Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

W2192 Annual Meeting February 8 & 9, 2013 La Quinta Inn and Suites Denver International Airport 6801 Tower Rd, Denver CO 80249. Attendance: Sonya Meyer , Catherine Black, Donna Brown, Bruce Cameron , Adriana Petrova, Juyeon Park, Eulanda Sanders, Semra Peksoz, Kathy Mullet; Neils De Hoop, Treva Sprout Ahrenholtz. Guests: Cory Campbell-Butler and Max Kiefer NIOSH Western States Office Friday February 8, 2013 1) Meeting called to order at 8:09 am by chair Sonya Meyer 2) Kathy Mullet appointed as Secretary 3) Introduction of committee members and administrative advisor 4) Review of multi-state project process: Discussion was started with concern that the W2192 was similar to the work being done in California. Adriana alerted the group on the Department of Home Land Securitys research project on PPE for wildland firefighters. Sonya has called Bill Deso from the DHS Science and Technology Directorate. Since DHS is working with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection she also had a call into Peg Rucker. Peg worked with CAL FIRE on research as part of her NC-170 work Was decided that the current project was related to designing a new garment and not necessarily just evaluating needs or the current clothing, which is what the CA study seemed to emphasize. 5) Discussion of the Objective 1, phase one of the study: a) Objective 1: Identification of comfort and fit issues related to the protective clothing of wildland firefighters (WF) (1) It was agreed that focus group interviews would be used to collect data, from the focus groups a survey will be developed that would be sent out to large group. (2) Sample would be all seasonal firefighters (3) Catherine will provide IRB from Washington State as starting point for others to use individual IRB formsSee Appendix B (4) Catherine Black will complete IRB and all other universities will get their own approval (a) Needs list of researchers names including students (5) Do not separate groups by gender. If there are any females in the group ask them if they would like to stay behind and talk about issues they were not comfortable to share in front of the group. (6) Do not separate group by tasks; keep them together and filter out responses in data analysis. (7) Recruitment criteria: minimum 1 season wildland firefighting (8) 5-6 subjects in a group; 1-2 females (9) Referral sampling + Snowball among professionals (10) Audio + person to record in writing (use recording form  Adriana will prepare and send) + moderator (11) Focus groups done mid-April, early May (12) Sensitive information: the subjects of underwear or personal hygiene may come up in the conversation and cause some discomfort  subjects will have the opportunity to leave or discuss these individually (13) When contacted, females should be alerted that there may be sensitive information and be asked if they want to have some individual time (14) Include statement in the consent form about announcements or disclaimers about sharing sensitive information  give option to leave study, stay behind to talk individually or put in writing anonymously and submit (15) Tweaks by institution as necessary  let others know of any changes (16) Discussion of types of questions were then developed. Catherine suggested that study should look at garments of WF using a User wear management scale. She will provide reference to study for group. Noon  break for lunch 6. Guests from NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), Max Kiefer, Director Western States Office and Corey Campbell-Butler, Lieutenant U.S. Public Health Service, met with group to explain their work how we might collaborate. NIOSH suggested the group meet next year in Pittsburg, PA at NIOSHs testing facility. It was also recommended that they be kept in the loop as to our study 7. Discussion was then focused on Corys work as a WF and the culture. She provided information about flight weight requirements; sanitation; and culture of competitiveness between crews and within groups. 8. Continue methodology and focus group information Questions and conduct of focus groups were discussed. Final Product in Appendix A Meeting adjoined at 6:08 pm Saturday February 9, 2013 1) Sonya called meeting to order 8:13am 2) Overview of what was accomplished and discussion of next steps a. Adriana provided focus group interview forms Appendix E b. Each person will determine their own focus group c. Timeline of having IRB approval in April and focus groups completed by June so survey may be developed for August/September distribution d. Catherine will follow up on proposal for NOISH funding e. Others to look for external funding opportunities 3) Elections of new Chair for 2015 a. Current chair 2013/14 Sonya Meyer b. Vice chair/Chair 2014/15 Catherine Black c. Elected Vice Chair 2014/15 Adriana Petrova Adjoined at 10:25am Appendix A For subjects " Bring your wildland gear with you. " Incentive " If there is a single female that responds ask her if she would be comfortable in a group of men or would she like to come separately? Questions [Consent forms + disclaimers about sharing sensitive information + stay behind or put in writing anonymously + give them business cards if they want to contact researcher] 1. Introductions } How many seasons & calendar years have you worked? } How many fires have you fought? " Have you been assigned to go to other regions? } What jobs have you had on the fire crew? 2. Describe what you wear to fight a fire. If they have brought their gear, they can show. } Did any of you wear something underneath? What was it and do you know what it was made from? } Where did you get your clothing? Who provided it? How many sets do you have? What size clothing do you usually wear/buy? } Did you always wear everything you were issued/bought (shirt, pant, gloves, etc.)? " Did you ever not wear any of these items when you should have? Which items and why? 3. What do you carry on your person including required and personal items? } Which items go in your backpack/belt? } Which items go in your pockets? } Which items do you use most often? Are any of these items in the wrong place? Are any of these items hard to get to? } Any other items you would like to have? Where would you place/store those items? 4. Did you ever have to fix your clothing in any way? What did you modify and why? " e.g. cut the pant leg off? Or used duct tape or a safety pin? " What did you take off (if anything) and why? [Moderator has handouts with images of clothing and body to mark areas of discomfort as participants indicate.] 5. Have you had any discomfort caused by your clothing or gear? If someone wants to put on his/her gear and demonstrate. } Which clothing item? " Jacket, pants, underclothing, head gear, gloves, boots, chaps, etc. } In what situations did the discomfort happen? " Walking (e.g. chafing: Where? When? In what situations? How long does it take before it begins?) " Entering/exiting fire " Going to the restroom " Fuel drips " Mop up " Working the fire line " Operating equipment } Are there any other problems you can think of? " How do you keep yourself cool? " Any problems with the sizing? } Any other problems or discomfort you felt anywhere on your body? } Have you had different problems (related to your clothing) when assigned to another region? 6. [If visibility was not discussed, ask] We havent discussed visibility today. Were there situations where visibility was an issue and you had difficulty seeing other crewmembers? 7. Hypothetically, if you could change anything about your clothing, what would it be? } What wouldnt you change? [If there is anyone in the group who would like to discuss something further they are welcome to stay behind or contact the researcher.]

Short-term Outcomes: none to report at this time Outputs: developed focus group interview questionnaire and protocol Activities: Met with members of the Western Office for NIOSH. Developed survey instrument to be used in focus group interviews, initial data collection; developed focus group participant selection process; developed focus group protocol; established deadlines for focus groups to be completed by all participating universities. Determined all participants would identify external funding sources. Selected new officers for next fiscal year: Catherine Black, committee chair and Adriana Petrova, vice chair, secretary will be appointed at the meeting by committee chair. Milestones: 2013 - mid-April to early May focus group interviews conducted; June IRB approval for all participating universities; survey instrument written and ready for distribution by mid-September 2013. Assessment and evaluation of designs of current Wildland firefighter protective clothing. 2014 - develop design specifications for prototype; begin prototype design 2014/2015 - develop garment prototypes. 2016 - test and evaluate prototypes; develop educational materials for federal and state interagency wildland fire management personnel related to wildland fire fighter protective clothing

none to report at this time