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Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness FA-356 | September 2020

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Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness FA-356 | September 2020 Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness FA-356 | September 2020 Mission Statement We support and strengthen fi re and emergency medical services and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to all hazards. Preface This handbook was developed through a partnership between the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) at Oklahoma State University (OSU). IFSTA and its partner OSU Fire Protection Publications (FPP) has been a major publisher of fire service training materials since 1934. Through its affiliation with the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, it also conducts a variety of funded, technical research on fire service, fire prevention, and life safety issues. They have published numerous previous reports for the USFA. The extensive information provided within this report would not have been possible without the dedication and efforts of the following people assigned to this project: Project administrator: Nancy Trench, Assistant Director for Research, OSU FPP Principal investigator: Cerie Smith, PT, DPT, CSCS, Director of Rehabilitation and Wellness, Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix, Arizona Editor: Mike Wieder, Associate Director, FPP, Executive Director, IFSTA Note: Firefighter health and wellness is the Phoenix Fire Department’s number one priority. Our health center employs a highly trained, full-time staff that is focused solely on our members’ physical fitness for duty. We are integrally involved in the prevention and treatment of toxic exposures, cancer and industrial injuries. We truly care about the future of the nation’s first responders, and we know you do too. I hope you will find value from the professional, educated input that has gone into this publication. Our profession is truly a higher calling. We owe it to our firefighters to deliver the very best care and attention to their well-being. Kara Kalkbrenner Fire Chief, Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix, Arizona Preface i ii Emergency Services Ergonomics and Wellness Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Firefighter injury statistics overview ................................................................................... 1 Emergency medical technician injury statistics overview ................................................ 4 Ergonomics and human factors defined ............................................................................. 6 Physical ergonomics ........................................................................................................ 6 Cognitive ergonomics...................................................................................................... 7 Organizational ergonomics ............................................................................................ 7 Participatory ergonomics ............................................................................................... 7 A brief history of the origin of ergonomics and human factors ...................................... 8 Forceful exertions ............................................................................................................ 9 Awkward postures ........................................................................................................... 9 Sustained positions ......................................................................................................... 9 Repetitive/prolonged activity ........................................................................................ 9 Vibration ..................................................................................................................... 9 Extreme environmental conditions ........................................................................ 9 Work station limitations ........................................................................................... 9 Vehicular use ............................................................................................................. 9 Reducing the risk of injury through the science of ergonomics and human factors .... 10 Awareness through education ....................................................................................... 10 Physical preparedness .................................................................................................... 10 Mental preparedness ...................................................................................................... 11 Skills training .................................................................................................................... 11 Equipment selection........................................................................................................ 11 Emergency service ergonomic hazards .............................................................................. 11 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 12 References ............................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Disorders and Injuries Related to Ergonomic Risk Factors .................. 15 Musculoskeletal disorders/injuries defined ....................................................................... 15 Signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders/injuries............................................ 17 Common musculoskeletal disorders/injuries .................................................................... 18 Ergonomic risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders/injuries ....................................... 19 Environmental .................................................................................................................. 20 Personal ............................................................................................................................ 20 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 20 References ............................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3: Extreme Heat and Cold as Risk Factors for Injury and Illness ............ 23 Heat as a risk factor for injury/illness .................................................................................. 23 Physiological response to heat exposure ..................................................................... 24 Cardiovascular physiology related to heat exposure .......................................... 25 Cognitive function related to heat exposure ........................................................ 26 Performance related to heat exposure ................................................................. 26 Heat stress risk factors ................................................................................................... 27 Environmental heat stress risk factors .................................................................. 27 Environmental conditions: Environmental risk factor for heat stress .............. 27 Personal heat stress risk factors ............................................................................ 30 Preface iii Management of heat stress illnesses .................................................................................. 34 Signs and symptoms of heat-stress-related illness .................................................... 35 Heat rash .................................................................................................................... 35 Heat syncope ............................................................................................................. 35 Heat cramps/spasms ................................................................................................ 35 Heat exhaustion ........................................................................................................ 35 Heat stroke................................................................................................................. 36 Rhabdomyolysis ........................................................................................................ 37 Reducing the risk of heat stress .............................................................................. 37 Personal responsibility for reducing the risk of heat stress ............................... 38 Administrative responsibility for reducing the risk of heat stress ..................... 38 Personal preventative measures for reducing the risk of heat stress .............. 38 Administrative preventive measures for reducing the risk of heat stress ....... 40 Tools for monitoring risk of heat stress ................................................................. 41 Cold as a risk factor for injury/illness .................................................................................. 42 Physiological response to cold exposure ..................................................................... 43 Signs and symptoms of cold stress ............................................................................... 43 Frostnip .....................................................................................................................
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