Table 2.
Occupational characteristics for WFBC firefighters 2014–15 (N = 86)
| Variables | Mean(±SD) or N(%) |
|---|---|
| Frequency of handwashing while at work (times/shift) | 18.8 (±12.5) |
| Frequency of handwashing while not at work (times/day) | 10.3 (±5.3) |
| Reported using firefighting foam in the past year | 25 (29.1%) |
| Class of firefighting foam used (ever)a | |
| Class A only | 39 (45.3%) |
| Class B only | 6 (7.0%) |
| Class A & B | 28 (32.6%) |
| Assigned to airport fire station | 14 (16.3%) |
| Response to fire in last 24 hoursb | 15 (17.4%) |
| Number of fires responded to in year prior to sample collection (N = 66)c | |
| ≤9 | 17 (25.8%) |
| 10–15 | 17 (25.8%) |
| 16–19 | 15 (22.7%) |
| ≥20 | 17 (25.8%) |
| Assignment in the SFFD | |
| Driver | 21 (24.4%) |
| Officer | 25 (29.1%) |
| Firefighter | 40 (46.5%) |
| Used self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during salvage/overhauld | |
| Always/often | 12 (15.0%) |
| Sometimes | 14 (17.5%) |
| Rarely/never | 54 (67.5%) |
a
Missing data on class of foam used for 13 firefighters.
b
Includes fire response and training involving live fires
c
Includes firefighters who consented to give access to SFFD fire history records (n = 66)
d
Six firefighters reported ‘do not participate’ in salvage/overhaul.