Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Firefighters frequently incur injuries while providing emergency services. Risk perception has been found to be associated with injury and safety behavior. This study examined risk perception of different emergency situations among firefighters. Along with risk perceptions, we investigated the role of practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute stress related to different emergency situations.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants were a sample of 1324 firefighters from Germany and Italy.
METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to participants on risk perceptions, practical experience, perceived training, tenure, and acute stress.
RESULTS: The results showed that different levels of risk perception are related to different practical experience, acute stress reactions, and training. Higher risk perception was associated with higher perceived training, practical experience, and acute stress reactions. A significant difference was found between the German and the Italian sample in risk perceptions. More specifically the Italian sample perceived disasters (e.g., earthquakes) as more risky. Moreover, there were some differences in perceived training and practical experience about the different emergency situations, in the two samples.
CONCLUSION: The results underline the importance of considering organizational factors in the prediction of risk perception among firefighters.