Category: Fire Fighting

Improved Recruitment and Retention of Women Firefighters with Elevated Attention to their Health and Safety

The advantages of a workforce populated with both men and women are well-documented and range from increased collaboration to greater productivity.[1] While other industries benefit from a balanced workforce (53% male), the fire service lags behind with the workforce remaining 91% male.[2][3] Many fire departments in the United States have faced challenges trying to attract Read More >

Posted on by Suzanne M. Marsh, MPA; Meghan Kiederer, BA; Wesley R. Attwood, DrCJ; Susan Moore, PhD

Protecting Workers on the Roadways: The Use of Truck-Mounted Attenuators in the Fire and Emergency Services

  Workers who respond to roadway emergencies, such as vehicle crashes, can face multiple hazards. Working at roadway incidents frequently exposes responders to potentially being struck by passing motor vehicle traffic leading to serious injury or death. These secondary crashes during responses to roadway incidents contribute to about 50 emergency responder fatalities and injuries annually.[1][2] Additionally, Read More >

Posted on by Wesley R. Attwood, DrCJ; Meghan Kiederer, BA; David E. Fosbroke, BS, MSF; Tammy L. Schaeffer; Jarrad E. Clift, MBA; Joseph Tebo; David Bryson, EMT14 Comments

Keeping Emergency Responders Safe: NIOSH Efforts Since 9/11

  On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and thousands were injured during the events that occurred at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City, New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It’s estimated that more than 400,000 people were exposed to harmful Read More >

Posted on by Wesley R. Attwood, DrCJ; Meghan Kiederer, BA; LCDR Carley Anderson, MPH; Anthony Gardner, MPA, MA; CAPT Chad H. Dowell, MS, CIH; CDR Alice M. Shumate, PhD, MPH; Chandran Achutan, PhD, CIH; Jon Szalajda, MS; Andrea Wilkinson, MS; Allyson W. O’Connor, PhD, MPH

Partnering to Reduce the Risk to Firefighters Responding to High-risk Buildings

  Building strategic partnerships can create solutions to large community safety issues High-risk buildings can be abandoned or condemned structures.  These buildings pose hazards to firefighters and communities. This is because many are structurally unsound and not safe for any person to enter. These buildings are commonly a key contributing factor to firefighter line of Read More >

Posted on by Michael Richardson and Emilee Austin

Tackling Mental Health Challenges in the Public Safety Sector: Implementing and Evaluating Mental Health Programs

  Public safety sector workers including firefighters (structural and wildland), law enforcement officers, emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians, and corrections personnel are at a high risk of occupational exposure to traumatic events and stress. As such, mental health programs are critical for addressing the unique challenges these workers face. Effective programs must be multi-faceted, address Read More >

Posted on by Meghan Kiederer, BA; Hope Tiesman, PhD; Daniel Gerard, MS, RN, NRP; Meret Hofer, PhD; Kristen Wheldon, PsyD; Dana Neitlich, MSW; David Shapiro, BA; Wesley R. Attwood, Dr.CJ; Maryann D’Alessandro, PhD; Suzanne Marsh, MPA2 Comments

A Deeper Look into Protecting Wildland Firefighter Safety and Health

  Wildland firefighters perform a hazardous job in dangerous conditions. Their daily tasks pose risk of burns and other heat-related injuries or illnesses; slips, trips, falls, strains, and sprains; and becoming trapped or injured by equipment or debris.1 In addition, exposures related to fighting fires—especially when it comes to smoke inhalation—have been classified as “carcinogenic,” Read More >

Posted on by Kathleen Navarro DuBose, PhD, MPH; Kenny Fent, PhD, CIH; Rick Swan; & Jay Tarley, CFEI

Keeping Junior Firefighters Safe and Healthy: The Fire Department’s Role in Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences

  Historically, junior firefighter programs have been an important recruitment and retention tool for the fire service. Also known as “explorers” or “cadets,” junior firefighters range from 14-17 years of age and are part of volunteer, career, and combination (career/volunteer) fire departments. Most states’ child labor laws limit their participation to only fundraising activities, training, Read More >

Posted on by Wesley R. Attwood, Dr.C.J.; Meghan Kiederer, B.A; Jeffrey R. Funke; Michael Krzeminski; KC Elliott, MA, MPH; Tammy Schaeffer; and Patrick R. Montague8 Comments

Exploring Workers’ Compensation Injury Claims among Firefighters

  A recently published research article explored patterns and characteristics of workers’ compensation injury claims over a 17-year period among firefighters in Ohio. Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collaborated with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (OHBWC) to conduct the study, which provided valuable insights into the occupational health Read More >

Posted on by Tyler D. Quinn, PhD; Suzanne Marsh, MPA; Steven J. Wurzelbacher, PhD; Steven J. Naber, PhD

The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer: Understanding the Link Between Firefighting and Cancer

  Firefighting is a demanding profession that presents many risks from acute injuries on the fireground to long-term illness, like cancer. Firefighters can encounter cancer-causing chemicals by breathing them in, getting them on their skin or in their eyes, or by ingesting them. Exposure to these chemicals can occur while being near burning materials, from Read More >

Posted on by Kenny Fent, PhD, CIH; Miriam R. Siegel, DrPH, MPH; Andrea Wilkinson, MS, LAT, ATC; Alexander C. Mayer, MPH; and Greg W. Hartle, MA2 Comments

