Founded in Pittsburgh in 1914, MSA originally stood for ‘Mine Safety Appliances’. This was changed in 2014 to ‘MSA Safety’ to reflect the broader range of products the company has developed. Today, the company still manufactures products such as fixed gas and flame detection systems which are used across industry. They are also a leading manufacturer of self-contained breathing apparatus and fire helmets for firefighters, known as ‘turnout gear’ as well as fall protection equipment for working at height.
Objective
Phase-out hazardous PFAS chemicals from manufactured firefighter turnout gear
Background
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are highly stable man-made molecules. Their ability to resist breaking down can make products highly resistant to water, grease and stains. PFAS have therefore been useful in a range of applications including helping firefighter turnout gear meet regulatory safety requirements. However, a growing understanding of their impacts means that the same properties that make them useful are also creating a planetary scale health risk. Without the ability to biodegrade, PFAS are accumulating in the environment and in the tissues of living organisms. From there, evidence suggests their presence can lead to cancers, autoimmune disorders, male and female infertility, obesity and diabetes1,2.
Though not a manufacturer of PFAS chemicals themselves, MSA Safety assembles turnout gear that has only been able to meet regulatory safety requirements thanks to the water and oil repelling properties of PFAS. However, in light of growing awareness of the negative impacts associated with PFAS, alternative technologies and regulatory standards are evolving to limit the need for these chemicals.
We have therefore been engaging MSA Safety to encourage them to commit to a time-bound phase-out of the chemicals. To date, the company has cited a reliance on supplier R&D as the primary obstacle to this. It had however, been working with the International Association of Firefighters to support the PFAS Alternatives Act, which would secure federal funding to support innovation.
Actions
Following announcements that the final layer of protective clothing is now available without PFAS chemicals and has recently been certified to national standards in North America3, WHEB requested a call with MSA Safety to understand its position on phase-out.
Progress/outcome
M3: Company develops or commits to develop an appropriate method or strategy to manage the issue
Though certified alternative components are now available, each of MSA’s new PFAS-free products will still need to undergo certification before being brought to market. Given the high-profile nature of the chemicals, the company expects the bar to be high and it has therefore been somewhat reserved in its marketing so far. Still, the company was confident it could bring PFAS- free products to market in early 2025.
We will continue to push MSA Safety for a time-bound commitment to total phase-out. However, we also believe the company is making meaningful progress towards this being a reality as evidenced by its work to bring PFAS-free alternatives to market as quickly is as reasonably possible.
1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019305380#bb0005
2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-018-0094-1
3 https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/firefighting-gear-without-pfas-heads-to-north-american-cities?Fds-Load-Behavior=force-external