Over the next several months, Potomac Haven will coordinate with experts in NIOSH’s Division of Safety Research to produce a video that illustrates the exterior and interior architectural features typically found in rowhouses as well as materials often used in their construction.
Rowhouses are low-rise structures that are attached to adjacent homes by one or more shared walls and a roofline. While they take up a considerable footprint of some locales, rowhouses may be less common in other regions, opening a gap in training opportunities for firefighters.
“These buildings are celebrated as part of the architectural DNA of some of our nation’s foremost influential and historic cities,” said Potomac Haven founder Tammy White, “but they may be largely unknown to first responders with a different geographic experience. We look forward to working with NIOSH to make sure all of our first responders are familiar with the nuances of these structures.”
The video will highlight the unique hazards associated with these buildings and their surroundings, providing life-saving tips for firefighters who navigate smoke and fire to rescue inhabitants and contain blazes in densely populated areas.
“We take great pride in visual storytelling,” White said. “The art of crafting convincing characters, relatable narratives and realistic backdrops is a richly creative process around which we bring an experienced, talented, and award-winning team.”
Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH conducts research and training programs that promote worker safety and health. Potomac Haven previously has supplied the institute with creative design services for its safety information and awareness campaigns and for its work on a separate NIOSH-funded video effort.
The project builds on Potomac Haven’s work in the public safety sector. The woman-owned firm also provides business transformation solutions to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which regulates and enforces safety and health requirements for renewable energy facilities along the Outer Continental Shelf.
About Potomac Haven
Founded in 2015, Potomac Haven is an economically disadvantaged and woman-owned small business. A certified participant in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program, the firm’s public sector clients today include NIOSH, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, the General Services Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Navy.