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The Working Environment

All incident personnel shall be informed of the hazards related to their working environment and shall be appropriately trained and provided with the equipment to safely deal with those hazards.

Heat

• Consider using both a.m. and p.m. shifts. If p.m. shifts are used, locate crew camps away from main base camp, generators, etc. (use spike camps, mini-base camps, etc.) If night shifts are used, the terrain should be sized up for snags and other hazards so crews can be made aware of their locations before the start of their shift.
• Ensure that breaks are being taken by the crews. Educate crews on the importance of breaks. Make sure individuals are not penalized for taking a break to recover from heat-related problems.
• Ensure that crews are educated about acclimatization, heat-related illnesses, and that they are acclimatized to the environment as much as possible before they are asked to perform the most strenuous tasks at a fire.
• When crews are assigned a task, make sure their level of acclimatization is taken into consideration.
• The Safety Officer for the fire should prep the crews once they arrive at the fire about the environmental conditions (heat) and remind them about heat-related illnesses and acclimatization.
• Develop a checklist related to heat stress for the dispatcher to provide for crews before they arrive at a fire.
• Investigate the use of Rehab tents by the Medical Group Unit to help crews recover from working in the heat.
• Use motels and air-conditioned tents for crews at fires. This is especially important if night crews are used. The ability to use this will vary upon the geographical location of the fire and the costs involved. At the present time, Florida puts crews in motels when they are fighting fires in the State.
• Ensure that crews are hydrated properly to work in the heat.
• Investigate the use of personal cooling systems (such as cooling vests) by crews, their effectiveness, ease of use, etc.
• Continue to research the development of Nomex garments that do not increase the worker’s heat load.
• Investigate the effect of working a night shift or work/rest cycles on the crews.

Smoke

• Mitigate the effects of smoke by avoidance–both by placement of camps and tactics used to fight fires.
• Educate crews about the hazards of smoke.
• Ensure that present smoke conditions are communicated to the crew from the base camp. The crew also needs to ensure that they communicate their present smoke conditions to the base camp.
• Review exposure data/health data (both acute and chronic, on and off the job) related to exposure to smoke.
• Investigate if high smoke exposure times are predictable.
• Collect smoke exposure data using dosimeters. Review exposure data that are collected.
• Conduct pulmonary tests on crews before and after exposure to smoke to determine effects on crews.
• Research the need for crews to wear respiratory protection—investigate smoke versus dust.
• Research the type of fuels crews are exposed to and determine if smoke is hazardous to the crews.
• Research the need for protection from super-heated gases.

Uniforms

• Ensure that the appropriate PPE is not only provided to the crews but is worn by them.
• Establish a mechanism (e-mail) to share research and development between individuals completing research on uniforms for firefighters.
• Study the type of boot that is appropriate for crews to wear; ensure that appropriate boots are being purchased.
• Establish a method for crews to get comments regarding personal protective equipment to the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC).
• Consider a postcard that the crews can pick up when they going through the food line.
• Continue research to ensure that women are provided with Nomex pants and shirts that are sized properly for them.
• Continue discussion with textile manufacturers on the development of new Nomex fabrics; development of fabrics that have better breathability is especially important.
• Review the design of the fire pack and ensure that it can be adjusted so it fits a wider percentage of the population. Allow individuals to have fire packs custom made if they have approval.
• Investigate the performance/comfort issues related to boots.
• Research using reflective tape or markings on the Nomex garments for visibility.
• Research the visibility of the different colors of helmets that are worn and see if helmet color affects the safety of crews.
• Research if the cost of boots can be financed by the Forest Service so that individuals can afford a better boot when they start fighting fire.

Tools

• Ensure that crews are trained properly to use, carry, and repair hand and power tools.
• Ensure that manufacturer specifications are followed when repairing tools.
• Share information on safety issues under “Tech Tips” published by MTDC on alternative PPE products and approaches (such as use of a chain saw harness).
• Review the tools currently being used to determine if their size is appropriate for the current work force.
• Research the difference between fiberglass and wooden handles on tools.

