Implementing ISO 23616 with Paperless Inspection

The International Organization for Standards (ISO) have recently released their latest standard ISO 23616 for greater clarity in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for firefighters. As one of the most dangerous day jobs that exist in our society, firefighters undoubtedly put themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others and save many facilities and structures. It is hence inarguable that such modern-day heroes receive the best in class when it comes to protection from the elements and working conditions they encounter.

Why Firefighter PPE Maintenance Matters

A 2020 study in Australia found that carcinogenic contaminants were present in many of the offices and equipment that firefighters use, with the flame-retardant chemical PBDE-99 over 70 times more prevalent in firefighters than regular office staff. Supporting research also reinforced that firefighters often become unwell due to the poor maintenance and lack of care of the PPE that they use. For such important members of the community, this represents a clear safety issue that is important to resolve.

Firefighters often have heavy-duty gear that protects them from the harsh and dangerous environments that they operate in. But it is not always the case that the maintenance and care of such equipment is carried out in the proper way. For many firefighters this can be an unintentionally dangerous extra risk as part of their job. Thanks to the new ISO standard ISO 23616, as well as mobile devices and inspection solutions, the problem is now much simpler to tackle.

How ISO 23616 Supports Better PPE Management

ISO 23616 provides a structured framework for the inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair, and retirement of firefighter PPE. For fire services and organisations that employ firefighters, implementing this standard means establishing a systematic process for tracking the condition of every item of protective equipment and ensuring that PPE that no longer meets protective requirements is removed from service before it is used in a dangerous situation.

Mobile inspection platforms have made it possible for most businesses to carry out inspections using the same devices they utilise personally in their daily lives. Organisations in various fields have experienced the benefits of taking inspections normally carried out by pen and paper, and putting them on digital devices, with a digital checklist being completed on an inspection application. Features of the smartphone or tablet being used include:

• The camera, which can be used to take pictures of PPE condition or scan barcodes and RFID tags on individual items of equipment
• The touchscreen, which is used for annotations, text recordings, standardised response recordings, and image editing
• Speech-to-text services for a hands-free approach to data recording during inspection
• GPS timestamps that record where and when each inspection was completed
• Automatically suggested corrective actions and proactive triggers and alerts when inspection findings indicate PPE should be withdrawn from service

Implementing ISO 23616 Through Digital Inspection

For fire services, the practical implementation of ISO 23616 through a digital inspection platform involves several key components:

• Asset register for PPE: Each item of firefighter PPE is registered in the asset management system with its own unique identifier (barcode or RFID), specifications, commissioning date, and service history
• Inspection schedules: Regular inspection intervals as required by ISO 23616 are configured in the platform, with automatic reminders when inspections fall due
• Condition assessment checklists: ISO 23616-aligned inspection checklists guide inspectors through the required checks for each type of PPE, with standardised pass/fail criteria and mandatory photo capture for any damage or contamination identified
• Cleaning and decontamination records: Each cleaning event is recorded against the individual item, providing a complete history of decontamination that is important given the documented risks of contaminated firefighter gear
• Retirement tracking: When PPE reaches end-of-service life or fails inspection criteria, the platform records the retirement decision and removes the item from the active asset register

For fire services looking to implement ISO 23616 in a practical and sustainable way, a digital inspection and compliance platform provides the infrastructure to turn the standard's requirements into everyday operational reality, protecting the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect others.