This initiative aims to improve the health and safety of firefighters by addressing the specific hazards they face on the job. The center will focus on immediate dangers and long-term health risks.
“Firefighters are essential to the safety of our communities and put their health and safety at risk to protect our health and safety,” said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard. “The Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Welfare will allow NIOSH to combine our research and knowledge to better protect firefighters from the immediate and long-term risks of their work.”
This center will streamline communications between NIOSH and partner organizations. The goal is to enable faster response to emerging threats in firefighting, coordinate research on critical issues such as hazardous exposure, evaluate PPE, and focus on the health status of wildland firefighters. is.
In addition, the new center will oversee programs such as the National Cancer Firefighter Registry and conduct health hazard assessments and fatality investigations. These efforts are aimed at refining and prioritizing research to prevent firefighter injuries and illnesses.
“IAFF shares NIOSH’s vision of making our dangerous jobs safer,” said Secretary General Edward Kelly. “We proudly collaborate on important projects like the Fire Scene Survival Training Program and we are pleased to support this centre.”
