Though management and leadership styles have been investigated somewhat in terms of generations' views on important leader attributes and their own leadership behaviors, little research has been reported on the perspectives of followers and their perceptions of the importance of leadership behaviors. A need exists to quantify for practitioners and other professionals in HRD whether any differences exist among generations with regard to their leadership style preference. Firefighters have recognized generational differences in their profession and the need to account for these differences in their training. There is also a concern for building and training their future leaders. This study is an examination of firefighters and differences that may exist with regard to leadership style preferences in an effort to explain further generational differences in the workplace to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. Respondents were asked to read scenarios of different fire chiefs with characteristics of each leadership style and respond to questions regarding perceptions of each leader and finally choose the chief for whom they would most like to work. An instrument was pilot tested with 80 firefighters in leadership ranks. The instrument was web-based with a Likert-type scale. In this quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive study, there was a total of 330 firefighters in the final sample. A three-way mixed model ANOVA was conducted to determine whether differences existed in perceptions of a leader's style across scenarios based on a firefighter's generational category and rank. The within-subjects factor was the score for leadership style across scenarios with the levels being the three leadership styles of transformational, laissez-faire, and transactional. The between-subjects factors were generational cohort and rank of firefighter. Frequencies and percentages were reported to determine the leader for whom most firefighters would most like to work. When firefighters were presented with three leadership style scenarios, there was a significant difference (p < .05) in the leadership style score for each scenario. There were no significant differences between generation or rank of firefighter with regard to their leadership style score for each scenario. Transformational leadership was the most preferred leadership style of all firefighters, regardless of rank or generational cohort.

In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics documented injury rates of musculoskeletal injuries requiring days away from work in the full-time firefighter work force at approximately 185/10,000 employees. This represents a staggering cost to municipalities in overtime salaries as well as departmental readiness to meet community needs. We propose, in year one of the project, to observationally determine the prospective association between physical performance measures at baseline and risk of future musculoskeletal injury in a cohort of municipal firefighters of the Austin Fire Department (AFD). We will implement an injury registry surveillance system as well as utilize the AFD Wellness Center physical fitness evaluation of all firefighters within AFD. The prospective association between changes in physical performance measures and risk of musculoskeletal injury within a cohort of AFD firefighters will allow determination of risk of occupational injury incidence and injury severity. To study the effect of musculoskeletal training on lowering the risk of occupationally-related injury, we will conduct a randomized cluster cross-over trial. The critical intervention will be a strength training intervention of six months duration, implemented in Year 2. There are a total of 43 fire stations in the AFD. We will randomize 50% of the fire stations in a strength training intervention for six months with the remaining 50% of fire station participating for the second six months. Changes in fitness, strength, and incidence of injury will be monitored for the 12 months of this design. Results from this study will be disseminated to firefighting agencies with strategies for occupationally-related musculoskeletal injury prevention. / text

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Kinesiology / Katie M. Heinrich / Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation with high rates of injuries and fatalities, with the majority of line of duty fatalities due to cardiovascular events. Additionally, firefighters struggle with poor health and low levels of fitness, including very high (>80%) rates of overweight and obesity likely related to the culture of the fire service. Limited resources exist for fire departments that are sensitive to the culture and work requirements of these “tactical athletes”. Though there has been increasing interest in circuit-type high intensity exercise training programs, key research data are lacking for the firefighter population and few studies have focused on training firefighter recruits. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot investigation was to examine a novel physical training program on fire academy recruits’ health, fitness, and performance, in addition to examining the programs’ acceptability, feasibility, and future efficacy. METHODS: Thirteen participants were recruited from an entry level fire academy and were randomly assigned to either the control (CG, n=6) or intervention exercise group (TF20, n=7). Due to attrition within the first two weeks of the study, 10 male fire recruits (23±3 years) completed the study (CG, n=3, TF20, n=7). The CG were asked to continue their current exercise habits. TF20 were provided an online-based training program (The First 20) that included periodized workouts, nutritional information, and mental readiness education. All participants completed baseline and post-intervention assessments and 10-weeks of exercise training. Health assessments included resting and post-exercise heart rate and blood pressure and estimated VO₂[subscript]max. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, % body fat, % lean mass, and BMI. Performance was measured using the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Psychosocial measures were assessed by a short questionnaire. A feasibility analysis was also completed for those in TF20 group. Due to the small sample size and group differences at baseline, descriptive statistics were calculated and each participant was reviewed as an individual case study. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to test for significance among TF20 group. RESULTS: This pilot investigation provided effect sizes and parameter estimates necessary for the design of a larger randomized controlled trial. Even with a small sample size, TF20 group showed improvement on numerous outcome measures including CPAT performance (40% passing at baseline to 86% passing post-intervention). Of five TF20 participants completing the CPAT at baseline and post-intervention, four improved their passing time. TF20 participants significantly increased estimated VO₂[subscript]max (p=0.028) and significantly improved body composition (decreased fat mass (kg) and % fat mass, p=0.028). TF20 participants also significantly improved grip strength (p=0.018). The CG saw no statistically significant differences from baseline to post-intervention. TF20 group completed approximately 75% of the assigned workouts. Participants reported enjoying the workouts and stated a program like this should be offered for fire academy recruits in the future. CONCLUSION: While TF20 participants showed significant fitness gains, the small sample size limited comparisons to the control group or other covariates. TF20 program was well-received although there may be a better way to implement the intervention to increase participation. Participants mentioned they would like group workouts led by a certified strength and conditioning coach/peer fitness trainer as opposed to self-guided workouts. This investigation provides promising results for the efficacy of high-intensity training programs in firefighter recruits. Additionally, this study provides alternative guidance for exercise prescription designed specifically for the firefighter population.

