FIRST Center calls for volunteer, combination FD participation in FOCUS survey

By FireRescue1 Staff

PHILADELPHIA —The Center for Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends (FIRST) at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health is once again bringing the Fire service Organizational Culture of Safety (FOCUS) survey to the U.S. fire and rescue service, now encouraging more participation from volunteer an combination fire department members.

The FOCUS survey is a tool that predicts firefighter injuries and important organizational outcomes, such as burnout, job satisfaction and work engagement. Additionally, departments can use their FOCUS data to advocate for staffing, gear, apparatus and behavioral health resources. The survey was developed through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and in response to Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #1 on fire service safety culture .

To date, over 500 fire departments and 70,000 firefighters have been assessed through the FOCUS survey. However, according to the FIRST Center, as FOCUS became a first-come, first-serve opportunity, fewer volunteer and combination departments participated over time.

Analysis of FOCUS beta-test data revealed that combination and volunteer departments had higher management commitment to safety scores than their career counterparts. More combination and volunteer departments are needed to participate in FOCUS so this phenomenon can be better understood.

The latest FOCUS wave, the Combination and Volunteer Assessment of Safety (CANVAS) program, focuses on recruiting volunteer and combination departments. Career departments are still encouraged to participate.

Enroll in the FOCUS survey here .