Abstract
Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during fires and from their personal protective equipment (PPE). Recent research has shown that decontamination processes can reduce contamination on both gear and skin. While firefighter cultures that honor dirty gear are changing, little is known about current attitudes and behaviors toward decontamination in the fire service. Four hundred eighty-five firefighters from four departments completed surveys about their attitudes, beliefs, perceived norms, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes. Overall, firefighters reported positive attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about decontamination, but showering after a fire was the only decontamination process that occurred regularly, with field decontamination, use of cleansing wipes, routine gear cleaning, and other behaviors all occurring less frequently. Firefighters reported time and concerns over wet gear as barriers to decontamination.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 279-284 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 3 2018 |
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Keywords
- Cancer
- decontamination
- firefighter
- health campaign
- personal protective equipment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Firefighter attitudes, norms, beliefs, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes in an era of increased cancer risk. / Harrison, Tyler R; Muhamad, Jessica Wendorf; Yang, Fan; Morgan, Susan; Talavera, Edmund; Caban-Martinez, Alberto J; Kobetz, Erin.
In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol. 15, No. 4, 03.04.2018, p. 279-284.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Firefighter attitudes, norms, beliefs, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes in an era of increased cancer risk
AU - Harrison, Tyler R
AU - Muhamad, Jessica Wendorf
AU - Yang, Fan
AU - Morgan, Susan
AU - Talavera, Edmund
AU - Caban-Martinez, Alberto J
AU - Kobetz, Erin
PY - 2018/4/3
Y1 - 2018/4/3
N2 - Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during fires and from their personal protective equipment (PPE). Recent research has shown that decontamination processes can reduce contamination on both gear and skin. While firefighter cultures that honor dirty gear are changing, little is known about current attitudes and behaviors toward decontamination in the fire service. Four hundred eighty-five firefighters from four departments completed surveys about their attitudes, beliefs, perceived norms, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes. Overall, firefighters reported positive attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about decontamination, but showering after a fire was the only decontamination process that occurred regularly, with field decontamination, use of cleansing wipes, routine gear cleaning, and other behaviors all occurring less frequently. Firefighters reported time and concerns over wet gear as barriers to decontamination.
AB - Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during fires and from their personal protective equipment (PPE). Recent research has shown that decontamination processes can reduce contamination on both gear and skin. While firefighter cultures that honor dirty gear are changing, little is known about current attitudes and behaviors toward decontamination in the fire service. Four hundred eighty-five firefighters from four departments completed surveys about their attitudes, beliefs, perceived norms, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes. Overall, firefighters reported positive attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about decontamination, but showering after a fire was the only decontamination process that occurred regularly, with field decontamination, use of cleansing wipes, routine gear cleaning, and other behaviors all occurring less frequently. Firefighters reported time and concerns over wet gear as barriers to decontamination.
KW - Cancer
KW - decontamination
KW - firefighter
KW - health campaign
KW - personal protective equipment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044262231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044262231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15459624.2017.1416389
DO - 10.1080/15459624.2017.1416389
M3 - Article
C2 - 29283320
AN - SCOPUS:85044262231
VL - 15
SP - 279
EP - 284
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
SN - 1545-9624
IS - 4
ER -