Fire protection is one of the most dangerous types of work in the nation. Last year, almost 71,000 injuries to U.S. firefighters occurred in the line of duty, and the rate of nonfatal injury and illness in fire protection was more than three times the rate for all industries, according to government and industry estimates. But injuries can occur in any workplace, and there were more than 3.8 million work-related injuries and illnesses last year. Firefighters as athletes
Last year, fire protection was the most dangerous type of work.Nationwide, there were about 13.5 nonfatal injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time workers at local fire departments, according to labor department data. The incident rate of injury and illness for all industries was 3.8 cases per 100 full-time workers. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that about 70,090 injuries to firefighters occurred while in the line of duty in 2011. In addition, firefighters in thousands of instances were exposed to infectious diseases and hazardous conditions, such as asbestos, radioactive materials, chemicals and fumes. Battling fires is very hard, physical work, because firefighters must wear about 80 pounds of gear, and they must lift and carry heavy ladders and hoses up staircases or feed them through high windows, said Mark Sanders, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, which has 12,000 members. “You can call firefighters industrial athletes,” said Sanders, a lieutenant with Cincinnati Fire Department.Firefighters are forced to enter burning structures where there is falling debris that can strike and injure them. Firefighters are also at risk of tripping and falling on staircases or uneven or slippery surfaces while taking rescue or fire-control actions. Smoke inhalation always poses a risk, and firefighters can be injured helping escort or carry people out of their homes or buildings. “The nature of the work is you are running into dangerous situations while other people are running out,” said Dayton firefighter Gaye Jordan, president of the Dayton Firefighter’s International Association of Fire Fighters Local 136. “And it’s a physical job, both on the fire and EMS sides, where some of our patients are bigger, and lifting the cot and lifting patients can strain your back.” ...Strain of nursing home work
In Ohio, sprains and strains account for about 40 percent of injuries that result in workers’ compensation claims, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. About 30 percent of lost-time claims are caused by overexertion, while another 30 percent are caused by slips, trips and falls, the bureau said. And the frequency rate of injuries and illness in fire protection is just slightly higher than in state-run nursing homes and residential care facilities, according to labor department data. The rate of injury and illness in that part of the nursing industry nationwide is about 13.1 cases per 100 full-time workers. Ohio does not operate state-run nursing facilities, and the injury and illness rate of all nursing homes is significantly lower in than in government-run facilities.But in 2010, employees in private nursing homes in Ohio accounted for about 591 lost-time workers’ compensation claims, more than any other private industry, according to the most recent state data. Lost-time claims are when employees are off from work for at least eight days. Go to the Full Story at http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/firefighters-nurses-among-most-dangerous-jobs/nTCpq/
Last year, fire protection was the most dangerous type of work.Nationwide, there were about 13.5 nonfatal injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time workers at local fire departments, according to labor department data. The incident rate of injury and illness for all industries was 3.8 cases per 100 full-time workers. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that about 70,090 injuries to firefighters occurred while in the line of duty in 2011. In addition, firefighters in thousands of instances were exposed to infectious diseases and hazardous conditions, such as asbestos, radioactive materials, chemicals and fumes. Battling fires is very hard, physical work, because firefighters must wear about 80 pounds of gear, and they must lift and carry heavy ladders and hoses up staircases or feed them through high windows, said Mark Sanders, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, which has 12,000 members. “You can call firefighters industrial athletes,” said Sanders, a lieutenant with Cincinnati Fire Department.Firefighters are forced to enter burning structures where there is falling debris that can strike and injure them. Firefighters are also at risk of tripping and falling on staircases or uneven or slippery surfaces while taking rescue or fire-control actions. Smoke inhalation always poses a risk, and firefighters can be injured helping escort or carry people out of their homes or buildings. “The nature of the work is you are running into dangerous situations while other people are running out,” said Dayton firefighter Gaye Jordan, president of the Dayton Firefighter’s International Association of Fire Fighters Local 136. “And it’s a physical job, both on the fire and EMS sides, where some of our patients are bigger, and lifting the cot and lifting patients can strain your back.” ...Strain of nursing home work
In Ohio, sprains and strains account for about 40 percent of injuries that result in workers’ compensation claims, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. About 30 percent of lost-time claims are caused by overexertion, while another 30 percent are caused by slips, trips and falls, the bureau said. And the frequency rate of injuries and illness in fire protection is just slightly higher than in state-run nursing homes and residential care facilities, according to labor department data. The rate of injury and illness in that part of the nursing industry nationwide is about 13.1 cases per 100 full-time workers. Ohio does not operate state-run nursing facilities, and the injury and illness rate of all nursing homes is significantly lower in than in government-run facilities.But in 2010, employees in private nursing homes in Ohio accounted for about 591 lost-time workers’ compensation claims, more than any other private industry, according to the most recent state data. Lost-time claims are when employees are off from work for at least eight days. Go to the Full Story at http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/firefighters-nurses-among-most-dangerous-jobs/nTCpq/
