title: The analysis outlining the occurrence and consequences of accidents in the work environment of the firefighters employed by the State Fire Service in Poland in 2008-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the specifics of their work and to being exposed to a wide range of hazards, firefighters working for the State Fire Service (SFS) face the risk of work-related accidents more often than members of other occupational groups. The aim of this paper is to analyze the occurrence and consequences of accidents in the work environment of the SFS officers in Poland between the years 2008-2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material analyzed is based on aggregate data collected by the Headquarters of the State Fire Service. Figures regarding accidents in the period between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2013 show that 8518 work-related accidents occurred in that period and 8635 people were injured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data shows that neither the number of accidents nor their frequency indicator underwent any significant fluctuations over the 6 years under consideration. The group that is most exposed to accidents on duty in the profession includes active firefighters serving in rescue and fire extinguishment divisions. According to the data, the greatest number of trauma incidents in the SFS between the years 2008-2013 occurred during sporting activities. The predominant cause of these was inappropriate behavior or the lack of proper care. The most frequent injuries sustained during the accidents were broken or fractured bones and sprained joints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accidents on duty occur significantly more often when firefighters are at their stations, during sporting classes, exercises or maneuvers, than in the course of actual rescue operations. The firefighters of the State Fire Services are insufficiently prepared for their sporting activities.
authors.affiliation: Polish Medical Air Rescue / Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe, Warszawa, Poland. a.pawlak@lpr.com.pl.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawlak
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw / Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Poland (Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education Faculty of Health Sciences / Zakład Dydaktyki i Efektów Kształcenia). joanna.gotlib@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gotlib
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Warsaw / Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Emergency Medical Services / Zakład Medycyny Ratunkowej). j.sochacka@lpr.com.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gałązkowski
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D061388:Firefighters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: State Fire Service; accident consequences; causes of accidents; firefighter; occurrence of accidents; work environment