A Retrospective Evaluation of Injuries to Australian Urban Firefighters (2003 to 2012)

Abstract

These observations provide a basis for intervention strategies that target sprains and strains associated with materials handling and slips, trips, and falls.

Employment Standards for Australian Urban Firefighters

“…14 Finally, research phases four and five (Table 1) are described during which the resulting tests were evaluated using unskilled subjects and operational firefighters, with performance thresholds eventually being developed. 15 Although others have previously produced selection tests and recommended employment standards for firefighters, 22-26 the current series of articles, in combination with a decade of injury statistics for the same organization (2003 to 2012), 9 possibly represents the most complete account available within the peerreviewed literature of the procedural sequence necessary for the implementation of bona fide employment standards for urban firefighters.…”

“…Indeed, it could be argued that a failure to secure the services of such people might render those organizations incapable of meeting their obligations. Furthermore, as fire fighting exposes workers to a high probability of suffering work-related injuries, 8,9 it is a health and safety obligation to identify individuals who are less capable of performing these demanding duties, and who, during that performance, might expose themselves or others to an unacceptable risk of injury. Finally, employers must ensure that no individual or group is treated less favorably during recruit-selection procedures.…”

Employment Standards for Australian Urban Firefighters

“…In this regard, less than 2% of those injuries to firefighters within the largest Australian fire and rescue organisation, 11 as recorded over a 10-year interval (2003 to 2012), were caused by thermal exposure. 12 Over the same period, 67% of all reported injuries were related to joint sprains and muscle strains (4105 injuries). 12 This contrast highlights the significance of physiological stresses beyond heat exposure.…”

“…12 Over the same period, 67% of all reported injuries were related to joint sprains and muscle strains (4105 injuries). 12 This contrast highlights the significance of physiological stresses beyond heat exposure. Indeed, strain is often associated not only with the material handling requirements accompanying the use of personal protective equipment (including breathing apparatus) and fire-fighting equipment, but also with other materials handled during operational duties.…”

Towards best practice in physical and physiological employment standards

“…An equally important objective for the more physically demanding jobs is reducing the risk of workplace injuries (duty of care or due diligence). Many such injuries are preventable, including those accompanying the use of overly protective clothing and equipment (Goldman 2001;McLellan and Havenith 2016;Taylor and Patterson 2016), arduous materials handling (Knapik et al 2004;Taylor et al 2015a, and ineffective screening procedures and standards that result in recruiting and retaining higher-risk individuals. Employers cannot abdicate their responsibilities to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.…”