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Recommendations

Following the presentation and discussion of information, conference participants met in

working groups to formulaterecommendations. The working grouprecommendations were shared with theconference participants. Followingdiscussion, the working groups finalizedtheir recommendations.

Illness, Injury, andFatality PreventionRecommendations were formulated inthe areas of Care, Training, andInformation.

Care

Provide a higher level of care in firecamp:

• to reduce costs (direct and indirect),transportation, and lost wages,

• to provide better care, quickerdiagnosis, reduce exposure.

◆ Develop criteria: using industrystandards to determine when torequest a care giver (i.e., 400 to500 people), or on contract torequest as needed.

Care Giver (Registered Nurse,Physician’s Assistant, NursePractitioner) to fit local jurisdiction orstate practice. Develop protocols to

provide treatments (i.e., upperrespiratory infection, poison oak,hydration, etc.). Consider ability toprescribe medications, administerinjections, suture.

Injury, illness analysis process:

• accidents/illness as related to typesof employees (AD’s, volunteers,temporaries, etc.)

• determine if changes are necessaryas a result of the analysis.

Training• 29 CFR 1960 or equivalent for

managers and supervisors(Supervisor Responsibilities),

• Integrated behavior-based safetymodel (shift from compliance-oriented process),

◆ Use theories of safety psychology◆ Use practical tools and systems to

implement a structured observationand measurement process

◆ Include management andemployees in the process

◆ Use zero accidents and injuries asa goal.

• Crew supervisor training

◆ Leadership training◆ Communication training◆ Behavior-based theories and tools◆ Making of a crew (MTDC)

• Vehicle operator training course andimplementation (available at firecamp for volunteers and AD’s)

Information

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group(NWCG) Safety and Health WorkingTeam (SHWT) should summarize up-to-date fire fatality information, suggest anew means of distributing thatinformation, and verify that theinformation is being received. The targetgroup is ground level with an emphasison nonfederal agencies (e.g., volunteersand rural fire departments).

Using the distribution process indicatedabove, the SHWT should develop aninformation packet of publications andmaterials annually and distribute thepacket throughout the wildland firecommunity, with an emphasis onnonfederal agencies. Packet contentscould include information on NWCGstandards; personal protectiveequipment; incident command systemorganization/qualification; health andfitness; fire training courses; illnesses,injuries, and fatalities. The SHWT shouldreview the packet annually and beresponsible for distribution of the packetas indicated above.

To minimize accidents and captureinformation on potential hazards andnear misses, a reporting system suchas the SafeNet Program (currentlyscheduled to be beta tested in the ForestService’s Pacific Northwest Region (6)should be developed.

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Recommendations

Job Requirements/Issues

The group examined job requirementsand related issues that affect firefightersafety and health. The following issueswere brought forward by the group.

Assignments

The workgroup recognizes numerousissues related to assignmentrequirements including assignmentlength, rest and relaxation (R&R),assignment flexibility, shift length, work/rest ratios, availability/participation.

These issues can be divided into twogroups:

1. Those that relate directly to thephysical well-being of individualssuch as issues that affect fatigue;and

2. Those issues that are related topersonal/cultural/organizationalfactors.

Group 1 issues include assignmentlength, rest and relaxation, shift length,and work/rest ratios. These issues areprobably best handled through research.

The following specific issues should beaddressed:

• a measure of fatigue/alertness

• cumulative effects of fatigue

• longer recuperation periods at homebetween assignments

• effects of assignment type (line,camp, aviation, etc.)

• frequency and severity of injury, andwhen most injuries occur

• literature search for statistics andrelated studies that have alreadybeen completed

• shift length

• travel time included in assignmentlength

• effects of preassignment activities(e.g., prescribed burns)

• quality of rest period

• what constitutes rest—what isappropriate for proper rejuvenation?

• emergency vs. nonemergency/routine job assignments and properwork rest cycles.

