Occupational risks of firefighters: comparative analysis of working conditions during urban and forest firefighting

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the increase in the intensity and complexity of various types of fires, accompanied by an increase in occupational risks for firefighters and requiring a differentiated scientific analysis of the conditions of their activities. The purpose of the article was to conduct a comparative analysis of the occupational risks of firefighters, taking into account the specifics of working conditions during the elimination of urban and forest fires and identifying threats to their physical and mental health. The methodological basis of the study was comparative and systematic analysis, analysis and synthesis of scientific publications, generalization of empirical data from medical, physiological, and psychological studies of firefighters, as well as analytical comparison of professional activity conditions depending on the type of fire. The study found that the occupational risks of firefighters are multi-component and cumulative in nature and are influenced by physical, chemical, psychophysiological, and organizational and technical factors. It was found that urban fires are characterized by peak thermal and psycho-emotional stress, increased toxicological complexity of combustion products, and a high level of responsibility for the safety of the civilian population. In contrast, forest fires involve prolonged physical stress, severe heat stress, autonomy of action, and chronic lack of recovery. Empirical data confirm differences in the profiles of health risks for firefighters, particularly with regard to the development of heat disorders, respiratory disorders, and stress-induced mental states. It is justified that the recurrence and duration of exposure to harmful factors cause long-term negative consequences for the occupational health of personnel. The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of using them to develop differentiated approaches to occupational risk management, improve the occupational safety system, work and recovery regimes, as well as medical and psychological support programs for firefighters depending on the type of fire.

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