|
Contributing
Factors to Firefighter Line of Duty Death in
the U.S.
February 11, 2008 - The United States Fire
Administration (USFA) worked with the
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
in a project to enhance risk management
capability of local fire departments. The
goal of this initiative was to enable fire
departments to design effective risk
management programs based on community
hazards and service commitment, enhance
firefighter safety, and provide tools for
continual evaluation of emergency response
systems.
The ability of fire departments to design an
acceptable level of resource deployment
based on risks and service commitment and to
provide tools for continual evaluation of
emergency response systems is crucial in the
enhancement of firefighter operational
safety and occupational health. The adequate
placement of firefighting resources also
supports the reduction in civilian fire
fatalities.
This study examined critical issues related
to adequate resource deployment tying them
to the development of effective risk
management programs. Geographic information
systems (GIS) computer simulation was used
to develop staffing and deployment models
that will be recommended for department of
various sizes serving different populations
in varying geographic regions.
The first phase of the analyzed
retrospective data from the years 2000-2005
to identify and quantify the major factors
that contribute to fire fighter line-of-duty
death (LODD) in the United States. The
identified contributing factors were
examined for frequency of occurrence and
clustering with other factors. The results
are to be used to develop risk management
programs for fire departments.
This first phase used data compiled from six
years of verified firefighter on-duty
fatalities from four reputable industry
sources. Sources included the USFA as well
as the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA), the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
the IAFF. For each LODD, factors
contributing to the death were recorded from
Federal investigations and eyewitness
reports. The contributing factors were then
analyzed for frequency of occurrence and
clustering with other factors. Contributing
factor clusters identified include the
following.
Cluster #1 includes incident command,
training, communications, standard operating
procedures, and pre-incident planning.
Cluster #2 includes vehicles, personal
protective equipment, equipment failure, and
human error.
Cluster #3 includes private owned vehicle,
accidents, and civilian error.
Cluster #4 includes company staffing/crew
size, standard operating guidelines and
health/fitness/wellness.
Clustering information is being used to
develop risk management recommendations for
local fire departments. From the first phase
of this study, the report,
Contributing Factors
to Firefighter Line of Duty Death in the
United States was developed by
the IAFF.
This second phase of the study will also
address effective risk management programs
for the fire service as the same methodology
will be used to assess firefighter on-duty
injury. Data sources for phase II are being
sought. |
