With a changing climate, Australia is experiencing more frequent and intense bushfires, and combined with an ageing population, recent research has highlighted the need for periodic health surveillance for older workers, access to early treatment, and ongoing support for mental health conditions.

The Monash University-led study of emergency responders’ workers’ compensation claims from exposure to extreme bushfires (Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 and the Black Summer fires of 2019 and 2020) found associations with mental health disorders and head injuries.

Specifically, the research found that mental disorders, intracranial injuries and infections/parasites were more associated with extreme bushfire period claims, compared to wounds, which was used as a control.

The research team specifically looked at compensation claims during the extreme bushfire periods in 2009 and 2019/20, compared to all other claims, adjusting for seasonality (summer). Of the 44,164 included claims:

• 2.5 per cent (1105) had recorded injury/disease onset dates within extreme bushfire periods
• 26.4 per cent (11,642) occurred in summer months
• Over half of claims were made by police (52.4 per cent), followed by ambulance officers/paramedics (27.2 per cent) and firefighters (20.5 per cent).
• Extreme bushfire period claims were associated with older workers.

The Black Saturday bushfires, which took place in February 2009 in Victoria, Australia, claimed 173 lives, devastated numerous homes and inflicted significant environmental damage.

The subsequent Australian Black Summer bushfires, which took place over a decade later in November 2019 to February 2020, were an unparalleled series of bushfires with far-reaching consequences, including widespread destruction of natural and built environment, loss of human and animal life, and ecological repercussions. Nine firefighters died in the Black Summer bushfires.

The first-line response to bushfires is managed by emergency responders including firefighters (paid firefighters and volunteer and/or seasonal firefighters), defence personnel, paramedics and ambulance officers, police officers, and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers.

These emergency responders’ occupational exposure to bushfires has the potential to adversely affect their physical and psychological health immediately and in the long term, including psychological impacts (post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide), respiratory issues (lung function decline, airway dysfunction, increases in airway inflammation, lung cancer mortality), cardiovascular disease (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, arrhythmia, cardiovascular diseases mortality), acute physical injuries, as well as dehydration.

This is the first study to look at the associations between periods of extreme bushfire events and injury/disease workers’ compensation claims made by emergency responders.

The research paper, First responders’ occupational injury and disease associated with periods of extreme bushfires recommended:

• Further research including the wearing of portable monitors to track exposure to heat, air pollution, etc.
• A focus on pre-event worker mental health; improving safety strategies during the event; and better psychological after care immediately post the event and longer term including a telehealth option
• A separate focus on older workers who may have chronic health conditions or been exposed to multiple extreme bushfires – including pre-deployment medical assessment and regular physical and mental health surveillance in those over 55