Since its inception in 2001, Orange County, FL, Fire Rescue’s Safety & Wellness Program has grown, expanded and evolved into a model program that other fire departments look to for best practices. This article will share knowledge, provide lessons learned and recommend methods to create and manage a successful safety and wellness program for your department.
History
In 2001, the Orange County Fire Rescue Department (OCFR) constituted 63 percent of all Workers' Compensation claims for Orange County’s entire workforce of 10,000 employees. The vast majority of these claims were comprised of heart, lung and lower back injuries incurring a yearly cost in excess of $1.8 million.
Realizing this was unacceptable, OCFR launched its Safety & Wellness Program using the IAFF/IAFC’s Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness Fitness Initiative (WFI) as the model. A task force of firefighters, exercise physiologists and physicians developed the program that is now made available to every employee.
In the beginning, physical ability testing (PAT) was implemented for all incumbent employees to identify possible weaknesses that could result in disease or injury. By using a systematic approach, fitness evaluations were performed on each firefighter to determine baseline fitness levels and to evaluate employee progress from year to year. Using the IAFF/IAFC benchmarks, specific areas evaluated were aerobic capacity, trunk flexibility, strength and endurance.
The logistics of implementation were immense. At the time, the department had more than 750 employees and 30 stations spread across 1,000 square miles. A FIRE Act grant was obtained for the acquisition of a Mobile Fitness Evaluation Unit, a vehicle that could travel to each station to test employees on-site.
Tests were administered by firefighters cross-trained as Peer Fitness Trainers, a practice that continues today. Acquired data is entered into a software program that identifies each employee’s strengths and deficiencies. This data is then used in developing an individualized fitness program and goals for each employee. Testing is confidential, and only aggregate statistics are used for department-wide monitoring.
In order to facilitate fitness improvements and maintenance for firefighters, both cardio and strength exercise equipment was purchased for each of OCFR’s stations.
Wellness for life
The Wellness Program begins at the front door for every new candidate. Each must pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) prior to being hired. For those who cannot, a pre-employment mentoring program is in place to train the candidate before a final chance at the test. In addition, each candidate must pass a psychological evaluation and pre-employment physical.
Once in recruit school, CPAT is used as the physical baseline. Safety & Wellness developed a structured fitness regimen during recruit school to build each recruit’s wellness foundation from inception into the department.
To ensure ongoing physical health and performance, the department developed the Incumbent Physical Ability Test (IPAT) comprised of several job-related firefighting tasks. Each employee completes this test every other year and on off years participates in the fitness evaluations via the mobile fitness evaluation Unit to measure their wellness status. The use of this unit traveling from station to station greatly reduces downtime/overtime when testing employees.
The WFI-based fitness evaluation consists of body composition assessment, aerobic capacity test (V02 max), muscular strength and muscular endurance flexibility testing.
An occupational physician advises the Safety & Wellness team and provides annual physicals. Peer Fitness Trainers act as personal fitness trainers, group fitness activity instructors, and assist with nutritional planning.
Realizing that not all employees of the fire department were firefighters yet had a strong interest in maintaining their health and wellness, the Safety & Wellness Program was made available to all employees of the department regardless of their job function.
Since good health and wellness does not stop when an employee’s career is over, OCFR saw an opportunity to extend this program to its retired members. With the nutritional guidance and exercise opportunities, the department can assist many of its former employees in enjoying a long and healthy retirement.
The critical importance of mental health
The program doesn’t stop at the physical. The employee’s mental health is of utmost importance. Several confidential programs are available to employees and their families. Subjects covered range from alcohol and substance abuse to family counseling and mental health issues.
A behavioral health assistance program is designed to keep firefighters safe and well. As firefighters, we take pride in our problem-solving abilities. This mindset can sometimes make us reluctant to seek help. To ease this transition, Orange County Fire peer fitness trainers continually advocate that mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health.
The behavioral health component of the IAFF’s WFI is applied at OCFR. Research and experience revealed hazards associated with peer participation if the programs are not properly designed, carefully structured, supervised, supported and continuously evaluated. It is a program in which the department has put significant emphasis.
