Future Directions for the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention 

Program (FFFIPP) 

In 2006, the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) undertook two 

complementary efforts to seek data and feedback to guide future directions of the NIOSH 

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP). NIOSH sought 

stakeholder input at a public meeting and through a public docket, and conducted a 

national survey of U.S. fire departments focusing on the use of NIOSH recommendations 

and information products. NIOSH is making several modifications to the FFFIPP based 

on stakeholder input and survey results. The intent of these modifications is to ensure 

that the FFFIPP meets stakeholders’ needs and to increase the impact of the FFFIPP on 

fire fighter safety and health. This document summarizes these modifications and future 

directions. 

The public stakeholders’ meeting was held on March 22nd, 2006. A total of 37 nonNIOSH attendees participated in the meeting, and presentations were given by 

individuals representing the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the National Volunteer 

Fire Council (NVFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National 

Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), the National Wildfire Coordinating Group 

(NWCG), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and the International 

Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), among others. Eleven individuals submitted written 

comments to the docket. NIOSH received considerable positive feedback about the 

FFFIPP, and suggestions for improving the FFFIPP. Information about the FFFIPP 

Stakeholder meeting and docket comments are available on the NIOSH Docket 0063

page. 

In the spring of 2006, RTI International conducted an evaluation of the FFFIPP under 

contract to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [NIOSH is part of the 

CDC]. The evaluation was based on a nationwide survey of 3,000 fire departments and a 

series of focus groups with front-line fire fighters. The evaluation served to determine the 

extent to which FFFIPP reports, recommendations, and other products are being utilized 

by the fire service for: training; development of procedures, guidelines, policies and 

practices; and other prevention efforts. The evaluation also helped to identify 

enhancements that could further the FFFIPP’s impact. 

Below is the summary of future directions for the FFFIPP based on stakeholder input and 

survey results, grouped into the following areas: 

• investigations and fatality reports 

• document production 

• dissemination 

• outreach 

• research 

• evaluation 

• technical assistance 
NIOSH management and FFFIPP staff would like to thank all those who participated in 

the stakeholders’ meeting, submitted comments to the docket, and responded to the 

evaluation survey and focus groups. It is the goal of the NIOSH FFFIPP to work with 

partners and stakeholders to decrease the number of fire fighter injuries, illnesses, and 

deaths across the country and around the world, and the constructive feedback provided 

has helped to strengthen these efforts. 

Investigations and Fatality Reports 

- continue to make the main focus of the program performing fatality 

investigations, and maintain investigative activity at or near the current 

level. 

- make the prioritization of investigations transparent by posting the 

program’s decision flow chart on the FFFIPP website. 

- document and make recommendations applicable to the training of the 

incident commanders/line officers on the incident scene. 

- address the issue of safety “culture” by looking more thoroughly at the 

incident department’s occupational safety and health program. 

- increase the evaluation of fire “behavior” during structure fire incident 

investigations. 

- strive to make recommendations more straightforward and practical 

- increase references to “best practices” and standards in reports and 

recommendations. 

- investigate selected non-fatal cardiovascular (CVD) incidents. 

- increase the number of draft reports reviewed by external experts. 

- explore modifications to the FFFIPP fatality reports to make them more 

user-friendly and to enhance messages, including formatting changes and 

the development of training aides for reports. 

- continue to ensure that FFFIPP reports are finalized and posted to the 

FFFIPP web site in the timeliest manner possible. 

 

Document Production 

- continue to develop documents, including Alerts and Workplace 

Solutions, that identify trends and hazards, and recommend equipment, 

training, and /or procedures to abate those hazards. 
Dissemination 

- enhance efforts to disseminate FFFIPP publications to small, rural, and 

volunteer fire departments through direct mailings and e-mail listserve 

dissemination. 

- enhance the FFFIPP website by providing additional search capabilities 

and organizing materials by broad topic areas. 

Outreach 

- continue to expand outreach and partnership activities to fire service 

organizations, and pursue activities that complement and support 

prevention efforts of others. 

Research 

- increase routine and in-depth analyses of available data on fire fighter 

deaths and injuries (e.g. fatality data collected and reported by USFA and 

NFPA, data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and data 

from occupational injury and illness databases such as the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries). Such analyses 

will be used to add knowledge about patterns and risks for fire fighter 

injury and illness, identify needed improvements in available surveillance 

data, and help focus FFFIPP investigations. 

- increase efforts to foster research that builds from NIOSH investigation 

findings and recommendations, and leverage resources to conduct such 

research. 

- increase coordination with other NIOSH Divisions conducting research on 

fire fighter safety and health, including the NIOSH National Personal 

Protective Technology Laboratory. 

Evaluation 

- develop a survey that would be provided to all departments following a 

NIOSH fatality investigation that would provide feedback on the 

investigation and departmental changes made as a result of the 

investigation. 

Technical Assistance 

- add point-of-contact info on the web site as a resource to facilitate specific 

inquiries related to fire fighter occupational safety and health. 

- send information on prevention resources available through the FFFIPP to 

departments that experience a line of duty death (LODD) when a FFFIPP 

investigation will not be conducted. 

- post the FFFIPP Investigation Procedures Manual on the FFFIPP website 

to assist fire departments in conducting their own, independent 

investigations.