Cost of Injuries

Last week we discussed the total injury numbers we had reported to us in 2011.  This week we want to focus on their cost.  While we’d all like to avoid injuries, and in fact, that is the goal of this blog, it’s also important to examine the cost of injuries and even plan for them when considering your department’s budget.

Injuries impact everyone in the department.  The injured individual has many direct costs, including medical (and sometimes counseling) bills, possible litigation costs, and lost wages that exceed any disability he or she might be paid.  He or she also has pain and suffering.  It is a strain on them, both financially and emotionally. 

The rest of the department staff is also impacted by lower staff levels. There may be reduced manning issues, leading to difficulty, or even inability, to complete critical tasks at emergency scenes  Sometimes the occurrence of an injury might allow for the uninjured staff to get some overtime which, from the covering individual’s perspective, can be beneficial, but can impact the department as a whole negatively.  Overtime impacts morale by putting a strain on the compensating staff having to cover shifts. 

The department itself has to deal with potentially increased insurance premiums, possible litigation costs, disability/retirement income (for those who do not come back to work), as well as the cost of overtime.  Administrative costs (including time and travel) surrounding injuries can be burdensome also.  Someone, usually a department head or administrative assistant, is required to deal with the paperwork and reporting of incurred injuries.  And, if necessary, completing injury investigations and near-miss reports add to these administrative costs.  Finally, increased injuries can lead to costs surrounding safety officer costs, new safety technology, safety-training costs, and union/management negotiation costs.

Aside from the individual firefighter, the team, and the department, society and taxpayers are also affected by injured firefighters greatly and people are starting to take notice.  

More Food For Thought

The Economic Consequences of Firefighter Injuries and Their Prevention (NIST Study, 2005)

Next week we'll look at the injuries causing the most lost time.  These can be quite costly to your departments.

What are your department’s biggest concerns regarding the costs of injuries?

What do you think a proactive department head needs to consider when planning for future injuries?

How do you rank the importance of the various costs associated with fire fighter injuries, and what should be the fire services’ first priority in reducing injuries, thus reducing costs?