Firefighter safety is a high priority for firefighting agencies.
Battling wildfires on public and private property in rural areas
and the wildland urban interface areas is at times unsafe and
unhealthy. Firefighters are subject to stressful conditions, in
which fatigue and work capacity is affected by the erratic nature
of work and rest cycles, effects on their physical condition and
the need for hydration and nutrition.
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Assessing the physical demands of
firefighting
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Work environment issues plus physiological and psychological
pressures are a constant factor. Firefighter deaths and injuries
are a significant cost each year. The ageing population,
demographic variety and physical condition of the Australian
volunteer firefighter presents a significant challenge to fire
fighting agencies in improving safety conditions on the fire
ground.
This research provides a quantified picture of the total fireground
environment. Firefighter safety and welfare is being studied by
measurement of ergonomic, physiological and behavioural factors.
The research is determining the effects of fitness, stress, fatigue
and crew management on the health, safety and wellbeing of
firefighters working on bushfire suppression. Researchers are
identifying precisely what physiological factors cause a decline in
decision making ability, particularly with regard to safety threats
and are devising procedures to minimise this decline.
Project D 2.1 Leader: David Nichols, Country Fire Authority, Ph:
+61 3 9262 8264