Group 2 issues include assignmentflexibility and availability/participation.Long assignment requirements and otherissues create barriers to many whowould otherwise participate in firesuppression activities. Family and workdemands affect safety directly bycreating stress and indirectly bypreventing people, often those withconsiderable experience, from acceptingfire assignments.

This workgroup recommends that thefollowing issues be examined:a) Barriers that prevent people fromtaking part in fire activities. How can wechip away at these barriers to inducemore people to take part? (Examples:stress on marriages, stress from leavingchildren for long periods, line officerswho are reluctant to allow employees toleave home units).b) Alternative approaches forassignment length.c) Cost and logistics of flexibility (proand con, e.g., travel costs may rise, butmanagers may see more experiencedworkers, experienced workers requireless training, there is less fatigue if morepeople are taking part, employees maybe happier, etc.)

Crew Typing

Problem: Need to raise Type II crewstandards. Is this done by changing TypeII requirements, or adding more crewtypes so Type II performance is moreconsistent?

Recommendations: Task IOS (IncidentOperations Standards) Team to improveType II Standards. Examine experience

levels, qualifications and equipmentrequirements.

Driving Regulations

Problem: The way in which drivingregulations are interpreted and appliedduring emergency situations isinconsistent between agencies.

Recommendation: This grouprecommends that a national standard beestablished for all agencies. The FFAST(Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team)group is believed to be addressing thisissue.

Fitness Requirements

Problem: Maintaining fitness among full-time fire employees, returning seasonalemployees, and nonfire employees whotake part in fire suppression activities(militia).

Recommendation: Agencies shouldrequire mandatory participation in fitnessprograms at a minimum for seasonaland full-time fire employees. Questionsarose regarding the ability to requireparticipation by nonfire employees andthe ability to pay for health clubmemberships for temporary employees.

Contract Resources

Problem: Quality of contract resources isinconsistent.

Recommendation: Emphasize need tofollow set policy in contractadministration.

Medical Standards

Problem: Current fitness standards donot address existing medical problemsthat may lead to injury.

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Recommendations

Recommendation: Support medicalstandards relative to incidentmanagement positions and encourageongoing efforts regarding medicalscreening.

Training and Certificationof Work Capacity TestAdministrators

Problem: Question arose regarding theneed to certify Work Capacity TestAdministrators.

Recommendations: Wait forrecommendations from Work CapacityTest investigations.

Minimum Qualifications

Problem: The work group recognizesthat some full-time fire managers lackadequate fire qualifications.

Recommendations: The group supportsthe Interagency Fire ProgramQualifications Task Group and suggeststhat States also identify their ownProgram Management Qualifications.

The WorkingEnvironmentAll incident personnel shall be informedof the hazards related to their workingenvironment and shall be appropriatelytrained and provided with the equipmentto safely deal with those hazards.

Heat• Consider using both a.m. and p.m.

shifts. If p.m. shifts are used, locatecrew camps away from main basecamp, generators, etc. (use spikecamps, mini-base camps, etc.) Ifnight shifts are used, the terrainshould be sized up for snags andother hazards so crews can bemade aware of their locations beforethe start of their shift.

• Ensure that breaks are being takenby the crews. Educate crews on theimportance of breaks. Make sureindividuals are not penalized fortaking a break to recover from heat-related problems.

• Ensure that crews are educatedabout acclimatization, heat-relatedillnesses, and that they areacclimatized to the environment as

much as possible before they areasked to perform the moststrenuous tasks at a fire.

• When crews are assigned a task,make sure their level ofacclimatization is taken intoconsideration.

• The Safety Officer for the fire shouldprep the crews once they arrive atthe fire about the environmentalconditions (heat) and remind themabout heat-related illnesses andacclimatization.

• Develop a checklist related to heatstress for the dispatcher to providefor crews before they arrive at a fire.

• Investigate the use of Rehab tentsby the Medical Group Unit to helpcrews recover from working in theheat.

• Use motels and air-conditionedtents for crews at fires. This isespecially important if night crewsare used. The ability to use this willvary upon the geographical locationof the fire and the costs involved. Atthe present time, Florida puts crewsin motels when they are fighting firesin the State.

