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Public Safety Program

Fire Service

Fireman put out building fire

NIOSH Resources and Publications

Firefighters
Many people at NIOSH work to better understand and prevent some of the health and safety hazards and exposures that firefighters face almost every day in the line of duty. The firefighter directory page provides links to current NIOSH projects, programs, publications, and resources created to improve the health and safety of structural/vehicle firefighters and wildland firefighters.

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports
NIOSH conducts investigations of firefighter line-of-duty deaths to formulate recommendations for preventing future deaths and injuries. The program does not seek to determine fault or place blame on fire departments or individual fire fighters, but to learn from these tragic events and prevent future similar events. Search for reports of interest.

Some recent examples are:

Study of Cancer in Firefighters
In 2010, NIOSH researchers, with funding assistance from the U.S. Fire Administration launched a multi-year study to examine whether firefighters have a higher risk of cancer and other causes of death due to job exposures.

Respirator Trusted-Source Information
This information may be regarded as a trusted source to verify which respirators are approved by NIOSH and answer frequently asked questions.

Evaluation of Diesel Exhaust Exposure at Two Fire Stations
The Health Hazard Evaluation Program evaluated diesel exhaust exposures at two fire stations, finding the highest level of exposure in the apparatus bay and living areas of the fire stations. One recommendation to eliminate this hazard included hiring a ventilation engineer to evaluate the ventilation system to keep the amount of diesel exhaust that enters the living quarters to a minimum. In addition, fire fighters should open both apparatus bay doors when starting diesel engines inside the bay to increase ventilation.

Organizations

Emergency Responder Safety Institute

Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA)

InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability (IAB)

International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

IAFC Safety, Health & Survival Section

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)

International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA)

National Association of State Fire Marshals

National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation

National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Building and Fire Research Laboratory

National Interagency Fire Center

National Volunteer Fire Council

Society of Fire Protection Engineers

U.S. Fire Administration (USFA/FEMA)

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