleaning and disinfection

Load pre-cleaned PPE into the TopClean M
Start your selected programme
Consider personal protection and adjust as needed

Process reliability is assured with automatic, contact-free machine cleaning, disinfection and washing

CLEAN AREA:

SCBA technician places PPE in the drying cabinet and refills the air cylinders.

5. Drying & filling bottles

Load the cleaned and disinfected PPE into the drying cabinet
Dry as per the manufacturer's instructions
Fill breathing air cylinders at the fill bar or safety fill ramp

SCBA technician mounts BA mask after drying.

6. Reassemble & replace

Replace spare parts according to manufacturer's instructions and vfdb guideline 0840
Reattach detached parts like the mask inner and regulator

Securely pack the mask after the inspection process.

7. Maintenance, repair, inspection

Use a testing device to test the PPE according to the manufacturer's instructions and vfdb guideline 0840
Pack away safely and hygienically, e.g. shrink wrapped in a bag