Access some recent publications and resources from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including safety resources for junior firefighters, fatality reports, and more.
Reports
Keeping Junior Firefighters Safe and Healthy: The Fire Department’s Role in Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences: This is a summary of eight fatality cases in 14-17-year-olds that NIOSH has investigated between 2000-2023.
Safety and Health Considerations for Junior Firefighters
32-Year-Old Driver Suffers Fatal Heart Attack at Fire Station — North Carolina
Firefighter Killed by the Collapse of the Porch Roof at a Residential Structure Fire – Pennsylvania
National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer Program Update
Join the NFR for Cancer and become a Gold Helmet Department!
The NFR is the only national registry of firefighters that makes it possible to investigate the link between firefighting and cancer. Visit NFR.cdc.gov and start the process in as little as five minutes!
The NFR is for all firefighters, including those with or without cancer. Participants cannot be enrolled by another person or from participation in another study or registry. Not sure what the NFR is? Check out the NFR FAQs and learn how your participation can help us understand and reduce cancer in the fire service.
NIOSH is recognizing any U.S. fire department that enrolls 50% of their active firefighters OR more than 300 of their active firefighters in the NFR as a Gold Helmet Department. Gold Helmet Departments receive a certificate, web badge, and social media posts to share their accomplishment! Firefighters will need to enroll (if they haven’t already) by visiting NFR.cdc.gov and following the prompts.
Participants will need to provide their current department in the ‘Work History’ section of the questionnaire to allow NIOSH to accurately count the number of firefighters enrolled from their specific department. If your department believes they have met the criteria above, they can email [email protected] and provide their total number of active firefighters. NIOSH will check and verify the total participant count and then follow up with the Gold Helmet distinction materials.
More than 10 fire departments have achieved Gold Helmet status. Is your department next?
