Emergency responders' return to work after injury/disease sustained during periods of extreme bushfires.

Abstract

Objectives: While injuries/illnesses among emergency responders during extreme bushfires in Victoria, Australia, are well-documented, the impact of bushfire periods on return-to-work (RTW) outcomes is less understood. This study investigates whether workers' compensation claims lodged during extreme bushfire periods are associated with slower RTW, more lost work time and time-off-work relapse.

Methods: Workers' compensation claims made by emergency responders in Victoria (Australia), 2005-2023, were analysed. Claims for injuries/diseases occurring during bushfire periods were compared with those made during non-bushfire periods. Time to first full RTW was determined from income compensation payments as time until first payment cessation of ≥10 days. RTW was analysed using Cox regression models. Compensated workdays and time-off-work relapse occurrences were modelled using generalised linear models and logistic regression, respectively.

Results: Among 11 773 claims, 398 (3.4%) were lodged during extreme bushfires. Extreme bushfire period claims were associated with longer time to RTW (HR of 0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.91). In extreme bushfire periods, median compensated days per claim were 74 (IQR 20, 346) versus 58 (18, 212) in other time periods. In the adjusted modelling, the count ratio for extreme bushfire periods (vs other time periods) was 1.13 (95%CI 1.01 to 1.27): a 13% increase in expected compensated days. Time-off-work relapse occurrence was not significantly affected by extreme bushfire periods.

Conclusion: In emergency responders, bushfire period claims were associated with increased duration of time off work. Tailored RTW programmes that proactively gauge claim complexity associated with exposure to extreme bushfires, as well as provision of targeted services, should be considered.