PPE Accountability Is a Safety Issue. It's Time to Manage It Like One - Part 2.
PSTrax and LION: Where PPE Expertise Meets Operational Accountability
In Part 1, we covered the risks of poor PPE documentation, what NFPA 1850 requires, why accountability belongs at every rank, and how digital tracking improves daily operations. Here, we look at how the PSTrax and LION partnership gives departments the tools and expertise to put all of that into practice.
Managing PPE properly requires more than knowing where equipment is located. It requires understanding the full lifecycle of each item, from assignment and inspection through cleaning, repair, and retirement.
That is why PSTrax and LION partnered to help departments better manage one of their most critical safety responsibilities: protecting the personnel who rely on their PPE every day.
LION brings decades of expertise in turnout gear design, testing, and lifecycle management. PSTrax provides the platform that helps departments document, track, and manage PPE throughout its service life.
Together, they support a more complete approach to PPE management, helping departments maintain records for:
• Individual gear assignments
• Inspection schedules and completion history
• Cleaning and repair documentation
• Equipment condition assessments
• Lifecycle milestones and retirement decisions
The result is greater visibility across the department, from the firefighter checking their own equipment to the chief responsible for ensuring the PPE program is properly managed.
For departments that have always prioritized PPE safety but struggled to maintain consistent documentation, digital accountability provides the connection between doing the right thing and being able to prove it.
Safety Depends on Documented PPE Accountability
Fire departments and EMS agencies do not rely on good intentions alone when protecting their personnel. They rely on policies, training, equipment, and processes that help ensure those protections are in place every day.
PPE management is no different.
A department may have excellent equipment. It may conduct inspections. It may train personnel on proper care and use. But without accurate records, it becomes difficult to verify that those practices are consistently followed.
The strongest PPE programs are not built only on the equipment departments purchase. They are built on the systems that ensure that equipment remains ready, serviceable, and properly managed throughout its lifecycle.
The gap between a department that intends to manage PPE responsibly and one that can demonstrate it comes down to visibility.
When PPE information is documented, accessible, and connected to daily operations, departments can better protect their personnel, maintain readiness, and respond confidently when accountability is required.
Related Resources
Want to see turnout gear accountability in action? Join PSTrax and LION for a live webinar hosted by FireRescue1 on how departments are simplifying NFPA 1850 recordkeeping while strengthening firefighter safety.
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 10 a.m. PT | 1 p.m. ET
Continue exploring ways to improve PPE management, operational accountability, and firefighter safety:
The Hidden Lifecycle Costs of Poor PPE Tracking
Learn how disconnected PPE processes can create unnecessary costs, increase administrative burden, and make it harder for departments to maintain complete equipment histories.
Digital Checklists and Accountability for First Responder Station Management
Discover how digital workflows help fire and EMS agencies improve consistency, documentation, and accountability across daily operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
PSTrax supports both fire and EMS agencies. The PPE module tracks turnout gear, flight suits, and other protective equipment with inspection, maintenance, and lifecycle tracking.
PPE history stays with the equipment, not the individual. When gear is reassigned, its complete history of inspections, repairs, cleaning, and assignments remains intact, giving supervisors full visibility despite personnel changes.
Yes. Departments can tag PPE by grant source and generate reports for grants, audits, inspections, or internal reviews, making documentation easier to access when needed.
PSTrax is custom-configured for each agency and is typically implemented within weeks. Our team works with your department to configure workflows and prepare users for a smooth rollout.
To learn more, schedule a demo and see firsthand how a configurable PPE solution works.
