Abstract
Firefighters have among the most physically and psychologically challenging jobs in the world, incurring more than 80,000 (NFPA, 2014) injuries each year. Firefighter training is crucial, as higher knowledge and experience levels are inversely proportional to their risk of injury or work-related illness (Gonzalez, 2002). However, a paradox is created in that the training itself is the third highest cause of firefighter injury (Burgess, 2014). Therefore, enhancing training safety is paramount to creating a safer overall work environment for firefighters. This study focuses on a particularly hazardous aspect of training; crawling. A crawling simulator used by the Opelika and Auburn Fire Departments was built into the back of a trailer and is located in Lee County, Alabama. A system safety analysis was performed incorporating the use of tools including a preliminary hazard list (PHL), preliminary hazard analysis (PHA), risk assessment matrix, fault tree analysis (FTA), and failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). Several hazards were identified and assessed. Recommendations for abating these hazards are offered, specifically for hazards resulting from the lack of an evacuation plan and absence of an occupant monitoring system.
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