@article{8bbd17b0c06d40c2933780c827867ee2,
title = "Efficacy of a proactive health and safety risk management system in the fire service",
abstract = "Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of a fire department proactive risk management program aimed at reducing firefighter injuries and their associated costs. Methods: Injury data were collected for the intervention fire department and a contemporary control department. Workers{\textquoteright} compensation claim frequency and costs were analyzed for the intervention fire department only. Total, exercise, patient transport, and fireground operations injury rates were calculated for both fire departments. Results: There was a post-intervention average annual reduction in injuries (13%), workers{\textquoteright} compensation injury claims (30%) and claims costs (21%). Median monthly injury rates comparing the post-intervention to the pre-intervention period did not show statistically significant changes in either the intervention or control fire department. Conclusions: Reduced workers{\textquoteright} compensation claims and costs were observed following the risk management intervention, but changes in injury rates were not statistically significant.",
keywords = "Firefighting, Injury, Risk management, Workers{\textquoteright} compensation",
author = "Poplin, {Gerald S.} and Stephanie Griffin and {Pollack Porter}, Keshia and Joshua Mallett and Chengcheng Hu and Virginia Day-Nash and Burgess, {Jefferey L.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to thank Ed Nied and John Gulotta of the Tucson Fire Department for their unyielding support and involvement in this research, which made everything possible. We also thank all the firefighters that actively participated in this research and continue to support the community{\textquoteright}s health and safety. This work was supported by grant #5R01OH009469 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH). The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC/NIOSH. Data were provided by participating fire departments and municipalities and will not be made available by the authors. Funding Information: This work was supported by grant #5R01OH009469 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH). The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC/NIOSH. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, The Author(s).",
year = "2018",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1186/s40621-018-0148-9",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "5",
journal = "Injury Epidemiology",
issn = "2197-1714",
publisher = "SpringerOpen",
number = "1",
}