Enhancing Firefighter Safety through Equipment Operation Training: A Case Study of Fire Station Personnel

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of a structured in-service training program on the equipment operation skills of firefighters and technicians in a real operational environment. The study was conducted as an applied case study and pilot field evaluation using a single-group pre-test and post-test design at an urban fire station. A total of 21 personnel (15 firefighters and 6 technicians) participated in the study, representing the complete eligible workforce of the selected fire station during the study period. Performance-based assessments were carried out for nine categories of firefighting and rescue equipment using a standardized scoring checklist. Pre-test and post-test scores were compared using paired-samples t-tests, and group differences were examined using independent-samples t-tests. The results showed statistically significant improvements in performance scores for all assessed equipment categories after the training program (all P<0.001), with large effect sizes observed across all categories (Cohen's d ranging from 1.14 to 1.94). The largest improvements were observed in cutting tools, concrete breakers, and ventilation fans, which had relatively low baseline scores. In addition, performance variability decreased after training, indicating a more standardized skill level among participants. Although technicians achieved higher post-test scores than firefighters in all categories, statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed only for a limited number of tools. Given the single-site design and small sample size, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary evidence from a pilot field evaluation rather than definitive conclusions, and replication in larger multi-site studies is recommended. Despite these limitations, the findings provide a practical foundation suggesting that structured, hands-on in-service training has the potential to lead to measurable improvements in equipment operation skills in fire service organizations.

Keywords

• Equipment operation skills
• Firefighters
• In-service training
• Occupational training
• Performance evaluation

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