Are firefighters who show symptoms of burnout less likely to follow safety procedures? A team of researchers recently set out to learn if burnout impacted a firefighter’s ability to follow required safe work practices, care for and safely use personal protective equipment (PPE), and communicate and report safety concerns.¹;The team also wanted to assess the direct effects that work stress and work-family conflict have on burnout.

Firefighters work in physically, emotionally and psychologically challenging situations — sometimes with limited resources. They also face the added pressure of performing safely and effectively under significant time constraints. These difficult work conditions can lead to burnout over the long-term.