Acute myocardial infarction is the commonest cause of death in firefighters, accounting for 45% of all deaths on duty. Compared with an average life expectancy of 77 years in the general population, the average age of cardiovascular death in firefighters is 50 years suggesting that occupational hazards are responsible for premature disease. The risk of acute myocardial infarction is increased 12- to 136-fold during rescue and firefighting duties, and is likely to reflect a combination of factors including strenuous physical exertion, mental stress, heat and pollutant exposure. Previous studies have established that the duties of a firefighter, in particular fire suppression, put inordinate strain on the cardiovascular system yet the exact mechanisms underlying the increased risk of myocardial infarction remain poorly defined. In a series of studies, I assessed the effect of occupation-specific risk factors on cardiovascular health in a combination of controlled and real-life studies in order to better define these mechanisms, hypothesising that exposure to high temperatures, strenuous physical exertion, psychological stress and air pollution either alone or in combination caused vascular dysfunction and thrombosis. In order to assess if firefighters had a greater cumulative risk of cardiovascular disease due to their occupation at baseline, I assessed the cardiovascular function of group of healthy, off-duty firefighters and compared this to a group of healthy age- and sex-matched off-duty police officers; an occupational group with similar responsibilities but a much lower risk of on-duty cardiovascular events. I was able to demonstrate that traditional cardiovascular risk factors, vascular endothelial function and thrombogenicity were similar in the two groups concluding that the excess of cardiovascular events and deaths in on-duty firefighters are due to the acute and transient effects of strenuous physical exertion, psychological stress, heat and exposure to air pollutants. Having established that off-duty firefighters had no apparent increased risk of cardiovascular events, I then went on to clarify the effects of combustion derived air pollution in the form of wood smoke on the cardiovascular system. The suppression of wildland or forest fires is globally the single most important duty of the fire service. Previous work within our institution has demonstrated the adverse effects of combustion derived air pollution, in the form of diesel exhaust, on the cardiovascular system. In a similar fashion, I assessed the effect of a wood smoke inhalation in a group of healthy off-duty firefighters by performing controlled exposures to wood smoke utilising a unique and well characterised facility. Interestingly, unlike diesel-exhaust, the exposure to wood smoke had no adverse effect on vascular endothelial function or thrombogenicity in this group concluding that cardiovascular events during wildland fire suppression may not be directly related to wood smoke inhalation but instead precipitated by other mechanisms such as strenuous physical exertion or dehydration. Latterly, I proceeded to evaluate the effects of strenuous physical exertion and heat exposure by comprehensively assessing a number of cardiovascular end points following controlled exposure to a fire simulation activity in a group of healthy, off-duty firefighters. I was able to demonstrate that exposure to extreme heat and physical exertion impaired vasomotor function and increased thrombus formation. Moreover, I demonstrated cardiac troponin concentrations increased suggesting that fire suppression activity may cause myocardial injury. These important findings suggest pathogenic mechanisms to explain the association between fire suppression activity and acute myocardial infarction. In the final phase of work, I endeavoured to assess the effects of real-life firefighter activities on the cardiovascular system. In an ambitious study, I attempted to undertake a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular function in healthy firefighters following three periods of duty: fire suppression, alarm response and non-emergency activity. I was unable to complete enough studies to adequately power an analysis and draw any firm conclusions about the effect of these duties on cardiovascular health. Further work is required in a real-world setting to more clearly define the occupational risk factors underlying the increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with specific firefighter duties Understanding the biological mechanisms and environmental factors that predispose firefighters to cardiovascular events is essential if we are to develop effective methods for the prevention of acute myocardial infarction on-duty. This body of work has greatly improved the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the increased risk of cardiovascular events on duty and calls for the immediate evaluation of current practice in order to minimise risk to firefighters in the future. Examples of where improvements should be made include strategies to ensure adequate hydration and cooling following exposure to heat and physical exertion, change to working patterns to limit the duration of extreme exposures, and education, training and screening programmes to reduce the impact of traditional and occupational cardiovascular risk factors.

