By Mary Jane Dittmar
Senior Associate Editor,Fire Engineering/fireEMS,FireEngineering.com
NIOSH report evaluates hazards of occupational exposure for firefighters
30总结健康哈d Evaluations (HHEs) contained inHealth Hazard Evaluations: Issues Related to Occupational Exposure to Fire Fighters 1990 to 2001, published by the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (DHHS (NIOSH) publication No. 2004-115) illustrate why “firefighting continues to be one of the more hazardous industries in this country.”1The HHEs are categorized as follows: “respiratory health effects and safety and health programs and procedures,” “diesel exhaust exposures,” “forest firefighting,” “chemical diseases,” “communicable diseases,” and “other.”
In the Foreword, John Howard, M.D., director of NIOSH/CDC, explains that the document “is intended to provide general insight into the types of fire fighter HHE requests received and the responses of NIOSH’s Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch (HETAB).” Employers, employees, employee representatives, other federal agencies, and state and local agencies requested these HHEs, each of which involved a site visit between 1990 and 2001.
In the Background section of the report, the following is noted:
The occupational environment for fire fighters is somewhat unique; exposures are varied, often high, and intermittent. They occur in circumstances of extreme physical and mental stress where the only means of exposure control is self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). Exposures can include smoke and particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, benzene, and many other organic chemicals, and any chemicals that might be located at the fire scene.
Many of these exposures cause acute effects, but others may cause chronic effects, such as respiratory health effects and decreased lung function from repeated smoke exposures or cancer from repeated exposure to diesel exhaust, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), asbestos, or formaldehyde.
A high potential exists for burns, acute trauma, and musculoskeletal injuries. Communicable diseases are becoming a major concern, especially blood-borne pathogens and tuberculosis. Other health effects associated with fire fighters are cardiovascular disease, reproductive hazards, hearing loss, and occupational stress.
The HHE summaries include recommendations for protecting firefighters from injury and death. The document, which is a good health and safety resource, is available in pdf format atwww.cdc.gov/niosh. Click on “NIOSH Resources” (right side) and then click on “Publications and Products.” Under “NIOSH Publications List,” click on “Publication List 1996-2004, and then “2004-115” in the table.
Reference
11. Reichelt PA, Conrad KM (1995), Musculoskeletal injury: ergonomics and physical fitness in fire fighters. In: Orris P. Mellus J, Duffy RM, eds.Occupational Medicine; State of the art Reviews: Fire Fighters’ Safety and Health. 10:4. Philadelphia, Pa: Hanley & Belufs, Inc., Oct-Dec., 735.
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Mary Jane Dittmar is senior associate editor of188金宝搏是正规吗magazine,fireEMS, andFireEngineering.com. Before joining the magazine in 1991, she served as editor of a trade magazine in the health/nutrition market and held various positions in the educational and medical advertising fields. She has a bachelor’s degree in English/journalism and a master’s degree in communication arts.
