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The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program's influence on standards development.

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  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    Introduction: The fire service utilizes National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for training and qualifications, safety and health, apparatus design, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection, communications, and incident management in their daily operations. In the event of a fire fighter fatality, investigation outcomes can identify the need to make changes to the affected fire service standards. This presentation will illustrate the impact of NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigations on the development of new NFPA standards and the revisions to current NFPA standards. Methods: The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) investigates fire fighter line of duty deaths (LODD) to identify contributory factors and formulate prevention strategies. During the investigation of a LODD, NIOSH investigators document and evaluate all activities and circumstances associated with the fatality. NIOSH investigators are participating members of NFPA technical committees that set standards for: Electronic Safety Equipment, Respiratory Protection Equipment, and Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health. Thus, investigation findings are provided directly to a particular NFPA technical committee through NIOSH staff participation. This enables a technical committee to generate language for a new standard or develop revisions for a current standard. NIOSH FFFIPP provides data and information addressing emerging or previously unrecognized risks associated with fire-fighting operations. Results: Over the past 10 years, NIOSH has used research data plus evaluation and testing to influence the improved design and operation of portable radios, personal alert safety systems (PASS), and self-contained breathing apparatus. Additionally, based upon recommendations from investigation reports, NIOSH investigators have proposed revisions to standards related to fire fighter occupational safety and health, training, incident management, and command safety. The information provided through NIOSH participation in standards development has resulted in the adoption of enhanced NFPA standards for fire fighter safety and health. Conclusions: The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program maintains a working relationship with the NFPA standards development process. The results from FFFIPP investigations continue to be used to develop standards addressing risks for fire fighters. With the final adoption of these standards, fire fighter safety and health continues to improve.
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Publisher:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Genre:
    Abstract
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Division:
    DSR - Division of Safety Research
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    104
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20047371
  • Citation:
    National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2015, (NOIRS 2015), May 19-21, 2015, Kingwood, West Virginia. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2015 May; :104
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    2015
  • NORA Priority Area:
    Services: Public Safety
  • Peer Reviewed:
    False
  • Source Full Name:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:aba3aef6bd2705b28d4f7ecef30cf44f7166fd2e8f373102a5bdfa77162c1972045834104479f88ca91273f98bffd1e55e925f5c6306d3aa526fc7167feccca8
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 867.02 KB ]
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