A study into the work and sleep habits of paid and volunteer firefighters determines that they are at risk due to fatigue and lack of sleep, according to a report from Safety Culture.
The lives of 4636 volunteer firefighters from Toowoomba are at risk due to lack of sleep during bushfire season.
Researchers and emergency service agencies are on their feet trying to find ways to cut down shifts during peak firefighting periods so firefighters can have enough sleep.
A study into the work and sleeping habits of paid and volunteer firefighters reveals that they the longer they are on the ground, their decision making capabilities becomes more impaired.
CQ University professor Sally Ferguson together with her fellow researchers simulated a fire based scenario to determine fully what our firies are undergoing through when fighting a fire.
The firies are spending 50 minutes at a time on a range of tasks which includes raking and clearing ground, dragging or lifting heavy hoses and dousing spot fires.