Working Hours and Fatigue: Meeting the Needs of American Workers and Employers

In November 2022, the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (AJIM) published a special issue focusing on work-related fatigue. The issue explores factors that may increase work-related fatigue and actions to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. [1] This issue is a result of discussions and collaborations from the 2019 NIOSH Working Hours, Sleep and Fatigue Forum Read More >

Posted on by Grace Vixama, MPH; Imelda Wong, PhD; and Naomi Swanson, PhD1 Comment

Research Shows Benefits of Reduced Aerial Ladder Rung Spacing

As a critical part of their job, firefighters often climb aerial ladders up to 30 meters (or 98 feet) long and positioned at various angles. Aerial ladders are mechanically-operated, long, extendable ladders mounted on fire trucks and are used to reach high places for extinguishing fires and rescue operations. While climbing, firefighters typically wear heavy Read More >

Posted on by Peter Simeonov, PhD, and Emilee Austin, MA

The State of Health Surveillance Across the Public Safety Sector

Surveillance is the cornerstone of public health practice, including in occupational safety and health (OSH). OSH surveillance systems have the ability to generate data that drives decision making and action.1, 2 There are multiple steps in a surveillance system including timely and accurate data collection; data quality monitoring; data management; data analysis; interpretation of results; Read More >

Posted on by Carol Brown, PhD; Suzanne M. Marsh, MPA; Susan M. Moore, PhD; and Meghan Kiederer, BA2 Comments

Researching Risk of Birth Defects Among Children of Male Firefighters

  Over 1.1 million firefighters protect our communities and environment in the United States.1 Firefighters face hazardous conditions and chemicals while on the job, which may have safety and health implications. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation named reproductive health as a priority research topic in 2021. But so far very few studies have evaluated birth Read More >

Posted on by Amel Omari, PhD, MPH; Miriam R. Siegel, DrPH, MPH; and Carissa M Rocheleau, PhD5 Comments

Extinguishing the Risk of Forever Chemicals: State of the science to protect first responders

Forever Chemicals, aptly named because they are resistant to breaking down, are artificially produced chemicals used to enhance everyday products like stain resistant clothing and furniture, cosmetics, and food packaging material. Scientists refer to them as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS includes thousands of individual compounds that have been used worldwide since the early Read More >

Posted on by Susan M. Moore, PhD; Miriam Calkins, PhD, MS; Stacey Anderson, PhD; Crystal Forester, MS; and Meghan Kiederer, BA7 Comments

Protecting Firefighters

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a long history of working to protect firefighters. Firefighting is an inherently dangerous and vitally important occupation. The United States Fire Administration reported that 1,955 firefighters died in the line of duty from 1998-2019. In addition to injuries and deaths occurring on the fireground, firefighters Read More >

Posted on by Jeff Funke, MS, CSP; Judith Eisenberg, MD, MS; Kenny Fent, PhD, CIH; Matt Bowyer; and Steve Miles2 Comments

Wildland Firefighter Health: Some Burning Questions

While research has not yet been conducted on all the hazards and risks associated with the wildland firefighting job, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is asked numerous questions about the hazards of fighting wildland fires. This blog is designed to answer some of those questions. What Is in Wildland Fire Smoke? Read More >

Posted on by LCDR Corey Butler, MS REHS; CAPT Christa Hale, DVM, MPH, DACVPM (Epi); Kathleen Navarro, PhD, MPH; Elizabeth Dalsey, MA; CAPT Chucri (Chuck) A. Kardous, MS, PE; Pamela S. Graydon, MS, COHC; and CAPT David C. Byrne, Ph.D., CCC-A8 Comments

Summary of Recommendations from the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program from 2006—2014

Since 1998, NIOSH has conducted independent investigations of firefighter line-of-duty deaths and recommended ways to prevent deaths and injuries through the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP). A recent article, “Summary of recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, 2006–2014” provides information on Read More >

Posted on by Suzanne Marsh, MPA; Sydney Webb, PhD; and Karis Kline, MS

Firefighter Cancer Rates: The Facts from NIOSH Research

In 2010, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), launched a multi-year study to examine whether firefighters have a higher risk of cancer and other causes of death due to job exposures. The study was a joint effort led by researchers at NIOSH in collaboration with researchers at the National Cancer Read More >

Posted on by Robert D. Daniels, PhD, CHP22 Comments

Noise Exposure Among Federal Wildland Fire Fighters

Hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. NIOSH estimates that 22 million U.S. workers encounter noise exposures loud enough to be hazardous.  Wildland fire fighting (vs. urban/ structural fire fighting), aims to suppress grass, brush, or forest fires (see Figure 1).  Wildland fire fighting is considered a high-risk Read More >

Posted on by George Broyles , LCDR Corey Butler, CAPT Chuck Kardous 1 Comment

Arduous Duty: Using Three Data Sources to Create a Single Wildland Fire Fighter On-Duty Death Surveillance System

Wildland fire fighters are required to pass an “arduous duty” physical fitness test annually to help ensure that they are prepared for the physical nature of the job. Unlike structural fire fighting, wildland fire fighting often requires long work shifts that may last up to 14 continuous days, and often takes place in environments that Read More >

Posted on by CDR Christa Hale, LCDR Corey Butler, and Elizabeth Dalsey, M.A. 2 Comments