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Occupational Medicine 1998;48:381-388
© 1998 Society of Occupational Medicine

research-article

Failing firefighters: A survey of causes of death and ill-health retirement in serving firefighters in Strathclyde, Scotland from 1985–94

C. W. Ide

Strathclyde Fire Brigade Hamilton, Scotland, UK

During the decade beginning 1 January 1985, 887 full-time firefighters, all male, left the service of Strathclyde Fire Brigade (SFB). There were 17 deaths—compared to 64.4 expected in the Scottish male population aged 15–54 years—giving a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 26, and 488 ill-health retirements (IHR). None of the deaths was attributable to service, the major causes being: myocardial infarction—five, (expected=17.3; SMR=29); cancers—three (colon, kidney and lung) (expected=13.6; SMR=22); road traffic accidents—two (expected=4.17; SMR=48) and suicide—two (expected=4.9; SMR=41). Amalgamating the deaths and IHRs showed that the six most common reasons for IHR were musculoskeletal (n=202, 40%), ocular (n=61, 12.1%), ‘others’ (n=58, 11.5%), injuries (n=50, 9.9%), heart disease (n=48, 9.5%) and mental disorders (n=45, 8.9%). Over 300 IHRs (over 60%) occurred after 20 or more years service. When the IHRs were subdivided into two quinquennia, there were 203 and 302 in each period. Mean length of service during each quinquennium was 19.4 vs. 21.3 years (p=0.003) and median length was 21 years in both periods; interquartile range was 12–26 years in the first and 17–27 years in the second period (p=0.002), but when further broken down into diagnostic categories, the differences were not statistically significant, with the exception of means of IHRs attributed to mental disorders (14.5 vs. 19 years, p=0.03).

Keywords      Premature death; premature retirement; sickness

Received       26 August 1997
Accepted       26 January 1998

Correspondence and reprint requests to: C. W. Ide, c/o Medical Suite, Strathclyde Fire Brigade Headquarters, Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0EA, Scotland, UK. Tel: (+44) 1698 300999; Fax: (+44)1698 286021; email: dr{at}ide.globalnet.co.uk


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