PERCEPTIONS OF WORK STRESS IN AUSTRALIAN FIREFIGHTERS

This study surveyed 747 firefighters on their perceptions of work stre ss. The current emphasis in the fire brigades is on the management of traumatic or critical incident stress, but other work stressors may al so be important. The firefighters rated their jobs as more stressful t han other occupations, and psychological work stress as highest among a set of potential sources and types of stress. Although many factors were mentioned, the most frequently indicated stressors were associate d with exposure to traumatic incidents such as major accidents or the suffering of others. Those who had previous experience with stress wer e more likely to rate current and future risk of stress as higher. Kno wledge of existing organizational approaches to stress management was limited. The firefighters rated. individual and informal sessions for dealing with stress as potentially more useful than the formal debrief ing sessions now common in many emergency organizations. Those who had previous experience with stress, however, were more likely to favour a formal organizational approach.