Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Dr. David Milen
Abstract
AbstractDriving emergency vehicles continue to be significant safety hazard for firefighters. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards are designed to provide a national consensus standard for operation of these vehicles based on industry best practice. Existing research has not identified relationships between firefighter compliance with NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire and Emergency Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, and any impacts this may have on firefighter fatalities. Using the systems theory as a foundation, the purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to investigate firefighter compliance to NFPA 1451 and determine any correlations to firefighter fatalities. Survey data were collected from 88 call and volunteer firefighters in Massachusetts. Participants were selected using a simple systematic random sample from members of the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association. Results from the data were analyzed using a multiple regression. The results from this study found critical information about individual firefighter compliance to the national standard which can be used to further explore and enhance the safety of firefighters driving emergency vehicles. Recommendations include exploring additional independent variables that may be contributing factors to firefighter compliance to NFPA 1451. These results can used by public administrators for positive social change by helping to increase the safety of firefighters and reduce the exposure and risk of damaging emergency vehicles which create financial constraints on communities.
Recommended Citation
Norris, Christopher, "Firefighter Fatalities and Compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1451 Standard" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 11317.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/11317
