Counting the costs of injury and disease to first responders as a result of extreme bushfires

Abstract

Abstract Extreme bushfires are devastating and costly and are predicted to increase in frequency. This project investigated emergency responders’ (ER) compensable injury/disease costs associated with extreme bushfire periods compared with the general workforce. Workers’ compensation claims data for Victoria, Australia, were sourced for ER and controls (10% of the general workforce) from January 2005 to April 2021 (encompassing two extreme bushfires). Using generalised linear models, claims from ambulance officers, career firefighters, police, and controls were compared across extreme bushfires, other summers, and all other periods. In total, ER made 749/24,008 (3.1%) claims in extreme bushfire periods, compared to 1254/49,484 (2.5%) in the controls. The study group overall (including both ER and the general workforce control group) experienced significantly higher income compensation costs/claims during extreme bushfire periods, with a 31% increase. ER’ costs/claims were highest for mental illness, burns and cancer. After accounting for bushfire impacts on the general workforce, total claims costs were increased by 67% among firefighters in extreme bushfire periods, largely attributable to fatality payments (other non-medical expenses). These results highlight the need for targeted injury prevention for fatal and non-fatal injuries among ERs and measures that address the broader socio-economic impacts on ERs and the general workforce.