U.S. Fire Fighter Fatality Studies -- An Analysis

T53
U.S. Fire Fighter Fatality Studies -- An Analysis
Rita Fahy, NFPA Thomas Hales, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Kenneth Willette, NFPA

The results of NFPA's 2015 firefighter fatality study will be presented, along with several multi-year analyses of specific aspects of the firefighter fatality problem, including a look at NIOSH's investigation of deaths related to cancer and cardiac-related issues. NFPA standards that address issues raised in the fatality study and NIOSH investigations will also be discussed.

Presented by:

Rita Fahy, NFPA
Rita Fahy is Sr. Manager of Fire Databases and Systems in the Fire Analysis and Research Division of NFPA. She is involved in statistical analysis and computer modeling work, mainly in the areas of fire fighter deaths and human behavior in fire. She has authored NFPA's annual study of on-duty fire fighter fatalities since 1981.

Thomas Hales, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
Dr. Thomas Hales is a Senior Medical Epidemiologist with the CDC-NIOSH. He received his BA from Stanford University, his MD from Case Western Reserve University, and his MPH from the University of California - Berkeley. He is board-certified in internal and occupational medicine. For 15 years, he has been the Team Leader of the NIOSH Fire Fighter Program - Cardiovascular Component. He is also a member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Service Occupational Safety and Vice-Chair of the Public Safety Medicine Section of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Kenneth Willette, NFPA
Kenneth R. Willette has 35 years' experience in fire service and emergency preparedness planning. He has served as a airfield/structural firefighter for the Department of Defense and served the Wilbraham, MA Fire Department for 26 years, rising through the ranks to serve 7 years as Chief of Department and Emergency Management Director. In 2003, he accepted command of the Concord, MA Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director until 2009. In 2010, he joined NFPA as Manager of the Public Fire Protection Division. He earned a BS in Fire Protection Administration from Empire State University in NY and is a Past President of the Fire Chiefs Association of MA.