Firefighter Safety and Health Resources Resources

Purpose

This is a collection of NIOSH resources for firefighters of all types, including fire service, wildland firefighters, and volunteer firefighters. It includes information and prevention tips for the leading causes of injury and illness.

Two firefighters in turnout gear climb an outside staircase

General

NIOSH routinely publishes the results of its research and prevention activities through various communication channels such as the ones below.

Emergency Preparedness and Response
Resources for emergency response and recovery workers and disaster site leaders.
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Reports
A collection of FFFIPP Reports and Report Slides.
Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)
Helps determine if health hazards are present in the workplace and recommends ways address them.
NIOSH Science Blog posts on firefighting

Resources for specific groups‎

For resources on specific types of firefighting see Structural Firefighting and Wildland Firefighting.

Cancer

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Mortality and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950–2009) (2013)
Exposure-response relationship for select cancer and non-cancer health outcomes in a cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950-2009) (2015)
Creation of a retrospective job-exposure matrix using surrogate measure of exposure for a cohort of US career firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (2015)
Mortality in a cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia: an update (2020)

CBRN hazards

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Helps users recognize and control workplace chemical hazards.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Respiratory Protection Handbook
NIOSH has established performance and design standards for respiratory protective devices (RPDs) to...
Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance
This framework provides recommendations for protecting emergency response and recovery workers.

Communication failures

Firefighter Communication and Safety
NIOSH reports show that communication failures are a key contributing factor to firefighter deaths.
The Importance of Understanding and Training on the Portable Radio Emergency Alert Button (EAB) during a Mayday
Training and info on how to use the portable radio emergency alert button during a Mayday situation.
Preventing Freewheeling of Public Safety Portable Radio Volume-Power Knob (2021-117)
Ensuring portable radio volume-power knobs can’t accidentally be turned down or off in a response.

Hearing loss

Promoting Hearing Health among Firefighters
Preventing Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
This guide helps employers and safety professionals protect workers from noise-induced hearing loss.
Noise exposure among federal wildland fire fighters

Heart Disease

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events
Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters During Training Exercises
Firefighters are at risk of death or injury during training activities. The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatal...

Heat and cold stress

Preventing Heat-related Illness or Death of Outdoor Workers
Infographics: Firefighter SCBA Best Practices When Working in Cold
Support for Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, Infographics

Rhabdomyolysis

Training

Safety and Health Considerations for Junior Firefighters
Provides fire depts. actions to take to help protect the health and safety of junior firefighters.
Divers Beware: Training Dives Present Serious Hazards to Firefighters
NIOSH recommendations to decrease risk of lung damage, illness, or drowning during dive training.
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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health