Abstract:
This research aimed to achieve four main objectives: 1) to study the definition, elements of safety behavior, and factors influencing safety behavior among fire and rescue officers, 2) to investigate the validity of measurement models pertaining to safety self-efficacy, teamwork, safety knowledge, safety motivation and safety behavior, using empirical study methods, 3) to explore the validity of causal relationship model of fire and rescue officers safety behavior, using empirical study methods, and 4) to study the effects of the development of fire and rescue officers safety behavior program. The research was structured into 4 stages corresponding to the stated purposes.
Phase 1 was an interview with 14 fire and rescue officers in Bangkok and metropolitan areas who have practiced safety behavior and had fire and rescue experience for more than 5 years. The data was analyzed by using content analysis. The results of the study indicated that the definition of safety behavior among fire and rescue officers encompassed the concept of working with safety and care while prioritizing the well-being of the operators themselves, as well as their colleagues, victims, and individuals present at the scene. Moreover, physical readiness was mentioned, which each individual should be fully equipped with tools and machines, and one must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, helmet, mask, fall absorbing lanyard, fire interior fighting suit, fire-fighting suit, chemical protective clothing, flashlight, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). However, they must understand how to use tools, and machines by reviewing safety practice regularly. Before intervening any emergency situations, emergency responders have to review an operational plan, calculate risks of the situation, and analyze the events. If a risk is found, it might deter the response to incidents such as violent fires, fires involving chemicals, incidents in confined areas, or encounters with poisonous and non-poisonous animals. The elements of safety behavior consisted of Safety compliance and Safety participation and factors associated with safety behavior consisted of self-efficacy, teamwork, knowledge, and motivation.
In Phase 2 of the research, the primary objective was to develop a research instrument. The study involved collecting data from a sample of 200 individuals belonging to Fire and Rescue Brigade Divisions 1, 2, and 4 within the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that all measurement models developed for the study were consistent with the empirical data.
Phase 3 of the research involved conducting a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. The study included a sample of 524 fire and rescue officers from metropolitan areas, including Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani. Questionnaires were utilized to collect data on five variables: safety self-efficacy, teamwork, safety knowledge, safety motivation, and safety behavior. The SEM analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. The results of the SEM analysis indicated that the structural model developed for the study was consistent with the empirical data. Furthermore, the findings revealed that approximately 77% of the variance associated with safety behavior could be explained by the four predictors: safety self-efficacy, teamwork, safety knowledge, and safety motivation. Among these predictors, safety motivation emerged as the strongest factor directly influencing safety behavior.
In Phase 4 of the research, an experimental design was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a developed fire and rescue officers' safety behavior program. The sample for this phase consisted of 16 fire and rescue officers. Questionnaires were employed as instruments to collect data on fire and rescue officers' safety behavior. To analyze the data, statistical tests such as the Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test were applied. The results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in fire and rescue officers' safety behavior between the periods of assessment : before training, after training, and during the follow-up period. The significance level was set at .01, indicating strong statistical evidence.