• Ensure that crews are hydratedproperly to work in the heat.

• Investigate the use of personalcooling systems (such as coolingvests) by crews, their effectiveness,ease of use, etc.

• Continue to research thedevelopment of Nomex garmentsthat do not increase the worker’sheat load.

• Investigate the effect of working anight shift or work/rest cycles on thecrews.

Smoke• Mitigate the effects of smoke by

avoidance–both by placement ofcamps and tactics used to fightfires.

• Educate crews about the hazards ofsmoke.

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• Ensure that present smokeconditions are communicated to thecrew from the base camp. The crewalso needs to ensure that theycommunicate their present smokeconditions to the base camp.

• Review exposure data/health data(both acute and chronic, on and offthe job) related to exposure tosmoke.

• Investigate if high smoke exposuretimes are predictable.

• Collect smoke exposure data usingdosimeters. Review exposure datathat are collected.

• Conduct pulmonary tests on crewsbefore and after exposure to smoketo determine effects on crews.

• Research the need for crews towear respiratory protection—investigate smoke versus dust.

• Research the type of fuels crewsare exposed to and determine ifsmoke is hazardous to the crews.

• Research the need for protectionfrom super-heated gases.

Uniforms• Ensure that the appropriate PPE is

not only provided to the crews but isworn by them.

• Establish a mechanism (e-mail) toshare research and developmentbetween individuals completingresearch on uniforms for firefighters.

• Study the type of boot that isappropriate for crews to wear;ensure that appropriate boots arebeing purchased.

• Establish a method for crews to getcomments regarding personalprotective equipment to theMissoula Technology andDevelopment Center (MTDC).

• Consider a postcard that the crewscan pick up when they goingthrough the food line.

• Continue research to ensure thatwomen are provided with Nomexpants and shirts that are sizedproperly for them.

• Continue discussion with textilemanufacturers on the developmentof new Nomex fabrics; developmentof fabrics that have betterbreathability is especially important.

• Review the design of the fire packand ensure that it can be adjustedso it fits a wider percentage of thepopulation. Allow individuals to havefire packs custom made if they haveapproval.

• Investigate the performance/comfortissues related to boots.

• Research using reflective tape ormarkings on the Nomex garmentsfor visibility.

• Research the visibility of thedifferent colors of helmets that areworn and see if helmet color affectsthe safety of crews.

• Research if the cost of boots can befinanced by the Forest Service sothat individuals can afford a betterboot when they start fighting fire.

Tools• Ensure that crews are trained

properly to use, carry, and repairhand and power tools.

• Ensure that manufacturerspecifications are followed whenrepairing tools.

• Share information on safety issuesunder “Tech Tips” published byMTDC on alternative PPE productsand approaches (such as use of achain saw harness).

• Review the tools currently beingused to determine if their size isappropriate for the current workforce.

• Research the difference betweenfiberglass and wooden handles ontools.

Recommendations

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Energy, Nutrition,and Health

Definition of the Issues1. Compromised nutrition was found in

the majority of tested subjects (interms of total macronutrient intakepatterns).

2. The working environment containsall of the factors known to challengeor compromise immune function.

3. Further education of the catererorganizations and firefighters isneeded.

4. Special training and/or informationneeds to reach wildland firefightersin camp on the types of food theyneed to eat and how much food theyrequire.

5. The concept of eating and drinkingto meet the physiological demands(rather than eating and drinkingaccording to personal preference)needs to be taught.

6. It is unclear what factors in the firediet and work environmentpredispose wildland firefighters toweight loss, but they may include: aconscious choice to lose weight,unavailability of the right foods, andeating fatigue that develops from thecaloric demand.

Recommendations–Research andDevelopment:

Topics for recommended research anddevelopment include:

• Tray survey to identify self-selecteddietary selection and intake on thefireline.

The purpose of this study would beto describe the dietary availabilityand the actual consumption patternsof the wildland firefighter (what isavailable vs. what is consumed).The goal would be to describe the

existing meals (macro/micronutrients), actual consumption,and define areas in need ofimprovement. Issues related tovegetarians and gender should beconsidered.

