Project Details
Despite advances in technology, personal protective equipment, engineering controls, environmental management, medical care and safety legislation, there has been little sustained improvement in the number of annual firefighter fatalities during the past 25 years. Both the firefighting and scientific communities have become focused on the need to change the safety culture/climate of firefighting. The purpose of this study is to specify the key elements of safety culture/climate in firefighting; the extent to which culture/climate is linked to important safety outcomes; and, what actions might be needed to improve culture/climate. The proposed research will test a conceptual model of safety culture/climate in firefighting and assess the relationship of culture/climate factors to firefighter line-of-duty injuries. Results and other products of the study will be disseminated to the national firefighter community.