By Stephen J. Ringer, Emily J. Haas and Emilee T. Austin
Investigating firefighter fatalities and serious injuries can provide valuable insights into contributing factors and support efforts to improve safety and prevent future incidents. Traditionally, such investigations rely on witness testimony, written reports and physical evidence (e.g., photos, PPE). In tandem with investigation data, departments and investigators implement various types of risk assessments and protocols (e.g., task-based, human factors, equipment; critical control assessments; and causal mapping) to identify root causes and contributing factors [1-4].
As video technology advances, so may its role in the fire service. While the traditional methods outlined above are still effective, the evolution of video technology, such as body- and vehicle-mounted cameras, provide additional tools to uncover details that might otherwise be overlooked. Additionally, as some video technology offers features like heat-resistant casings, enhanced night vision and real-time streaming, its role in fire service investigations may grow.
Two recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) reports can help us explore how video technology might inform both learning assessments and post-incident investigations.
Using video technology in assessments and investigations
NIOSH has experience integrating video technology into workplace interventions to assess exposure to health hazards, such as respirable dust [5, 6]. These efforts have allowed researchers to interact with organizations and workers to identify exposure sources and test mitigation strategies [7].
While these efforts sought to proactively identify and reduce the potential for overexposure(s) on the job, the use of video technologies can be applied in other settings and applications. For example, during two recent NIOSH FFFIPP investigations [8, 9], video footage via firefighter helmet cameras, law enforcement body cameras, dash cameras from civilian vehicles, and surveillance cameras on nearby buildings provided additional data points and insight.
First, in FFFIPP report F2024-05, a vehicle dash camera recorded the progressive behavior of the fire and smoke [8]. This footage allowed FFFIPP investigators and UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) researchers to identify small changes easier and quicker because they could watch the footage frame by frame. It also provided an unbiased view and ensured all pertinent details were noted for root cause analysis and prevention considerations.
In this investigation, the video provided an opportunity to see turning points in the fire behavior. This allowed more in-depth fire experimentation by the FSRI team. Consequently, FSRI’s research simulations provided supplemental information included throughout the report and appendix. Their findings highlighted additional dangers present in commercial vehicle fires when cargo compartments are sealed and constructed with rigid foam plastics.
Second, in FFFIPP report F2024-06, the fire department’s arson division provided FFFIPP investigators with cell phone videos and surveillance camera footage, allowing them to see how the fire progressed [9]. Investigators were able to view the footage to ascertain most of the personnel activity and fire behavior from arrival through the end to the structural collapse and response.
Furthermore, identifying contributing factors and specific root causes is often time-sensitive. Access to various types of video technologies expedited the investigators’ abilities to piece together an indisputable record of events, reducing the need for extensive witness statements. Cumulatively, the information gained through video facilitated quicker, more decisive conclusions and actionable considerations for fire departments.
These videos provided various vantage points as events unfolded and decisions were made in real time. Based on the use of video technologies in the two FFFIPP investigations, one of the most obvious advantages was the increased accuracy in identifying contributing factors. Firefighters operate in hazardous and often chaotic environments, where visibility may be low and decision-making swift. In the aftermath of a fatality or serious injury, recalling precise details can be challenging. By providing an objective, unfiltered account of events, these technologies may reduce ambiguity and subjective perceptions [10].
Training and safety measures
Contributing factors identified in previous FFFIPP investigations show that many fatalities stem, in part, from gaps in training, pre-incident planning, risk vs. benefit analysis, standard operating procedures and guidelines, or other hazards that were not recognized and mitigated. Prevention considerations often entail improved training and professional development opportunities for firefighters and incident command officers. To this end, video technologies may serve as an educational tool to enhance fire department training programs. Instead of relying on hypothetical scenarios, training officers can show and work through real footage with firefighters to identify drifts in situational awareness and decision-making practices, improper equipment usage or breakdowns in communication [11].
Additionally, a camera put in service upon the arrival of the vehicle to an incident scene can offer a lesser-used vantage point. A camera can be directed to a specific side of a structure fire and show conditions as they change throughout the fire attack. Regardless of whether an adverse incident occurs during a fire event, the footage can support decision making in real time. Footage may highlight when standard operating procedures were deployed and if unexpected factors occurred during the response that led to a change in procedures. To illustrate, video of an emergency bailout by interior crews could show an unbiased view of conditions prior to, during and after the emergency is resolved. Departments can use this information to inform adjustments to training protocols to better prepare firefighters for possible risks during similar situations.
Looking ahead
Despite the potential advantages, there are also concerns around the integration and use of this video technology to consider. Currently, policies regarding the use, storage and access to videos do not exist at most local municipal or department levels so, accountability and privacy concerns have not yet been addressed. Although video technologies can serve as a tool to support accountability, transparency in such policies, combined with clear communication to personnel and the public, is important to help maintain the integrity of their use.
Implementing an on-scene video recording platform can run the gamut of costs. From as simple as a few cameras mounted in apparatus or sitting on the roof of command vehicles, to body-worn camera setups such as helmet cameras or cameras clipped to PPE, to drone cameras with integrated thermal imaging capabilities, the options are relatively endless.
In the two NIOSH FFFIPP investigations, video technologies provided objective information for investigators to use without placing blame. Consequently, including objective footage when available may help provide transparent data that builds trust within fire departments and externally with unions and local municipalities [12]. Fire service leadership and investigators can choose to collaboratively review footage to identify leading indicators and root causes to inform potential improvements, such as changes in SOGs or incident management procedures [13].
Bottom line: Fire departments that integrate this technology may identify practices that can help equip and protect their personnel, improve training and uphold safety standards.
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Stephen J. Ringer, CFEI, is an investigator for the Fire Fighter Fatality and Injury Prevention Program (FFFIPP), Division of Safety Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Emily J. Haas, PhD, is the Associate Director for Science for the Division of Safety Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Emilee T. Austin, MA, is a Health Communication Specialist with the Fire Fighter Fatality and Injury Prevention Program (FFFIPP), Division of Safety Research in Morgantown, W.V.
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- Rosen, G., Andersson, I., Walsh, P.T., Clark, R.D.R., Saamanen, A., Heinonen, K., Riipinen, H., and Paakkonen, R. 2005. A Review of Video Exposure Monitoring as an Occupational Hygiene Tool. Ann. Occup. Hyg., 49(3):201-217.
- Haas, E.J., & Cecala, A.B. (2015). Beyond assessment: Helmet-CAM technology influencing dust exposure awareness and response. Rock Products, November Issue, 28–29.
- Haas, E.J. & Cecala, A.B. (2017). Quick fixes to improve worker’s health: Results using engineering assessment technology. Mining Engineering, July; 69(7): 105–109.
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