Severe injuries in wildland firefighters

No previous research has examined wildland firefighter injuries to figure out which activities and hazards are most dangerous, even though firefighting is known to be an occupation that exposes employees to many hazards. From the Rocky Mountain Research Station, researcher Erin Belval and fire management specialist Brad Pietruszka collaborated with co-author Alex Viktora of Fire and Aviation Management on a study that started the work to allow the Forest Service to engage in risk assessments based upon quantitative data. They identified the activities firefighters were engaged in when they were injured and the specific hazards that injured them. Then, they categorized the injury outcomes on a severity scale to facilitate comparison of risk between activities in which firefighters engage and the hazards to which they are exposed. 

Already, Viktora has used these study findings to improve the eSafety program, the online portal where Forest Service employees report injuries of all kinds.

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Kari Greer

Wildland firefighters perform risky tasks in harsh environments.