Background

Firefighters may be exposed to extreme temperatures or excessive work activity.

Concerns/hazards

Firefighters may be at risk of heat or cold related illness, dehydration and cardiovascular stress.

Actions for employers

Employers should:

  • develop procedures that provide for rehabilitation
  • in preparation for an event, discuss interagency response with EMS

Rehabilitation considerations

Some typical rehabilitation considerations are:

  • establish the rehabilitation sector away from the hazardous area
  • appropriate decontamination of personnel prior to entering the rehab area or eating or drinking
  • provide replacement fluids or food
  • caffeinated drinks are not recommended
  • rehydrate throughout the incident, drinking approximately 250 to 400 millilitres of replacement fluids during rehabilitation
  • rehydrate with 500 millilitres of replacement fluid at the end of the incident
  • rotate between lighter and heavier work, when work periods are extended
  • provide medical monitoring by EMS personnel where available
    • while heart rate should not be the sole indicator for the extent of heat strain, elevated or irregular heart rate may be an indication of cardiovascular stress
  • monitoring of air quality to ensure rehab sector remains outside hazardous area

For rehabilitation during extreme heat exposure, also consider:

  • removing workers from direct sunlight
  • providing a cooled shelter or area
  • providing active cooling by methods such as misting or forearm immersion in cool water when ambient outdoor temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius
  • following the first rehabilitation session, provide an additional cooling session following the use of each subsequent cylinder of air, for personnel returning to work

For rehabilitation during extreme cold exposure, also consider providing heated shelter.

Applicable regulations and acts

Read:

  • Occupational Health and Safety Act
    • clause 25(2)(a) for providing information and instruction to a worker
    • clause 25(2)(h) for taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers

Relevant standards

For information on the application of occupational health and safety management systems to plans for work performed under heightened-risk conditions read CSA Z1010 - Management of work in extreme conditions.

For information on rehabilitation standards, read NFPA Standard on the rehabilitation process for members during emergency operations and training exercises

Related

For more information about Heat Stress, read the Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Guideline.

Read firefighter guidance note 3-3 Heat and cold stress.

Read the Firefighter’s cancer prevention checklist.

This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace.

We have included links to other websites, but this does not mean that we endorse their information as compliant with the OHSA or the regulations.