Efficacy of a proactive health and safety risk management system in the fire service

Gerald S Poplin,Virginia Day-Nash,Chengcheng Hu,Keshia Pollack Porter,Joshua Mallett,Jefferey L Burgess,Stephanie Griffin

doi:10.1186/s40621-018-0148-9

Gerald S Poplin, Virginia Day-Nash + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-018-0148-9

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Abstract

BackgroundThis study evaluated the efficacy of a fire department proactive risk management program aimed at reducing firefighter injuries and their associated costs.MethodsInjury data were collected for the intervention fire department and a contemporary control department. Workers’ compensation claim frequency and costs were analyzed for the intervention fire department only. Total, exercise, patient transport, and fireground operations injury rates were calculated for both fire departments.ResultsThere was a post-intervention average annual reduction in injuries (13%), workers’ compensation injury claims (30%) and claims costs (21%). Median monthly injury rates comparing the post-intervention to the pre-intervention period did not show statistically significant changes in either the intervention or control fire department.ConclusionsReduced workers’ compensation claims and costs were observed following the risk management intervention, but changes in injury rates were not statistically significant.

Highlights

This study evaluated the efficacy of a fire department proactive risk management program aimed at reducing firefighter injuries and their associated costs
The most frequent activities associated with injury vary by department, including exercise, patient transport, fireground operations and training (Poplin et al, 2012; Burgess et al, 2014), supporting the need for an injury prevention approach that allows each department to prioritize the hazards confronted
The intervention began in February of 2010 with scoping and risk assessment phases conducted through the remainder of the initial calendar year

Summary

Introduction

This study evaluated the efficacy of a fire department proactive risk management program aimed at reducing firefighter injuries and their associated costs. Annual U.S fire service injury and injury prevention costs have been estimated at $2.8 to $7.8 billion (TriData Corporation, 2005). The most frequent activities associated with injury vary by department, including exercise, patient transport, fireground operations and training (Poplin et al, 2012; Burgess et al, 2014), supporting the need for an injury prevention approach that allows each department to prioritize the hazards confronted. Proactive risk management (RM) is required in many parts of the world, including the European Union and Australia (Burgess et al, 2014; Poplin et al, 2008). Only limited outcome data are available on implementation of risk-based health and safety systems, much

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Discussion

Conclusion