• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2019

Recently, increases in major disasters such as fires, earthquakes and typhoons have raised public expectations for safety. In addition to this increase in expectations of safety, the government continues to push for more manpower and better treatment for firefighters who are operating in the disaster scene. Despite the improvement of working conditions and increased welfare for firefighters, however, the incidence and turnover of various mental diseases continues to increase. It is reported that many of the diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder and the turnover of firefighters are due to a mismatch in individual's personality and work environment. In this study, 108 firefighters were evaluated for their vocational aptitude in the new curriculum. Based on the analysis results, new firefighters were proposed to provide employment and education training improvements, and to provide job security suitable for the individual's personality type through the introduction of the vocational aptitude test for firefighters who are working in the fire service. In addition, we would like to use the vocational aptitude test as a material for reducing post-traumatic stress disorder and increasing turnover through long-term tracking and observation, rather than from a one-off perspective.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.53-62
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate duty-related incidental stress, coping method, and stress factors in 133 new firefighters. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was administrated to 133 new firefighters between April and May 2010. It consisted of 33 and 62 items concerning duty-related incident stress and coping methods, respectively. Data were analyzed by using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: New firefighters experienced the most stress when inappropriately dispatched. Duty-related incidental stress correlated with active (r = .420, p < .001) and passive coping (r = .450, p < .001). Also active coping statistically correlated with passive coping (r = .890, p < .001). Influencing factors of duty-related incidental stress were passive coping (t = 2.12, p < .05), experience of having a co-worker in a dangerous situation (t = 3.30, p < .001), having less than 6 months of work experience (t = 2.30, p < .05), and experience of having oneself in a dangerous situation (t = 2.05, p < .05). Conclusion: New firefighters need to be provided with training on active coping to prevent posttraumatic stress disorders and, social support immediately after an inappropriate and stressful dispatch.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2022

Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world, and firefighters have the highest suicide rate among the professional population. As a result of the study, post-traumatic stress disorder education is essential in all occupations. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the most common disease and the biggest obstacle for firefighters in Korea. Firefighters who have suffered physical and mental damage in many types of disaster sites due to their extreme occupations are rapidly increasing the suicide rate in recent years. In order to maximize the effect of job training, education on post-traumatic stress disorder from new employees to leadership training is urgently needed.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2017

In this study, using the synetics technique for strategies by making unfamiliarity into familiarity in the case of 911 terrorism. This study has meaningful messages for citizens and firefighters' illness caused by disaster sites in the field of disaster management in Korea. There are 7 stages to explain cause of a variety of cancers happening to citizens and firefighters in this study. The 7 stages are composed of real situation, direct analogies, personal analogies, symbolic analogies, new direct analogies, and review. This synetics will contribute to providing better ideas for citizens and firefighters' physical and mental health conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.123-128
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• 2014

This study investigated a posttraumatic stress, social support, and work burden and identified related factors which exerted influence on posttraumatic stress of new firefighters. Data were gathered from total of 144 new firefighters. Also, 22 PTS items, 20 work burden items, and 8 social support items were analyzed by SPSSWIN 21.0 program. Posttraumatic stress according to general characteristics showed significant difference in gender(t=-2.57, p=0.01), experience of self danger(t=3.06, p=0.00), experience of rescuee danger(t=2.41, p=0.02), and experience of colleague danger(t=3.43, p=0.00). High risk group of PTS was 20.1%. Posttraumatic stress, social support, and work burden showed significant difference in the high and low risk group. Posttraumatic stress was correlated with work burden(r=0.34, p=0.00), social support(r=-0.29,p=0.00). Factors influencing PTS were Experience of colleague danger(${\beta}$=1.274, 95% CI=0.08-0.96), social support(${\beta}$=-0.090, 95% CI=0.85-0.98) and work burden(${\beta}$=0.057, 95% CI=1.02-1.10). We need to reduce the work burden caused by influencing variable of traumatic stress and create more preventive discipline of traumatic stress for the new firefighters to improve the social support at work or home. Also, posttraumatic stress has to be managed consistently with support by changing the social attitudes and we need to seek the new system that anybody can get a consultation of a specialist.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.23 no.2_2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of synchronous induction programs on new fire-training students' grits and learning outcomes. The research target selected 108 new firefighters from Fire & Marine School. 108 is composed of 54 experimental and control groups and isexecuted once a week, 60 minutes per session, and 10 sessions of synchronous inducement program.The research tools used grids to conduct pre- and post-test, and the mid-term and final-term tests were compared and analyzed. The data analysis was conducted using the SPS 22.0 program.The results showed that the motivational program showed statistically significant differences in the grids and had a significant impacton the final exam results of new firefighters. So, you have a passion for long-term goals and a passion for long-term goals. Research will need to be conducted continuously to raise the level of effort and provide fire-fighting school programs that can help with academic achievement.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.94-102
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• 2019

