Introduction to Emergency Services Occupational Safety and Health

1. Introduction toEmergency Services Occupational Safety and Health Chapter 1 1-1

2. Learning Objectives • Discuss the history of occupational safety and health in industry. • Discuss the history of emergency service safety and health programs. • Identify, by using historical data, the safety and health problem as it is today. 1-2

3. Learning Objectives • Describe the efforts that have been made to address the safety and health problem among emergency service occupations. • Describe the 16 Life Safety Initiatives. • List the national agencies that produce annual injury and fatality reports for emergency services. • Identify the information that can be obtained from annual injury and fatality reports. 1-3

4. Introduction • Firefighting has a high rate of acute and chronic injuries and deaths • Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of hazards • Emergency medical service responders face many of the same hazards as firefighters • Most firefighters are also responsible for emergency medical response 1-4

5. History of Occupational Safetyand Health in Industry • Hippocrates (460-377 BC) • Paracelsus (1493-1541) • Agricolos (1494-1555) • Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) • 1911 fire at Triangle Shirtwaist • Federal Occupational Safety and Health Legislation 1-5

6. History of Emergency ServicesSafety and Health • High injury and death rate for firefighters • Considered part of the occupation • Maturation of occupational safety and health • Shortcomings of early texts • Improvement • Prevention Cont. 1-6

7. History of Emergency ServicesSafety and Health • America Burning in 1973 • Focused on firefighter safety • Perspective of staffing, education, and equipment • First publicized documents referencing firefighter safety • 1980s • Significant increase in interest in the safety problem • Trend has continued into the 21st century Cont. 1-7

8. History of Emergency ServicesSafety and Health • NFPA 1500 • Standard was controversial • Positive step in the safety and health area • Emergency services are traditional • Reluctant to make and accept change Cont. 1-8

9. History of Emergency ServicesSafety and Health • Changes since NFPA 1500 • Organizational charts reflecting a health and safety officer • Text books on the subject • Safety and health committees • Standard operational procedures with a focus on safety • Incident management systems • Improvements in personal protective equipment • Fitness and wellness programs have been adopted 1-9

10. Identification of the Safety Problem • Local program for local problems • Design and development • Data • Local statistics gathered • Determine the local safety and health problems • Compare to the larger population Cont. 1-10

11. Identification of the Safety Problem • Organizations that gather national data • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • United States Fire Administration (USFA) • National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) • International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1-11

12. Review of National Injury Statistics • NFPA Firefighter Injury report • Injuries by type of duty • Nature of injuries • Fireground injuries by cause • Injuries per department by population • Injuries per 100 firefighters • Rate of injuries per 1000 fires 1-12

13. Firefighter Casualties 2001- 2010 1-13

14. Injuries by Type of Duty 1-14

15. Nature of Injuries 1-15

16. Fireground Injuries by Cause 1-16

17. Injuries by Size of Population Protected 1-17

18. Rate of Injuries per 1000 Fires 1-18

19. What Is Being Done? • Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives • National Fire Fighter Life Safety Summit • Established objectives of reducing fatality rates • Produced an agenda of initiatives • Common goal of reducing firefighter deaths • Adoption of 16 firefighter life safety initiatives Cont. 1-19

20. What Is Being Done? • Risk management • SAFEOPS • Supervision • Attitude • Fitness/wellness • Education • Organizational involvement • Procedures • Standards and regulations 1-20

21. Is it Working? • Rate of illness, injuries, and fatalities are constant • Efforts must be continued and expanded • Continued efforts can lower these statistics • New programs are being developed frequently • Increase preparedness • Minimize to potential for injury and deaths 1-21

22. Summary • Occupational safety and health emphasis is relatively new for emergency service providers • With good risk management the frequency and severity of injuries could be reduced • Better programs, research, data, and organizational commitment to improve are still needed • Unprecedented meeting of 200 fire service leaders in Tampa resulted in the development of the 16 firefighter life safety initiatives 1-22

23. Summary • Occupational safety and health emphasis is relatively new for emergency service providers • With good risk management the frequency and severity of injuries could be reduced • Better programs, research, data, and organizational commitment to improve are still needed • Unprecedented meeting of 200 fire service leaders in Tampa resulted in the development of the 16 firefighter life safety initiatives 1-23