PUBLIC SECTOR - Arco

Case Study:Arco keeps GreaterManchester Fire & Rescue Servicebreathing safelyBy understanding both the environment that the firefighterswould be working in and the need for better fittingdisposable respiratory protection, Arco was able to identifytwo styles of disposable respirators that would be bettersuited to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. Aface fit test for respiratory masks was used and as a resultboth respirators provided improved protection through abetter fit and removed the issue of the visors and glassessteaming up.After explaining how the respirators worked and how tocorrectly wear them, the Arco Premium Cupped respiratorswere chosen for an evaluation period of four months.During the evaluation period the respirators were used in allrelevant operations so that the wearers could get first-handexperience of the respirators on a day-to-day basis.Adrian Taylor from Greater Manchester Fire and RescueService commented, “The vendor day was incrediblyhelpful to us as we were able to exchange knowledge andinformation with other emergency services and learn newthings from Arco. We were not aware of the face fittingtest for respiratory masks and the high safety factors thisencompasses. Subsequently the organisation has decidedto review its respiratory masks at various other locationsdue to the success we have had with the Arco PremiumCupped respirators and the general satisfaction we hadwhen working with Arco.”As a result of the wearer trial of the Arco PremiumCupped respirators and through understanding GreaterManchester Fire and Rescue Service’s requirements bothin a safety and financial sense, Arco switched their supplyof respirators to the new respirators in October 2012.The resulting switch has meant improved levels of comfortand safety for the wearers plus an annual like for likesaving of £8,000 per year for Greater Manchester Fireand Rescue Service.With firefighters being regularly exposed to avariety of respiratory hazards during routinepost-fire clean up operations, it is importantthat they are protected with correctly fittingrespiratory protection. In April 2012 Arco hostedan emergency services vendor day, whichGreater Manchester Fire and Rescue Serviceattended, where respiratory protection wasevaluated and improved to offer better protectionand better value.Glenn Stephens, National Account Manager at Arco’sTrafford Park branch, who hosted the vendor day, explained,“When Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Serviceattended the emergency services vendor day we had anin depth conversation about the level of protection theexisting contract was providing and problems that they wereexperiencing. We identified that the disposable respiratorsused did not offer a good fit and as a result caused thewearer’s glasses or visors to steam up. This meant that thewearer would either suffer from visual impairment whilstworking or would remove the visors or glasses altogether,putting the wearer in risk. This was something both Arco andthe fire team were keen to resolve.”“The vendor day was incredibly helpful to us as we wereable to exchange knowledge and information with otheremergency services and learn new things from Arco. Wewere not aware of the face fitting test for respiratory masksand the high safety factors this encompasses. Subsequentlythe organisation has decided to review its respiratory masksat various other locations due to the success we have hadwith the Arco Premium Cupped respirators and the generalsatisfaction we had when working with Arco.Adrian Taylor, Watch Commander, Great Manchester Fire andRescue Service”15www.arco.co.uk16