RFID PASS Devices: PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
From United States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency... RFID PASS devices, or electronic transmitting PASS devices, are commercially available:
Helmet- or SCBA-Mounted RFID Tags
One new RFID accountability system under development envisions mounting a matchboxsized RFID tag on a firefighter’s helmet or SCBA. Fire departments would use stereo-sized interrogator units that could be either vehicle-mounted or portable units positioned outside the building. Since the RFID tags are matchbox-sized, developers did not think it practical to mount the
units on turnout gear. The tags might easily be knocked off of turnout gear or damaged on the scene of an emergency. Developers feel that by mounting the tags to SCBA’s and/or the underside of helmets, they might be more protected from damage and unintentional removal.
Helmet-mounted RFID tags can be programmed to transmit personnel information, including name, rank, training, or other department-specific information. SCBA-mounted RFID tags will most likely transmit information reflecting the SCBA’s location on a given piece of apparatus. For example, if Firefighter Smith’s riding assignment were as the officer for Engine 8, then he would be tracked on the fireground as “Engine 8’s officer,” rather than as “Firefighter Smith.” This technology can be programmed to transmit individual information as the helmet-mounted tags do; however, if a
department desired to track individual-specific information using SCBA-mounted RFID tags, they would have to reprogram the RFID tag each time a new person was assigned to the SCBA.
One drawback to an SCBA- or helmet-mounted RFID system is that the PAS will depend on emergency personnel always wearing their protective equipment. Although this should be commonplace, sometimes PAS protocols are not followed, which can compromise individual’s safety and
diminish the effectiveness of the PAS. For this reason, it may be better to place the RFID tag on a piece of equipment that is more likely to be worn on all incidents (i.e., the helmet). For example, a fire department which issues
SCBA-mounted RFID tags may not be able to track its personnel at a mass casualty incident, such as a passenger train derailment, since many personnel will not necessarily be wearing an SCBA. Similarly, rescue departments would be forced to select a piece of equipment worn on all incidents, and on
which they could mount the RFID tags, to ensure that their RFID PAS can track personnel locations.
Training – Training to use RFID PAS technology will not likely be extensive. Individual firefighters would need only basic instructions on how the system will work and routine maintenance and care instructions for the RFID tags. Accountability officers will need some basic instruction on RFID technology and minimal training how to operate the system and manipulate the computer
software and display monitors. Overall, this technology will require minimal training of personnel.
Cost – Costs for RFID PAS will vary depending on the size of the system. RFID tags can be expected to cost several hundred dollars each (less if greater numbers of them are ordered). Interrogators will be more expensive, with models costing up to $5,000. Elevating booms, multiple interrogators,
etc., will raise the price of an RFID PAS. Departments should be able to purchase a system to track 50 people for less than $10,000. These prices are all projections at this time since this technology is not yet commercially available for accountability applications.
Future Trends – Assuming the technology becomes commercially available, RFID PAS has the potential to be very useful in the fire service. Also, as the technology advances, more PAS applications may be discovered.
RFID Tags Sewn into Turnout Gear
Recently, researchers have been able to develop a thin, flexible RFID receiver that can be sewn into the weave of a fabric. With this new capability, RFID tags can be sewn into turnout gear, station uniforms, or other fabrics.
Fabric-based RFID technology will promote accountability by allowing a flexible, non-bulky alternative to other RFID devices. Since all personnel operating at an incident will be wearing clothing of some form, accountability officers can expect that they will be able to track all individuals operating on scene. Fabric-based systems can allow for RFID tags to be sewn into uniforms as well
as PPE, allowing system redundancy for added safety measures. The more places in which tags are sewn, the greater the likelihood of tracking personnel.
One problem currently being addressed deals with the small size of the tags, since small size can limit effective transmission range. Research is under way to ensure that the fabric-based RFID transmission signals are able to reach interrogator units, even if other layers of clothing or objects, such as an SCBA, covers the tag.
Costs – Fabric-based RFID technology is under development, and is not yet commercially available. Developers are unsure of the final equipment costs, but they hope to have their technology available at prices similar to other RFID devices.
Training – Training for this technology likely would be similar to training for helmet- or SCBA-mounted RFID technology.
Future Trends – Since much of the RFID technology is just now on the verge of becoming more common in the fields of the emergency services, it is difficult to say what the future will hold. RFID technology promises a number of accountability benefits for a moderate price. As the technology is developed further, one can expect that the size of the units will decrease, the signal strength and information amount will increase, and the price will fall.
Labels: assessment, clothing, computer, equipment, flexible, future, location, price-tags, pricetag, problem, rfid-training, safety, software-development, training, vehicle, what-is-rfid
