Quality of life and work ability of firefighters

ABSTRACT Duties related to dangerous activities frequently cause serious health risks, demanding attention, high cognitive skills, quick and precise decision-making and a constant alertness that can influence the work ability and the quality of life of firefighters. This work aimed at assessing the quality of life and the work ability of firefighters in a city in the state of São Paulo. Information was collected on their age, marital status, educational attainment, years on the job and physical activity, and both the SF-36 and the Work Ability Index were employed. The data were descriptively analyzed through frequencies and percentages. To study the association between variables, the correlation tests of Pearson and Spearman were used. Thirty male firefighters with an average age of 38.2 (±5.63) years were evaluated. The highest value obtained through the SF-36 refers to physical functioning, and the lowest value to bodily pain. Work ability was low for none of the subjects, moderate for 10% of them, good for 36.7%, and excellent for 53.3%. The correlation between age and number of years on the job was very good. All quality of life sections were significantly correlated with work ability. The perception of a good quality of life was also expressed in good work ability. These assessments can help to prioritize and identify the workers who need occupational health services, as well as direct the required interventions to improve the work environment and work conditions.