Health and Safety Programs

The Southington Fire Department offers mental health services and peer support counseling to all its firefighters. ESCI recommends that the Southington Fire Department conduct periodic reviews of its program to ensure that firefighters have the resources they need when they need them. A collaborative review by labor and management of the current programs and other available options would position the Southington Fire Department to ensure that the offered programs best serve the needs of its firefighters.

Health and Safety Programs

In recent years, the fire service has become increasingly concerned with the issue of firefighter cancer, and cancer-prevention practices. Firefighters in Southington are provided with two hoods that are recommended to be washed weekly; however, this is not enforced. While there are two gear washers and dryers, not all firefighters have two sets of gear, so they are faced with the decision to borrow gear or wait to wash gear until such time that they are not responding to calls. ESCI recommends that the Southington Fire Department develop a plan to issue all firefighters two sets of gear. An additional preventative measure that could be taken by the Southington Fire Department is to limit/reduce firefighter exposure to toxic products of combustion which occur after the fire (aka, off-gassing). The Southington Fire Department should take steps to store turnout gear in a well-ventilated room to prevent additional firefighter exposure to off gassing of chemicals absorbed into turnout gear during a fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 43% of firefighter deaths are caused by overexertion and stress. And in 2020, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network revealed that 61% of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths occurred as a result of cancer from 2002 to 2017.

The Southington Fire Department provides medical exams for new firefighters and biennial thereafter. ESCI recommends that the Southington Fire Department periodically review its medical evaluation program for compliance with NFPA 1582: Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. Additionally, the Southington Fire Department should consider emphasizing health and wellness programs for its first responders because of an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer in the fire service. Prevention programs and health monitoring provide cost savings to fire organizations, reducing workers' compensation costs, sick leave/overtime hiring costs, and improves the overall mental and physical health and wellness of first responders.

ESCI noted that Article 29 of the 2018-2020 Contract between the Town of Southington and IAFF Local 2033 includes the following height and weight restrictions for career firefighters. These same requirements are listed at the top of the application to become a volunteer firefighter.

Figure 81. Firefighter Height and Weight Restrictions

While height and weight requirements were once considered to be the primary measure of firefighter fitness, NFPA 1583, Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members recommends a periodic assessment under the supervision of the fire department health and fitness coordinator.

6.2 Fitness Assessment

6.2.1 All members shall be cleared annually for participation in the fitness assessment by the physician as directed by NFPA 1582. 6.2.2* If a member has an acute medical problem or a newly acquired chronic medical condition, the fitness assessment shall be postponed until that person has recovered from this condition and is cleared as is required by 6.2.1. 6.3 Pre-Assessment Questionnaire. The health and fitness coordinator shall administer to all members a pre-assessment questionnaire that seeks to identify contraindications for participation in the fitness assessment and department exercise program. 6.4* Fitness Assessment Components. The annual fitness assessments shall consist of the following components: (1) Aerobic capacity (2) Body composition (3) Muscular strength (4) Muscular endurance (5) Flexibility

In addition to providing fitness evaluations, the Southington Fire Department should establish a Fire Department Safety committee in alignment with Chapter 4 of NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program The establishment and empowerment of a safety committee can be one of the best tools to increase the safety of firefighters.