Balancing the health and safety of firefighters with the reliability of critical equipment is a challenging task. The novel Hosemaster™ hose maintenance unit, engineered and manufactured by Finnish Esteri Group, represents a significant advancement in achieving these goals.
The firefighting community faces daunting health challenges: turnout gear and fire hoses designed to protect them have been linked to cancer due to the presence of PFAS. These ‘forever chemicals’ are persistent in the environment and the human body, posing serious health risks.
At Hosemaster™, the severity of this issue is taken seriously, with a commitment to provide solutions. The new hose-care technology ensures that hoses undergo rigorous decontamination, significantly reducing the risk of harmful chemical exposure. Aligning with the latest guidelines, the automated systems thoroughly clean hoses, minimizing manual handling and exposure to contaminants.
Advanced cleaning for advanced safety
While the quest for PFAS-free gear continues, Hosemaster™ offers a proactive step towards reducing potential health risks associated with contaminated equipment. As International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) president Edward Kelly has recently highlighted, there’s a need for a cultural shift in firefighting to address these revelations.
Hosemaster™ is part of that shift. The innovation aims to align with the safety and health priorities of firefighters, while ensuring the readiness and reliability of their gear.
Towards proactive maintenance
Public trust demands that rescue services are ready 24/7, which requires investment in critical gear – like fire hoses. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, including the sturdiest hoses.
After delivery, brand-new fire hoses often end up stored away and forgotten, leading to the use of outdated hoses, some over 20 years old. Meanwhile, new hoses gather dust, and their internal quality, particularly the rubber components, deteriorates. This leads to potential failures when they are eventually used. Or bursting while manually testing.
The Hosemaster™ unit provides proactive maintenance: it tests fire hoses by applying pressure, revealing any weak spots or leaks immediately. This testing process, visible in the Hosemaster™ cabinet, highlights the need for repair or replacement, which is an investment in the longevity and reliability. Regular testing, maintenance and cleaning are vital to prevent hidden defects from causing dire consequences in emergencies.
Hosemaster™ is a new and indispensable component in this regimen, offering substantial savings not only in labour but in energy and costs while improving the work environment through better health considerations.
Case study: practical application in New Zealand
The Hosemaster™ unit has demonstrated its effectiveness in real-world settings, such as in New Zealand. Representatives of Esteri Group installed the latest maintenance unit there, ensuring that local fire services benefit from advanced hose-care technology. The feedback from New Zealand’s firefighters highlights the significant improvements in ergonomics and health safety, emphasizing the importance in daily operations.
New Zealanders have been satisfied with the investment in Hosemaster™. Units are now preventing health hazards to rescuers, with ergonomic benefits and reduced exposure to carcinogens being significant reliefs for workers. Additionally, the eco-friendly aspects of Hosemaster™ align with New Zealand’s focus on environmental conservation, such as water consumption.
Hosemaster™ represents a holistic approach to fire-hose maintenance, combining advanced technology with a commitment to firefighter health and safety. Ensuring readiness and reliability in fire and rescue operations, Hosemaster™ is a welcome example of how proactive and preventive fire equipment should be built and maintained. Hosemaster™ is used in all Nordic countries and in Europe, and it can be found, for example, at Schiphol Airport.
For more detailed information, go to: www.hosemaster.fi
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