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The federal government today announced the country's first national standard for protective equipment for its thousands of front-line emergency workers.
Ottawa (26 January 2011) - First responders across the country will now have the proper equipment in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.
The new standards were announced today by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews during a re-enactment of a hazardous situation in Toronto.
Toews says those who put their lives on the line should have the best equipment possible.
The standards were developed by the Canadian General Standards Board and CSA Standards, an organization that works with industry, government and consumers.
''Canada's front-line emergency workers form the backbone of our society by answering the call of duty without question when people are in need,'' said Bonnie Rose, president of CSA Standards.
''We are working to ensure that firefighters, police officers, paramedics and health care workers have the highest standard of protective equipment available while working to protect Canadians in extraordinary urgent situations,'' said Toews.
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