A CHALLENGING REGION, A COMMITTED ORGANISATION
The Haute-Savoie Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS 74) operates in a region that is rich in contrasts. Amid the mountains, lakes, infrastructure and major seasonal tourist activity, the teams need to deal with natural and industrial hazards along with day-to-day interventions.
With 87 fire and rescue centres spread throughout the department, SDIS 74 relies on a dense network and an organisation that combines professional and volunteer firefighters.
In this intense operational environment, the hygiene of SCBA sets is strategically vital for maintaining the long-term health of the personnel exposed to fire smoke. Fire smoke contains particulate matter, soot and toxic, carcinogenic elements that build up on the masks and their components. Without rigorous disinfection and cleaning, these contaminants can result in secondary exposure during handling or follow-up operations.
A STRUCTURED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL
To guarantee uniform tracking of its equipment, SDIS 74 has structured the treatment of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) masks at the departmental level.
It operates according to an organised schedule:
Every fire station sends in its masks once per year
A rolling programme means the workload is distributed throughout the year
Each item of equipment is cleaned, disinfected, checked and verified
The operations are tracked and documented
This ensures a uniform quality of processing for all fire stations and means the equipment is rigorously and consistently monitored.
We have arranged for annual mask maintenance to guarantee uniform high standards throughout the department. For us, the quality of processing and safety are critical.
Captain Bernard Gardet, Logistics Hub Manager, Haute-Savoie Fire and Rescue Service
DEDICATED CLEANING AND DISINFECTION MACHINES
For enhanced maintenance, SDIS 74 has introduced machines specifically designed for washing and disinfecting SCBAs:
This equipment allows cleaning and disinfection to take place in an automated process, using controlled, repeatable parameters in each cycle.
Consistency of results
Standardisation of protocols
Secure handling of potentially contaminated equipment
Ergonomic working conditions
SECURE WORKFLOW ORGANISATION
In order to limit the risks of cross-contamination and guarantee appropriate working conditions, the logistics hub operations are based on a clear separation between the "contaminated / dirty" zone and the clean side.
The introduction of the MEIKO machines followed this organisational concept, with support offered to teams during installation of the equipment and its integration into these workflows.
Adopting these machines means we can now work with controlled, constant parameters. It enhances the reliability of the processing and the safety of our practices.
Frantz CERCEAU – Technical Operator
STRENGTHENED STANDARDS BENEFIT THE FIRE SERVICE
By equipping its cleaning centre with dedicated cleaning and disinfection solutions for SCBA sets, SDIS 74 is improving the quality and reliability of the processing for self-contained breathing apparatus.
This development makes it possible to:
Harmonise practices at the departmental level
Improve the traceability of operations
Guarantee consistent standards
Beyond technical modernisation, this development illustrates our clear priority: offering long-term protection to firefighters.
By guaranteeing consistent and controlled processing of the respirator masks, SDIS 74 is enhancing risk prevention associated with exposure to smoke and contaminants.
The adoption of MEIKO solutions is helping secure an essential link in the chain of protection: reliable and correctly maintained equipment, benefiting the health of our firefighters.