Three main research topics are reported in this dissertation. This research project focused on estimating the burden of injury on large federal wildland fires and describing the injury characteristics and risk factors for severity of injury in a sample of injured federal wildland firefighters. Chapter 2 "Peak incident management level affects rates of injury on large federal wildland fires" reports estimates of rates of injury for large federal wildland fires and assesses the effect of peak incident management level (PIML) as a predictor of rate of injury. After adjusting for seasonal factors and fire characteristics, PIML was a predictor of both rate of injury and odds of any injury occurrence, but the effect was opposite. Fires with higher PIML demonstrated lower incidence rate ratios, but the odds of injury were increased. Chapter 3 "Wildland fire job assignment and burden of injury" describes the injury characteristics and severity associated with the firefighter's job assignment in fire-related injuries reported to the United States Department of Interior. Job assignment was significantly associated with cause and nature of injury, but not with the severity of injury as defined by days off work or job transfer. Chapter 4 "Cause, characteristics and severity of injuries in wildland firefighters" examines the relationship between the cause of injury and type of injury and the severity of injury. Injuries caused by slips, trips or falls were most frequently reported. Injuries caused by bites or stings and plants were less likely to be severe relative to injuries caused by slips, trips or falls. Together, these studies provide evidence that injuries may significantly impact the wildland fire community, but that better information is needed to fully evaluate risk factors and develop evidence-based interventions.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Edinburgh, 2002. / Title from title page of source document (last viewed on November 9, 2005). Bibliography: p. 57-61.

No description available.

The objective of this thesis was to investigate firefighters’ exposures to carcinogens and mutagens. This thesis aimed to (1) characterize firefighters’ exposures during emergency fire suppression, (2) examine the use of silicone wristbands as passive samplers to assess firefighters’ exposures, and (3) assess the ability of post-fire decontamination protocols to reduce firefighters’ exposures. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction and background information on the concepts covered in this thesis. In Chapter 2, I examined air and surface contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, both at fire stations and following emergency fire suppression activities. I also investigated the ability of current laundering methods to remove surficial PAHs and metals from firefighters’ personal protective equipment. In Chapter 3, I assessed the ability of silicone wristband passive samplers to measure firefighters’ exposures to PAHs during live fire training. In Chapter 4, I assessed the ability of three post-fire dermal decontamination methods to remove surface contamination and reduce internal dose. In Chapter 5, conclusions and implications for each chapter are summarized. Future directions for the field are described. The overall conclusions for this thesis were: i. firefighters experience significant occupational exposures to carcinogens during emergency fire suppression and live fire training; ii. the ability of silicone wristbands to properly sample PAHs is altered in a fire environment and correction factors must be determined to improve their utility for exposure assessment; iii. current post-fire dermal decontamination methods, which are intended to reduce firefighters’ exposures, do not reduce their internal dose of PAHs.

Introduction: Applied occupational health research is complex and requires transparent communication between stakeholders to facilitate development and implementation of injury management strategies. Firefighting as a physically demanding, male-dominant occupation provides a unique context to develop and implement injury management strategies. Thesis Objectives: To investigate how individuals perform occupational tasks within a physically demanding occupational context considering the interrelationship between personal, task and environmental factors. A secondary objective was to evaluate the research partnership as integrated knowledge translation using the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Framework. Methods. A qualitative study was used to identify barriers and facilitators experienced by female firefighters. Dartfish movement analysis software was adapted to analyze kinematics associated with firefighter tasks. Relative and absolute reliability was used to establish measurement properties of Dartfish methods. Regression models identified the relative importance of individual factors on firefighter task performance. A case study of the research partnership using knowledge translation (KT) theory identified critical phases in developing occupational health research partnerships. Results. The qualitative study identified sex/gender and task/environment effects on firefighter task performance and injury risk. Tracking positional co-ordinate data using Dartfish demonstrated excellent relative reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.84-0.99) and lowest absolute reliability (SEM = 0.01m-0.11m). Strength was the strongest independent predictor of firefighter task performance time where increasing strength was associated with faster time. The case study identified components of the KTA Action Cycle that supported and described collaborative occupational health research. Conclusions. Although female firefighters share commonalities with their male counterparts, unique personal attributes and social experiences affect how they experience firefighting. Dartfish provides a reliable tool to measure kinematics in an applied context. Although refinements are required, recommendations for data collection and extraction using Dartfish in occupational contexts are provided. Occupational health research imbedded in KTA cycle confirms the importance of partnership with stakeholders to ensure the feasibility and relevance of the research. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy