title: Association between job stress and occupational injuries among Korean firefighters: a nationwide cross-sectional study.
abstract: We aimed to assess the nature of association between job stress and occupational injuries among firefighters in Korea.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  We conducted a nationwide survey using self-reported questionnaires in South Korea.
  
  
  
  A survey was conducted among 30 630 firefighters; 25 616 (83.6%) responded. Our study included firefighters who were 20-59 years old. Individuals with <12 months of current job experience and those with missing data were excluded; ultimately, 14 991 firefighters were analysed.
  
  
  
  Among fire suppression personnel, high job demands (OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.77), high interpersonal conflicts (OR=1.18, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37), a poor organisational system (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.55), and a negative workplace environment (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.64) were associated with the occurrence of occupational injury; high job demands (OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.47) were also associated with the frequency of injuries. Among emergency medical services personnel, high job demands (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.54), high interpersonal conflicts (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.66), a poor organisational system (OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.85), lack of reward (OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.69) and a negative workplace environment (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.54) were associated with the occurrence of occupational injury; low job control (OR=1.20, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.38), high interpersonal conflicts (OR=1.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.36), lack of reward (OR=1.17, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.35) and a negative workplace climate (OR=1.16, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.34) were also associated with a greater number of injuries. Among officers, high job demands (OR=1.96, 95% CI 1.35 to 2.85) and a negative workplace environment (OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.10) were associated with the occurrence of occupational injuries; however, there was no significant correlation between job stress and the number of injuries.
  
  
  
  High job stress among firefighters was associated with both the occurrence of occupational injury, and also with an increased frequency of injuries. Therefore, job stress should be addressed to prevent occupational injuries among firefighters.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong-Kwang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: KyooSang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: firefighters; job stress; nationwide study; occupational injuries