Injury risk profile and aging among Quebec firefighters

摘要

The significant level of risk faced by firefighters raises questions about the ability of these workers to remain in their jobs as they age. To address this question, the relation between age and two risk indicators (frequency rate, and median duration of absence) and between age and the characteristics of accidents involving firefighters were analysed. The results revealed a significant decrease in accident frequency rate and a tendency for the median duration of absence to increase with age. The characteristics and circumstances of 1041 accidents can be summarized by seven accident profiles, of which three are typical of specific age categories. Accidents occurring in the course of site exploration and ventilation during fire extinction frequently resulted in shoulder and neck injuries and were more likely to occur among younger workers. Firefighters aged 40-44 yr tended to suffer accidents involving falls while in movement (walking, running, climbing, descending). Finally, firefighters aged 45-49 yr tended to suffer accident relapses. The four other accident profiles were associated with firefighters of all ages. These results highlight the existence of task-related constraints which become harder to bear with increasing age. The task demands of firefighting are not very well known. Only field research can fill this knowledge gap and improve both work organization and prevention as well as apply the know-how to aging labour force.