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CIS News, October 2003
NIOSH Fire Fighter Prevention Program
US National Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11, 2003. There are currently 1.2 million fire fighters protecting US citizens and property from losses caused by fires. An estimated 105 fire fighters die in the line of duty each year and 87,500 more are injured. At NIOSH, research to prevent fire fighter fatalities and injuries is an ongoing priority. As part of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, NIOSH collaborates with private and public organizations to conduct a number of activities designed to increase awareness of dangers and prevent future fatalities and injuries from occurring. Several of the key components of the NIOSH program are the following:
- Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program conducts investigations of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths to formulate recommendations for preventing future deaths and injuries. The program’s investigators are trained in the National Fire Protection Association Fire Fighter Levels I and II, Incident Command Systems, and many other aspects of fire fighting and fire fighter safety. Investigators are also highly trained in areas of specialization from traffic control techniques to wild land fire fighting. Investigators use the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) model to conduct investigations of fatal injuries resulting from a variety of traumatic injury circumstances, such as burns, asphyxiation, internal trauma, drowning and electrocution. Each investigation generates a report summarizing the incident, and includes recommendations for preventing future similar events. During Fiscal Year 2003, NIOSH conducted 43 investigations in 22 states.
The Web site www.cdc.gov/niosh/facerpts.html includes summaries and recommendations from NIOSH investigations as they are completed.
- Fire Fighters At Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Heart attacks are the most common cause of line-of-duty deaths for fire fighters. NIOSH investigates these fatalities by assessing the contribution of workplace and personal factors. The workplace evaluation includes estimating the immediate physical demands placed on the fire fighter, estimating the fire fighters acute exposure to hazardous chemicals, and assessing the fire department’s efforts to screen for coronary artery disease risk factors and implementing a fitness and wellness program. Like the FACE model, each investigation generates a report summarizing the incident, and includes recommendations for preventing future similar results. These can be found on the NIOSH Web site www.cdc.gov/niosh/facerpts.html.
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Evaluation Program Impacts Fire Fighting Safety
As part of its respirator certification program established in 1972, NIOSH tests self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) worn by fire fighters who have been injured or killed. The goal of the evaluation is to determine if failure or defects in the SCBA contributed to the fire fighter’s injury or death. The initial evaluation of the SCBA determines if it is a NIOSH-approved configuration and if the unit can be safely pressurized and tested. If found suitable for testing, investigators conduct a series of NIOSH SCBA Certification Tests and National Fire Protection Association Tests which provide an indication of the SCBA’s overall performance. A detailed report is provided to the person who submitted the SCBA to NIOSH. This program is conducted by NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL).
- Communicating Fire Fighter Safety Information Is Critical
The program disseminates the investigative reports and other related safety publications to fire departments, fire fighters, program planners, trainers, and researchers to help prevent future line-of-duty deaths and injuries. The investigation reports are used in fire fighter training to demonstrate real-life dangers associated with the job.
In addition to the investigation reports, NIOSH develops other documents on specific hazards to the fire service, such as tanker rollovers, traffic hazards, structural collapses and exposure to electrical hazards during wild land fire operations.
To access the complete list of fire fighter safety publications, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/othpubs.html.
- The Evaluation of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
NIOSH is developing an evaluation project to assess the impact of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program and the effects of the program’s recommendations and information products distributed to fire departments. This study will examine career and volunteer, large and small size, rural and urban and union and non-union fire departments to determine the extent to which fire fighter reports, recommendations and information are implemented by fire departments. In addition, the study will measure the effects of the program on the knowledge, behavior, attitudes, and safety practices for both management and front-line fire fighters. Information gained from the study will be integrated into future program efforts.
Updated by AS. Approved by EC. Last update: 30.11.2004.
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