A secondary purpose would be toperform a qualitative study toidentify common misconceptions inthe wildland firefighter community onwhat foods should be consumed tomaintain health and maximizeperformance.

• Review the reported dietary intakesof firefighters in total energyexpenditure (TEE) studies todetermine:

◆ macro/micronutrient intake patterns(% of total, g/kg for carbohydrateand protein)

◆ amount (total g) of carbohydrateconsumed post shift (to maximizeglycogen resynthesis)

◆ liquid carbohydrate consumptionpatterns during the day.

• Document level of oxidative stressthat may have existed in thesubjects from TEE/Energy Balancestudies (wildland firefighters and

normally active controls). This wouldrequire further analysis of existingsamples for the following:

◆ urinary levels of ketones (proteincatabolism, elevated rates ofgluconeogenesis)

◆ 3 methylhistidine (proteincatabolism)

◆ malondialdehyde (marker ofoxidative stress)

• Assessment of upper respiratorydistress in the fire camps (percentvisits to the medical tents, evaluateworking conditions such as shiftlength, temperature, caterer mealsprovided) in a quantitative/qualitativestudy to determine “trends” in upperrespiratory infections/complaints.

• Development of a nutritional issues/energy expenditure guidelinesbrochure and/or video.

It would be beneficial to work with asports nutrition expert to develop anexample menu (using typical caterermenus) that would provide a setnumber of kilocalories per day. Thebrochure could be used to stressthe importance of liquidcarbohydrate intake during the shiftand carbohydrate ingestion after theshift. It could also include typicalwork-related tasks and projectedrates of energy expenditure to givewildland firefighters a sense of whatthey should eat to maintain energyand proper nutrition.

• A controlled study of smokejumpersduring preseason training.

Use the controlled preseason periodfor a study of energy balance,dietary intake, immune functionmeasures, and oxidative stress.

• Performance-related studies:

◆ The maintenance of bloodglucose and immune functionduring field operations usingenergy bars (solid) andcarbohydrate beverages(liquid).

Recommendations

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◆ Effects of solid/liquidcarbohydrate feedings on self-selected work rates.

◆ Effects of solid/liquidcarbohydrate feedings oncognitive function in thewildland firefighter.

◆ Monitor profile of mood statessurvey for changes duringacute and seasonal wildfiresuppression activity.

• Field trials:

◆ Field acceptance of solid/liquidcarbohydrate sources.

◆ Field acceptance of modifiedmeals.

◆ Changes in eating behavior relatedto educational materials.

Individual FactorsFire and the environment are not biased;individuals should be eligible to be awildland firefighter if they meet therequirements of the job and perform asrequired.

Recommendations

Fitness and wellness should bepracticed all year long, not just during thefire season.

• Develop and assign FitnessCoordinators on each unit

• Provide preseason fitness traininginformation

• Develop a multimedia fitnesstraining package

• Encourage physical training time forall red-carded personnel

• Provide medical screening for all firepersonnel before the season

• Encourage continuous support ofagency Wellness programs.

Implement the Work Capacity Tests inall Agencies–Immediately–ThePack Test is appropriate if test

candidates are adequately prepared andthe test is administered according to theinstructions.

Communication is Essential toEnsure Proper Dissemination ofInformation–

• Assure that information isdisseminated by multimedia efforts

• Information needs to be consistentacross agencies.

Improve Outreach and Recruitment ofWildland Fire Personnel

• Hire the best qualified individuals forfire positions

• Develop an interagency multimediaoutreach and recruitment program

◆ Recognize and respect culturaltraditions and beliefs in the fireorganization

◆ Include diversity outreach forattendance at national firemeetings.

Firefighters are our most valuable asset,we have to treat them right and take careof them. Safety has to be the way we dobusiness. All decisions must be madewith safety in mind–at all levels of theorganization.

Recommendations

-End of Part 2-