Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees. Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy

Abstract

Police officers, firefighters, and other public safety workers are asked to put their lives at risk to protect the general public, so it is not surprising that they face exceptionally high rates of injury and fatality relative to the general workforce. To help protect public safety employees from work-related injuries and illnesses without compromising their ability to do their jobs, policymakers need a better understanding of the specific risk factors associated with different aspects of public safety occupations. To further such understanding, LaTourrette, Loughran, and Seabury conducted a literature review of research on this topic; held roundtable discussions with representatives from several public safety departments in California; and analyzed national survey data, as well as administrative data from California, to illuminate how the injury, illness, and fatality rates for public safety employees differ from those of the general workforce. The authors highlight opportunities and challenges to improving the health and safety of public safety workers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA496656

Entities

People

  • David Loughran
  • Seth Seabury
  • Tom LaTourrette

Organizations

  • Grand Forks Air Force Base

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Data Analysis
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Employment
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Injury Prevention
  • Literature Surveys
  • Medical Personnel
  • Occupational Safety And Health
  • Pain
  • Public Policy
  • United States
  • Wounds And Injuries

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Organizational Psychology.