Summary of recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, 2006-2014.

INTRODUCTION

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) conducts independent investigations of selected fire fighter line-of-duty deaths (LODD) and offers recommendations to prevent similar deaths. The purpose of the current study was to provide information on more recent FFFIPP recommendations and to determine if recommendations have changed over time.

METHODS

Fatality investigations completed from 2006 to 2014 were selected for this study with recommendations being assigned into twelve major categories when possible. The most frequently occurring recommendations were then rank ordered overall and then by medical and traumatic fire fighter LODD.

RESULTS

There were 1,067 total recommendations made in the published fire fighter investigative reports for both medical and trauma-related fire fighter fatalities for the period 2006-2014. Of these, 784 (73%) could be placed within one of the 12 categories noted previously. The top 10 recommendation categories overall were: 1. Medical screening, 2. Fitness and wellness program, 3. Training, 4. Medical clearance, 5. Standard Operating Procedures/Standard Operating Guidelines (SOPs/SOGs), 6. Incident command, 7. Strategy and tactics, 8. Communications, 9. Personal protective equipment and 10. Staffing.

CONCLUSIONS

The leading recommendations from the NIOSH FFFIPP medical investigations between 2006 and 2014 did not change compared to those made between 1998 and 2005, with the exception of the addition of "medical clearance for duty". There were changes for the traumatic injury leading recommendations for 2006-2014, with the major change being "training", which was the leading FFFIPP recommendation for traumatic injuries for this time period. Practical applications: The intent of the FFFIPP is to influence fire departments and fire fighters to critically assess and evaluate situations/circumstances similar to those identified by NIOSH investigations and implement the recommendations offered to prevent additional fire fighter fatalities.