Firefighter attitudes, norms, beliefs, barriers, and behaviors toward post-fire decontamination processes in an era of increased cancer risk

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• decontamination
• firefighter
• health campaign
• personal protective equipment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank David Anderson for help with data collection, and the firefighters, unions and support groups of South Florida for their support and participation with the research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by State of Florida appropriation #2382A (PI Kobetz) to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami, subaward (PI Harrison) to the Center for Communication, Culture, and Change in the School of Communication at the University of Miami. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Miami, approval #2016052.