Energy, Nutrition, and Health

Definition of the Issues

1. Compromised nutrition was found in the majority of tested subjects (in terms of total macronutrient intake patterns).
2. The working environment contains all of the factors known to challenge or compromise immune function.
3. Further education of the caterer organizations and firefighters is needed.
4. Special training and/or information needs to reach wildland firefighters in camp on the types of food they need to eat and how much food they require.
5. The concept of eating and drinking to meet the physiological demands (rather than eating and drinking according to personal preference) needs to be taught.
6. It is unclear what factors in the fire diet and work environment predispose wildland firefighters to weight loss, but they may include: a conscious choice to lose weight, unavailability of the right foods, and eating fatigue that develops from the caloric demand.

Recommendations—Research and Development:

Topics for recommended research and development include:

• Tray survey to identify self-selected dietary selection and intake on the fireline.

  The purpose of this study would be to describe the dietary availability and the actual consumption patterns of the wildland firefighter (what is available vs. what is consumed). The goal would be to describe the existing meals (macro/micronutrients), actual consumption, and define areas in need of improvement. Issues related to vegetarians and gender should be considered.

  A secondary purpose would be to perform a qualitative study to identify common misconceptions in the wildland firefighter community on what foods should be consumed to maintain health and maximize performance.

• Review the reported dietary intakes of firefighters in total energy expenditure (TEE) studies to determine:
  • macro/micronutrient intake patterns (% of total, g/kg for carbohydrate and protein)
  • amount (total g) of carbohydrate consumed post shift (to maximize glycogen resynthesis)
  • liquid carbohydrate consumption patterns during the day.

• Document level of oxidative stress that may have existed in the subjects from TEE/Energy Balance studies (wildland firefighters and normally active controls). This would require further analysis of existing samples for the following:
  • urinary levels of ketones (protein catabolism, elevated rates of gluconeogenesis)
  • 3 methylhistidine (protein catabolism)
  • malondialdehyde (marker of oxidative stress)

• Assessment of upper respiratory distress in the fire camps (percent visits to the medical tents, evaluate working conditions such as shift length, temperature, caterer meals provided) in a quantitative/qualitative study to determine “trends” in upper respiratory infections/complaints.

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

  It would be beneficial to work with a sports nutrition expert to develop an example menu (using typical caterer menus) that would provide a set number of kilocalories per day. The brochure could be used to stress the importance of liquid carbohydrate intake during the shift and carbohydrate ingestion after the shift. It could also include typical work-related tasks and projected rates of energy expenditure to give wildland firefighters a sense of what they should eat to maintain energy and proper nutrition.

• A controlled study of smokejumpers during preseason training.

  Use the controlled preseason period for a study of energy balance, dietary intake, immune function measures, and oxidative stress.

• Performance-related studies:
  • The maintenance of blood glucose and immune function during field operations using energy bars (solid) and carbohydrate beverages (liquid).
  • Effects of solid/liquid carbohydrate feedings on self-selected work rates.
  • Effects of solid/liquid carbohydrate feedings on cognitive function in the wildland firefighter.
  • Monitor profile of mood states survey for changes during acute and seasonal wildfire suppression activity.

• Field trials:
  • Field acceptance of solid/liquid carbohydrate sources.
  • Field acceptance of modified meals.
  • Changes in eating behavior related to educational materials.

Individual Factors

Fire and the environment are not biased; individuals should be eligible to be a wildland firefighter if they meet the requirements of the job and perform as required.

Recommendations

Fitness and wellness should be practiced all year long, not just during the fire season.

• Develop and assign Fitness Coordinators on each unit
• Provide preseason fitness training information
• Develop a multimedia fitness training package
• Encourage physical training time for all red-carded personnel
• Provide medical screening for all fire personnel before the season
• Encourage continuous support of agency Wellness programs.

Implement the Work Capacity Tests in all Agencies—Immediately—The Pack Test is appropriate if test candidates are adequately prepared and the test is administered according to the instructions.

Communication is Essential to Ensure Proper Dissemination of Information—

• Assure that information is disseminated by multimedia efforts
• Information needs to be consistent across agencies.

Improve Outreach and Recruitment of Wildland Fire Personnel

• Hire the best qualified individuals for fire positions
• Develop an interagency multimedia outreach and recruitment program
  • Recognize and respect cultural traditions and beliefs in the fire organization
  • Include diversity outreach for attendance at national fire meetings.

Firefighters are our most valuable asset, we have to treat them right and take care of them. Safety has to be the way we do business. All decisions must be made with safety in mind–at all levels of the organization.

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