Evaluation of a fitness intervention for new firefighters: injury reduction and economic benefits

Abstract

BackgroundFirefighting is a hazardous profession and firefighters suffer workplace injury at a higher rate than most US workers. Decreased physical fitness is associated with injury in firefighters. A physical fitness intervention was implemented among Tucson Fire Department recruit firefighters with the goals of decreasing injury and compensation claims frequency and costs during the recruit academy, and over the subsequent probationary year.MethodsDepartment injury records were analysed and described by body part, injury type and mechanism of injury. Injury and workers’ compensation claims outcomes from the recruit academy initiation through the 12-month probationary period for the intervention recruit class were compared with controls from three historical classes.ResultsThe majority of injuries were sprains and strains (65.4%), the most common mechanism of injury was acute overexertion (67.9%) and the lower extremity was the most commonly affected body region (61.7%). The intervention class experienced significantly fewer injuries overall and during the probationary year (p=0.009), filed fewer claims (p=0.028) and experienced claims cost savings of approximately US$33 000 (2013) from avoided injury and reduced claims costs. The estimated costs for programme implementation were $32 192 leading to a 1-year return on investment of 2.4%.ConclusionsWe observed reductions in injury occurrence and compensation costs among Probationary Firefighter Fitness (PFF-Fit) programme participants compared with historical controls. The initiation of the PFF-Fit programme has demonstrated promise in reducing injury and claims costs; however, continued research is needed to better understand the programme's potential effectiveness with additional recruit classes and carryover effects into the recruit's career injury potential.

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT): Definition and Research Implications for Improved Fitness

“…Finally, Griffin and colleagues [ 100 ] examined the benefits of a three days per week functional training fitness program for fire service recruits during the academy and probationary periods on injury reduction in a cohort study of 109 total firefighter recruits. Injuries were ascertained from injury surveillance reports and workers compensation claims for firefighter recruits in years prior to the intervention implementation (2007–2009) and for the year the program was in place (2012).…”

Risk management of emergency service vehicle crashes in the United States fire service: process, outputs, and recommendations

“…RM has been used in the fire service to reduce occupational injury and associated economic costs [ 14 , 15 ]. Previous research shows that RM is well-accepted by firefighters and that specific components of the RM process, especially the participatory approach and analysis of risks associated with specific tasks, are useful to and valued by firefighters [ 14 ].…”

“…1 ). While commonly required in other countries to protect the health and safety of industrial workers, formal RM is not as widely practiced in the US [ 12 , 13 ], despite growing evidence suggesting it may effectively reduce a range of occupational hazards and injuries [ 13 – 15 ]. Widespread implementation of RM in Australia was associated with up to 78% reductions in lost-time injury rates in the Australian coal mining industry, compared to only a 20% reduction in the US coal mining industry which relied on compliance-based safety programs during the same timeframe [ 12 ].…”

“…In the US, RM has been applied in the fire service to address injuries stemming from patient transport, fireground activities, and physical exercise [ 14 ]. Implementation of a risk management program aimed at improving the structure and management of physical exercise among recruit firefighters was associated with a statistically significant reduction in injury frequency and worker’s compensation claims cost [ 15 ]. These prior studies have shown that RM is was perceived to be useful to and valued by firefighters [ 13 ].…”

Efficacy of a proactive health and safety risk management system in the fire service

“…The role of Peer Fitness Trainers (PFTs) was also expanded to assist recruits and probationary officers, as well as commissioned individuals with identified needs, to exercise safely as previously described (Griffin et al, 2016 ). Daily workout routines during fire academy were restructured, and each probationary firefighter was assigned a PFT to work with him or her to promote appropriate exercise.…”