Journal article
The value of occupational health and safety data: Perceptions of current data practices in the fire service
Journal of safety research, v 94, pp 120-127
Sep 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
•There is little evidence on views towards health and safety data in the fire service.•Data was used to establish fitness for duty, facilitate benefits, and for prevention and administrative priorities.•Fire service leaders identified cultural and resource limitations that hinder collection and use of health and safety data.•Firefighters and leaders called for more collection of mental health and exposure data, and improved data infrastructure.
Despite growing interest in utilizing firefighter health and safety data to reduce injuries and fatalities, there is little evidence on attitudes towards data. We examined fire service perceptions of data to inform future policies and practices.
We conducted focus groups and interviews with career firefighters, union representatives, and department leaders in Maryland and Virginia; and interviews with national leaders (March–November 2023).
We conducted 35 interviews and 4 focus groups (65 participants). Departments collected health, injury, and exposure information to establish fitness for duty, facilitate benefits, conduct prevention, and advance administrative priorities. Leaders described cultural and resource limitations. Participants desired more mental health and exposure data, and improved data infrastructure.
Participants viewed data as valuable for health and safety but identified needs surrounding future data collection, resource investments, and cultural shifts.
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Details
- Title
- The value of occupational health and safety data: Perceptions of current data practices in the fire service
- Creators
- Rachel J. Topazian - Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USAAleksandra Wec - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJoseph Ali - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAShannon Frattaroli - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAPaul Locke - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USAJennifer A. Taylor - Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USACassandra K. Crifasi - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Publication Details
- Journal of safety research, v 94, pp 120-127
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: T42 OH0008428 Susan P. Baker Scholarship in Injury Prevention and ControlCenter for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine Dissertation Enhancement AwardNational Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health: T32AG066576 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health: T42 OH0008428
Rachel Topazian received tuition and stipend support from a grant from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to the Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health (award No. T42 OH0008428) , as well as the Susan P. Baker Scholarship in Injury Prevention and Control and Center for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine Dissertation Enhancement Award. Aleksandra Wec was supported by grant number T32AG066576 from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Data collection and analysis were funded by a pilot project award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health (award No. T42 OH0008428) .
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001518747600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105008508418
- Other Identifier
- 991022060031304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ergonomics
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
- Transportation