The department’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program is comprised of Wellness Coordinator Lt. Anthony Willis and 30 peer counselors. It is designed to provide peer counseling and support following a major incident as well as Chaplin Services. Furthermore, Lt. Willis has developed a longstanding partnership with a behavioral health assistance provider (BHAP) and built personal relationships with its clinicians. This enables the peer counselors to serve as a bridge between firefighters and clinicians to encourage them to get professional help when needed and reduce the stigma of doing so.
Having this structure in place became more important than ever following the Pulse nightclub shooting. The benefits the program provided not only to our firefighters but to other departments impacted by the tragedy was a light in the dark days and weeks that followed. The services will continue to be proactively offered for those affected.
Significant achievements
OCFR’s Safety & Wellness Program is a founding member of the Florida Firefighter Fitness Collaborative. The collaborative was founded in 2011 with wellness leaders of fire departments in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. The goal of the collaborative is to provide “wellness mutual aid” in the areas of training and physical fitness. The group meets monthly to discuss topics to train on and plan its annual conference. In addition to the conference, it offers quarterly CEU opportunities for peer fitness trainers and invites other agencies who don’t have as robust of a wellness team to meet to offer ideas and assist with resources.
The Safety & Wellness Program facilitated OCFR as the first in the nation to procure a Laddermill, as unique fitness training equipment that allows the users to ascend for any distance they wish. The Laddermill reinforces proper climbing techniques and builds cardiovascular endurance. Not only is it one of our most challenging equipment additions, it proved instrumental in 2015 during our assessment process for rescue climbers for the new Orlando Eye, a 400-foot tall observation wheel located on International Drive in the heart of Orange County’s tourist district. Climbers wishing to be considered for the elite technical rescue team had to complete a 500-foot climb in 10 minutes or less.
Another first for the department came from the 35-year veteran and longtime leader of OCFR’s Safety & Wellness Program, Battalion Chief Rick Segrest. The Firesled™ was designed and developed by Segrest and is now sold commercially. It is a one-of-a-kind device that is useful for performance-based training and rehabilitation of firefighters. The equipment promotes functional fitness that simulates tasks a firefighter would perform on an actual fireground.
Keystone events
Two of the program’s signature events have garnered a significant following—the 343 Hero Challenge and the Honor Challenge.
The 343 Hero Challenge is a 9/11 tribute in which participants endure significant physical challenges that mirror those the 343 firefighters who died experienced during that devastating day in history. It brings together firefighters, athletes, vendors and spectators and includes a mix between strenuous firefighting exercises and challenging CrossFit-style movements. During the challenge, a simulation exercise includes the completion of step-ups for three minutes and 43 seconds while wearing a firefighter bunker coat, an air pack and carrying a hose, all while viewing an impactful image from the 9/11 tragedy. The event raises money for a variety of charities.
The Honor Challenge celebrates the lives of two of OCFR’s fallen brothers, Todd Aldridge and Mark Benge, who died in a building fire February 24, 1989, after the roof of a gift shop collapsed. Firefighters don full PPE during the challenge and simulate a variety of tactical firefighting evolutions. Held annually in February, the event both pays tribute and encourages continual practice of the lessons learned during that fateful day.
Aldridge and Benge’s sacrifice led to the Aldridge-Benge Firefighter Safety Act of 2008.
Safety captains
One of the most significant changes to the program was the expansion of the role of the safety captain in 2012 under the direction of the new fire chief, Otto Drozd III. Today, there is one safety captain per battalion. They investigate every injury and accident and report them to the battalion chief of Safety & Wellness. This enables the department to identify trends and develop training and protocols to prevent future incidents.
This year, back safety is the focus. With back injuries being the number one job-related injury among firefighters nationwide, Safety & Wellness set a goal to reduce the number of injuries by at least 10 percent. The team went on to develop a custom back-safety class that is now held in conjunction with each IPAT to reinforce back health among all field personnel.
In addition, after seeing an increase in low-speed collisions, the Safety & Wellness Program developed a low-speed driving course in conjunction with our training section.
Safety captains also respond to all structure fires and hazmat responses to ensure the safety of the crews during high-risk events. When on scene, they have the full authority of the fire chief to stop any unsafe act.
All safety captains are certified through an accredited training authority as an incident safety officer under NFPA 1583.
Where we are today
Several comprehensive Safety & Wellness Program staples help to establish the department’s culture of promoting safety and wellness.
In addition to cardio and strength fitness equipment at each of its 41 fire stations, Safety & Wellness offers a library with extensive information on health, exercise and nutrition.
