Staff View: Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia

Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia

Firefighters are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, where one of the hazards is chemical hazard that can affect the respiratory system. However, little is known regarding the perception of firefighters on the source of exposure to respiratory hazards, particularly in Malaysia. This work ai...

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Main Authors:	Ismail, Halim, Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran, T, Ahmad Faiz, MR, Muhammad Alimin, MY, Hanizah, BP, Anaanthan, Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	UKM 2021
Subjects:	RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Online Access:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/13/95910_Perception%20of%20firefighters%20on%20risk%20of%20exposure.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/ https://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/article/perception-firefighters-risk-exposure-respiratory-health-hazard-qualitative-analysis-malaysi
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spelling	my.iium.irep.959102022-01-03T03:02:23Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/ Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia Ismail, Halim Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran T, Ahmad Faiz MR, Muhammad Alimin MY, Hanizah BP, Anaanthan Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine Firefighters are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, where one of the hazards is chemical hazard that can affect the respiratory system. However, little is known regarding the perception of firefighters on the source of exposure to respiratory hazards, particularly in Malaysia. This work aims to explore the firefighter’s perspective on respiratory hazard exposure and to examine the compliance of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). In-depth interviews were employed among 12 firefighters at Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia in September 2020. The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and of thematic analysis done via the NVIVO 12 programme. All participants were Malay, male, and married. The respiratory hazard exposure perceived can be divided into occupational source (e.g. exposure to smoke from firefighting, fire training, firefight demonstration, commuting, firefight vehicles: chemicals and dust) and non-occupational source (e.g. smoking). Firefighter recognised both the importance of wearing PPE and the fact they are still not compliant in wearing it. They also perceived wearing PPE as burden and having only a limited stock of PPE. Education and training need to be reinforced to strengthen firefighters’ risk perception, hazard identification, and risk assessment of hazards exposure. Strict standard operating procedure (SOP) and supervision during firefighters’ task is crucial to reduce hazard exposure and increase PPE compliance. Systematic and thorough inventory management is needed to ensure adequate PPE supply. Post qualitative analysis, the firefighters’ perception on respiratory hazard exposure was obtained, demonstrating that the analysis is ready for further study. UKM 2021-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/13/95910_Perception%20of%20firefighters%20on%20risk%20of%20exposure.pdf Ismail, Halim and Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran and T, Ahmad Faiz and MR, Muhammad Alimin and MY, Hanizah and BP, Anaanthan and Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil (2021) Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia. Med & Health, 16 (2). pp. 72-83. E-ISSN 2289-5728 https://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/article/perception-firefighters-risk-exposure-respiratory-health-hazard-qualitative-analysis-malaysi
institution	Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia
building	IIUM Library
collection	Institutional Repository
continent	Asia
country	Malaysia
content_provider	International Islamic University Malaysia
content_source	IIUM Repository (IREP)
url_provider	http://irep.iium.edu.my/
language	English
topic	RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
spellingShingle	RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine Ismail, Halim Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran T, Ahmad Faiz MR, Muhammad Alimin MY, Hanizah BP, Anaanthan Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
description	Firefighters are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, where one of the hazards is chemical hazard that can affect the respiratory system. However, little is known regarding the perception of firefighters on the source of exposure to respiratory hazards, particularly in Malaysia. This work aims to explore the firefighter’s perspective on respiratory hazard exposure and to examine the compliance of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). In-depth interviews were employed among 12 firefighters at Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia in September 2020. The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and of thematic analysis done via the NVIVO 12 programme. All participants were Malay, male, and married. The respiratory hazard exposure perceived can be divided into occupational source (e.g. exposure to smoke from firefighting, fire training, firefight demonstration, commuting, firefight vehicles: chemicals and dust) and non-occupational source (e.g. smoking). Firefighter recognised both the importance of wearing PPE and the fact they are still not compliant in wearing it. They also perceived wearing PPE as burden and having only a limited stock of PPE. Education and training need to be reinforced to strengthen firefighters’ risk perception, hazard identification, and risk assessment of hazards exposure. Strict standard operating procedure (SOP) and supervision during firefighters’ task is crucial to reduce hazard exposure and increase PPE compliance. Systematic and thorough inventory management is needed to ensure adequate PPE supply. Post qualitative analysis, the firefighters’ perception on respiratory hazard exposure was obtained, demonstrating that the analysis is ready for further study.
format	Article
author	Ismail, Halim Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran T, Ahmad Faiz MR, Muhammad Alimin MY, Hanizah BP, Anaanthan Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil
author_facet	Ismail, Halim Mohd Hanan, Mohd Fathulzhafran T, Ahmad Faiz MR, Muhammad Alimin MY, Hanizah BP, Anaanthan Zainal Abidin, Muhammad 'Adil
author_sort	Ismail, Halim
title	Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
title_short	Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
title_full	Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
title_fullStr	Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia
title_sort	perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in malaysia
publisher	UKM
publishDate	2021
url	http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/13/95910_Perception%20of%20firefighters%20on%20risk%20of%20exposure.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/95910/ https://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/article/perception-firefighters-risk-exposure-respiratory-health-hazard-qualitative-analysis-malaysi
_version_	1720979941059723264
score	13.211869

Perception of firefighters on risk of exposure to respiratory health hazard: a qualitative analysis in Malaysia

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