WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As part of its long-standing commitment to advancing firefighter health and safety, NFPA is encouraging members of the fire service to participate in a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey designed to improve investigations into firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) and serious injuries.

The survey supports the work of NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP), which conducts independent investigations into firefighter line-of-duty deaths at the request of fire departments and develops recommendations to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

NIOSH is seeking input from firefighters nationwide to understand better the human factors that contribute to firefighter line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries. Human factors examine how people interact with their environment, equipment, and one another — including how firefighters think, make decisions, and respond in emergency situations. Survey findings will help identify opportunities to improve investigative tools and resources for both the FFFIPP and fire departments.

"Every line-of-duty death is a tragedy, and we have a responsibility to learn everything we can from these incidents to help prevent the next one," said Curt Floyd, NFPA technical lead for First Responders, and Deputy Chief (Ret.), EFO, CFPS. "Having served in the fire service for many years, I've seen firsthand that understanding the human factors behind emergency response can be just as important as understanding the technical cause of an incident. This survey allows firefighters to share their experiences and perspectives in a way that can strengthen future investigations and ultimately make the fire service safer for everyone."

Chief officers, company officers, firefighters, and especially those who have served in a safety officer role are encouraged to participate. The survey takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, responses are confidential, and respondents may skip any question or end the survey at any time.

By sharing this survey, NFPA is supporting efforts to strengthen the evidence base that informs firefighter safety practices and recommendations. The association has long worked to reduce firefighter injuries and fatalities through research, education, codes and standards, and collaboration across the fire service. Broad participation in this survey can help advance that shared goal.

The survey can be completed on any device (NIOSH recommends using a desktop or laptop computer for the best experience) and will remain open through January 2027.

Firefighters interested in participating can access the survey at:
NIOSH Human Factors Survey: https://redcap.link/9zk8k63w

Questions about the survey can be directed to NIOSHFireTrauma@cdc.gov.