A representative from Orange County’s health insurance provider serves as the department’s Health Coach and provides information on issues like weight management, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings.
In 2010, OCFR established a public safety fitness facility called the “Fit Pit.” The facility is managed by the department’s peer fitness trainers under the leadership of Lt. Willis. The Fit Pit offers daily opportunities for exercise, nutritional guidance, personal training, firefighter functional fitness training, and job-specific rehabilitation. It is an IAFF/IACF-licensed location, which allows the department to facilitate the CPAT.
If firefighters can’t make it to the Fit Pit, OCFR has a solution that comes to them. A Mobile Boot Camp held every Friday ensures station personnel get a workout while on shift. The Mobile Fitness Evaluation Unit travels to stations by request each Friday to offer an intense team boot camp. Chief Drozd authorizes crews at pre-approved stations to go out of service for two hours to focus on the trainer-led program
Other departments often utilize the Safety & Wellness Program’s experience and resources through the mentoring program. With safety and wellness ingrained in the culture, OCFR is fortunate enough to have the ability and the willingness to extend its services to public safety professionals across Central Florida, which benefits the entire community.
Impact of Safety & Wellness programs
When the program was initiated in fiscal year 2001-2002, OCFR had a workforce of 845 sworn employees and responded to 71,026 calls for service with 295 injury claims. Within the first five years, claims dropped to 167 with 87,264 calls for service, which represented a 43 percent drop in the number of claims.
Today, OCFR has a workforce of nearly 1,200 employees, a network of 41 fire stations, and responded to 111,607 calls for service during the last fiscal year. On average, the department continues to reduce insurance claims by 10 to 20 percent annually. As a result, its insurance carrier recognized the success of the program and subsequently reduced the yearly cost of insurance premiums. The return on investment of a safer and healthier culture equates to fewer injuries and accidents.
In addition, OCFR employees have reported a variety of health improvements including greater strength and stamina, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure levels, heightened job performance and enjoyment from work, and reduced anxiety, stress and depression.
The department hasn’t experienced a cardiac-related death since the program’s inception, and overall, it has a healthier workforce.
Over the years, the Safety & Wellness Program had to evolve. In the past, heart disease was the number one concern. While it is still a focus, the department has now shifted to cancer awareness and prevention. Health hygiene was the first step, and OCFR was the first in Central Florida to institute body wipes on fire scenes as part of its Safety & Wellness protocol.
The department also made significant changes with an enhanced bunker gear cleaning system and implementation of vehicle exhaust capture systems, which will roll out later this year and will be included in all future fire station designs.
The key to the team’s sustainability has been evolving with the needs of the department and the trends of the industry. The team listens to its clients—firefighters. It manages its program with data and trends, and its wellness initiatives are driven by the audience and their interests and concerns. As firefighters became interested in spinning, the wellness leaders built spin room. When the popularity of CrossFit surged, the team developed CrossFit classes.
The Safety & Wellness Program is also fiscally responsible. To get started, the team applied for grants to build the program. Through its success and proven ability to reduce injuries, the team of five is now fully funded through the department’s budget.
“We educate, we motivate and we facilitate,” said now-retired Segrest. “Our goal is to make a resilient firefighter. We take care of them so they can better take care of the community.”
JOSEPH C. WASHINGTON is the battalion chief of Safety and Wellness for the Orange County, FL, Fire Rescue Department and is responsible for oversight of the department’s Safety and Wellness programs. He has more than 30 years in the fire service, starting as a firefighter specialist in the United States Air Force in 1982. Washington joined Orange County Fire Rescue in 1988 and was promoted to staff lieutenant, special projects and then appointed to acting safety and risk district chief. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management, is a graduate of the Carl Holmes Executive Fire Officer Program and is currently enrolled in Executive Fire Officer Program. Washington has completed FDSOA's health and safety officer training and the National Fire Academy Incident Safety Officer's program.
ANTHONY WILLIS is a is a lieutenant for the Orange County Fire Rescue Department. Willis has 23 years of experience in the fire service and was hired by Orange County in 1993. In 2013, he was assigned the position of Wellness Coordinator in the Safety and Wellness Program Bureau. Willis is a certified in ICISF Individual/Group Intervention and as an IAFF/ACE Peer Fitness Trainer.