As the importance of first responses for fire accidents has grown in the safety management of nuclear power plants, a systematic approach to measure firefighters' psychological states and competence is needed. The current study investigated the construct of the risk perception of the firefighters working near nuclear power plant sites, and then developed and validated a new scale to measure firefighters' risk perception regarding nuclear power plant accidents. The scale items were developed on the basis of literature review and interviews with the firefighters working near nuclear power plant sites. In order to validate the new scale, we recruited 180 firefighters from five fire stations in the vicinity of the nuclear power plants in Jeonnam Province, Gyeongbuk Province, and Busan. The results of exploratory factor analyses revealed that the scale consisted of five factors: "manual" reflecting a lack of response guidelines and manuals for fire incidents and radioactive material release; "fear" reflecting a fear of fire incidents in the nuclear power plants and their catastrophic consequences; "resource" reflecting a lack of protective equipment and manpower for responding to fire incidents in the nuclear power plants; "trust" reflecting trust and cooperation with the counterpart institutions for firefighting in the nuclear power plants; and "knowledge" reflecting the knowledge of radioactivity and firefighting in the nuclear power plants. Further analyses provided statistical evidence supporting for the 15-item scale's internal consistency and construct validity. Finally, We discussed the implication and limitations of the current research.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2011

Firefighters and police officers have the third highest prevalence of obesity among 41 male occupational groups in the United States (US). However, few studies have examined the relationship of firefighter working conditions and health behaviors with obesity. This paper presents a theoretical framework describing the relationship between working conditions, health behaviors, and obesity in firefighters. In addition, the paper describes a detailed study plan for exploring the role of occupational and behavioral risk factors in the development of obesity in firefighters enrolled in the Orange County Fire Authority Wellness Fitness Program. The study plan will be described with emphasis on its methodological merits: adopting a participatory action research approach, developing a firefighter-specific work and health questionnaire, conducting both a cross-sectional epidemiological study using the questionnaire and a sub-study to assess the validity of the questionnaire with dietary intake and physical activity measures, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the body mass index as an obesity measure in comparison to skinfold-based percent body fat. The study plan based on a theoretical framework can be an essential first step for establishing effective intervention programs for obesity among professional and voluntary firefighters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of integrated art therapy on the life meaning of new firefighters. The subjects of the study selected 108 newfirefighters to be hired as part of the new training center in South Gyeongsang Province. Out of 108 participants, consisting of 54 volunteers, conducted an integrated art therapy program once a week, 60 minutes each, and eight sessions. Research tools carried out pre - and post-inspection testing using a scale of meaning in life. For data analysis, t-test was conducted using SPSS 22.0 program.The study found that integrated art therapy using semantic therapy had statistically significant differences in meaning in life.The experimental group has made positive changes in its pursuit of meaning, finding meaning, and discovering meaning in life rather than in control groups. In other words, the new fire fighting public officials' ability to positively change in difficult situations, adapt to the environment, and overcome difficulties was improved. In particular, he showed changes such as realizing the importance of people and life, clarity of purpose and efforts to change himself. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully review the fire school program aimed at fostering firefighters with a balanced body.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.213-220
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• 2021

As the coronavirus disease(COVID-19) pandemic is declared and the number of confirmed cases and deaths increases in countries around the world, the world is gripped with fear. Therefore, in this study, psychological factors of infection prevention behaviors of firefighters and maritime police officers were analyzed based on the Health Belief Model. Although there was no significant difference in the COVID-19 prevention behaviors between the two groups, there was a significant positive correlation between the perceived disease infection possibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits in the general characteristics and the COVID-19 prevention behaviors. There was no significant difference with perceived obstacles. This study is of great significance in that it is the first analysis of firefighters and maritime police officers as a health belief model, and can be used as basic data for the implementation of new infectious disease prevention actions.