Effect of forest fires on physiological work load and output of fire fighters

Elias Apud, . and Felipe Meyer, . (2007) Effect of forest fires on physiological work load and output of fire fighters. [Proceedings Paper]

There is little information in the literature about the response of forest fire fighters during actual work mainly because of the difficulties to carry out studies during the urgency that means to control the fire. The main purpose of this communication is to present the results of a project granted by the Chilean Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development FONDEF and with the support of nine forest companies. They also gave facilities for a group of the research team to live in camps as part of the brigades so they recorded cardiac frequency and activities during 24 hours. During the fires careful work studies were carried out synchronized with the cardiac frequency measurements. In each fire dry and wet bulb temperature as well as globe temperature and air velocity was recorded. As an indicator of the difficulty imposed by the ground slope was measured as well as the type and weight of fuel being burned. Output was evaluated in terms of squared meters of line contructed per minute and per number of workers in the fire line. Quality was estimated according to a special scale which considered the percentage of mineral soil exposed. In addition age weight stature body composition and aerobic capacity were measured in each worker so as to relate the response at work with their individual characteristics. The results showed that the work is extremely heavy and that the working conditions are very variable. One important finding was that around 80 of the fires were controlled in less than 30 minutes but the workers ended completely exhausted. It was found a significant decrease in output and quality of the fire line the longer the fire lasted. However despite the reduction in the amount of work the actual wotk load was maintained high indicating fatigue of the workers. It was also found a significant relationship between radiant heat and cardiovascular load. In fires were globe temperature was over 70C workers in some cases reached 100 cardiovascular load. The difficulties to remove the fuel as well as the slope of the ground were also two important factors that contributed to the global work load and to the reduction of the efficiency in the construction of fire lines. The main conclusion is that a number of ergonomic changes are required in order to protect the fire fighters.

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Abstract

There is little information in the literature about the response of forest fire fighters during actual work mainly because of the difficulties to carry out studies during the urgency that means to control the fire. The main purpose of this communication is to present the results of a project granted by the Chilean Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development FONDEF and with the support of nine forest companies. They also gave facilities for a group of the research team to live in camps as part of the brigades so they recorded cardiac frequency and activities during 24 hours. During the fires careful work studies were carried out synchronized with the cardiac frequency measurements. In each fire dry and wet bulb temperature as well as globe temperature and air velocity was recorded. As an indicator of the difficulty imposed by the ground slope was measured as well as the type and weight of fuel being burned. Output was evaluated in terms of squared meters of line contructed per minute and per number of workers in the fire line. Quality was estimated according to a special scale which considered the percentage of mineral soil exposed. In addition age weight stature body composition and aerobic capacity were measured in each worker so as to relate the response at work with their individual characteristics. The results showed that the work is extremely heavy and that the working conditions are very variable. One important finding was that around 80 of the fires were controlled in less than 30 minutes but the workers ended completely exhausted. It was found a significant decrease in output and quality of the fire line the longer the fire lasted. However despite the reduction in the amount of work the actual wotk load was maintained high indicating fatigue of the workers. It was also found a significant relationship between radiant heat and cardiovascular load. In fires were globe temperature was over 70C workers in some cases reached 100 cardiovascular load. The difficulties to remove the fuel as well as the slope of the ground were also two important factors that contributed to the global work load and to the reduction of the efficiency in the construction of fire lines. The main conclusion is that a number of ergonomic changes are required in order to protect the fire fighters.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	6 ill. 1 table. 4 ref.
AGROVOC Term:	ERGONOMICS
AGROVOC Term:	WORKERS
AGROVOC Term:	HANDLING
AGROVOC Term:	HEAT
AGROVOC Term:	CHILE
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:13
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11130

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