Labor fatigue, through the application of SOFI-SM in Mexican fire fighters

Abstract

Introduction: Labor fatigue in firefighters is a phenomenon that has not been controlled or diminished.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of labor fatigue in firefighters of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Is necessary to characterize it to design prevention programs

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical study conducted in 2018 through a census with a total of 201 operational firefighters. A survey was conducted with the instrument SOFI-SM (Swedish occupational fatigue inventory, Spanish version) to assess labor fatigue; which according to Wisner¹ can be physical, mental and psychic. Subsequently, a bivariate analysis was performed with fatigue and the variables of age, sex, schooling, marital status, seniority and shift.

Results: In the study, physical labor fatigue was the predominant; being at an inadequate level for 64.2% of the studied population; only significant association was found with the shift.

Conclusion: We found a high fatigue level, at three levels: Inadequate level with advised actions, Inadequate level with priority actions and unacceptable level. Fatigue will cause a functional limitation, a low performance and perhaps making bad decisions, which in this population could be catastrophic from the social, labor and personal point of view. It is recommended to generate interventions based on a preventive vision of labor fatigue in firefighters, to achieve an adequate control or a reduction of its incidence, taking into account the needs and resources available in this population.