Most domestic firefighters use defective air fillers

Most domestic firefighters use defective air fillers. October. 04, 2016 07:11. by 박성민기자 min@donga.com. Six out of 10 air fillers that firefighters are currently using are aged products whose lifespan has expired. More than half of those devices are also found to be unfit as they failed to prevent corrosion caused by reversal of airflow, or moisture.

According to data that the Public Safety and Security Ministry submitted on Monday to Rep. Jin Sun-mi of the main opposition Minjoo Party, 696 (60.9 percent) of 1,147 air fillers installed at fire stations nationwide have already exceeded their lifespan of six years. By region, the portion of air fillers whose lifespan expired was the highest in Ulsan (94.4 percent), followed by Incheon (89.5 percent), and Changwon (86.4 percent). The ratio of such aged equipment was also high in Seoul (74.8 percent), and Gyeonggi Province (75.2 percent), where fire engines are mobilized more frequently.

While 343 (29.9 percent) out of all air fillers were not equipped with a valve designed to prevent reverse airflow, 261 units (22.8 percent) lacked a sensor for automatic stop designed to prevent corrosion caused by moisture. These functions have become compulsory since 2005 and 2009.

The air filler supplies air to the respirator (air tank) that firefighters wear when they have to battle flames. If the contaminated air is supplied or air reverse occurs, it can not only damage firefighters' health but also cause serious situation at the site of fire that is full of toxic gases. In fact, foreign substance in the form of white powder was detected in the respirator in August this year. Foreign substance was found in more than 500 units in total across the nation. However, the ministry has yet to find the exact cause of whether the foreign substance derived from corrosion of the tank or whether it was introduced from outside.

Defective equipment is causing harm to firefighters’ health as well. According to the ministry, 3,098 of the 37,849 firefighters who received special medical checkups in 2014 were found to be suffering from respiratory illness. The ratio of firefighters who received diagnosis due to abnormal health conditions increased from 47.5 percent in 2012 to 62.2 percent last year.

“Firefighters’ health and welfare has been considered less of priority in government policy and budget every time,” Rep. Jin said. “The Public Safety and Security Ministry should upgrade aged equipment as soon as possible in collaboration with metropolitan and provincial firefighting headquarters.”