Breakdown of Top Injuries Costing the Most Time Lost

Throughout the year, our users have expressed an interest in learning more about the lost time occurring due to injuries being reported to us by Texas departments.  We’re happy to share this information with you!

Types of Injuries and Activities leading to injuries leading to the most Lost Time from 2010 - 2011

The graphs and table below represent those injuries that led to lost time beginning in either 2010 or 2011, and returning in 2011.

Top 5 Types of Injuries Leading to the Most Lost Time 2010 - 2011 - click to enlarge

As you can see below, the top four activities leading to the most lost time are the same as the top four activities being reported overall.

Top 4 Activities Leading to the Most Lost Time 2010-2011 - click to enlarge

 

Body Part injuries leading to the most Lost Time from 2010 - 2011

The chart below shows the number of injuries by Body Parts, the average number of days missed for the injury (from the date of injury until the date of return), and the minimum and maximum number of days missed.   The actual shifts missed varies by department schedules. 

Body Part	# of Injuries	Avg. Days Missed	Min # days lost	Max # days lost
Back	183	49.77	1	356
Knee	94	65.99	2	432
Ankle	71	30.13	1	141
Shoulder	62	62.48	1	366
Grand Total	410

What Do You Think is the Next Step?

So, the next step could be to examine these numbers, and then ask yourself or your department the following questions:

• How do I/we avoid these Types of injuries?
• How do I/we avoid injuries occurring in during these Activities?
• How do I/we avoid injuries to these Body Parts?

We Want Your Feedback

We’ve covered some of these issues in past blog posts, and will cover the rest in the future. 

• Strains & Sprains (September 2011)
• Station Duties (February 2012)
• Wellness/Fitness (March 2012)
  

If you have specific issues you’d like us to cover sooner rather than later, let us know by commenting below!

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?

Injuries Reported to the TCFP Injury Reporting Program in 2011

2011 was a very successful first FULL year of injury reporting.  A big part of the injury reporting mandate comes from the need to analyze historical injury data and identify trends surrounding these injuries.  By gathering accurate and timely information on firefighter injuries, the Commission will be able to assist departments by disseminating facts concerning these trends, hopefully helping them make changes that will lead to fewer injuries.  Remember – injury reporting is non-punitive.  There are no hidden agendas in the program.  Departments are asked not to report the firefighters name or personal information.  This layer of anonymity allows local control of internal issues and keeps the reporting process altruistic in nature.  The overall safety of the Texas fire service is the only goal!

The 2011 Injury Reporting Program year-end report was presented to the Fire Fighter Advisory Committee on March 8, 2012.  After they review the trends we saw, they will present their recommendations to the Commission for input and approval.  The final report will be out later this year. 

Thank You!

We had a lot of participation in the injury reporting program this year.  We want to thank all those departments who reported injuries and near-miss reports to us.  We also want to thank those who participated in the user focus groups we held, as well as everyone else who provided feedback to us throughout the year.  We implemented some of the requested changes and received some great ideas about to how to improve the program in the future.  We look forward to seeing the program grow and look forward to providing quality information back out to the community. 

Highlights from This Year’s Preliminary Report

A total of 4,180 injuries were reported to us during 2011.  As you can see, these injuries occurred most often during Fire Suppression and Rescue-Non Fire activities.  Sprains & Strains and Environmental Injuries were the most common types of injuries reported.  The Back/Neck and Legs/Knees/Ankles were the most commonly injured body parts. 

Severity of Injuries by Activity 2011 - click to enlarge

Types of Injuries 2011 - click to enlarge

Injuries by Body Location 2011 - click to enlarge

Injuries with Lost Time

Types of Injuries Leading to Lost Time 2011 - click to enlarge

Throughout 2011 we got requests from the fire service for information on lost time in relation to injuries.  Of the 4,180 injuries reported in 2011, 18% of the injuries resulted in missed days.  The commission defines missed work as “lost time” when an individual misses more than one full duty period as a direct result of an injury and does not return to the duties to which they were assigned prior to the injury.  

 The areas included in the “other” category are: broken spine-neck, debris/penetrating, electrocution, exposure airborne pathogen, exposure chemical, smoke and smoke-gas inhalation, and stroke.

Sprain & Strain Injuries

As you can see above, Sprains & Strains lead to the most missed time.  And as you can see below,  Rescue Non-Fire activities were the most common activities leading to Sprains & Strains.   

Activities Leading to Sprains & Strains 2011 - click to enlarge

Stay Tuned

The lost time mentioned above, and many other factors surrounding injuries, can cost your department a great deal of money.  Over the next few months this blog will focus on these issues and we’d love to get your feedback surrounding the data we’ve provided, the costs of injuries, and the effects of injuries on the fire service as a whole.