Sharkey receives IAWF Wildland Fire Safety Award
Starting in 1997 at the first Wildland Fire Safety Summit held in Rossland, British Columbia, the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) inaugurated the IAWF Wildland Fire Safety Award. The award is given to an individual selected from nominees submitted by their peers from around the world. Previous recipients have come from the wildland fire communities of Canada, Australia and the United States.
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The award is given to someone in the wildland firefighting community who has made a significant contribution to wildland firefighter safety, either directly on the fireline or indirectly through management, cultural changes or wildland fire research.
This year's recipient of the award is Dr. Brian Sharkey. Dr. Sharkey has dedicated himself to the safety and well-being of wildland firefighters everywhere, by studying their health and performance and by providing science-based information to help firefighters on the line as well as for leaders making policy decisions.
Dr. Sharkey has been working to improve the wellness, safety and performance of wildland firefighters since 1964 when he began work as a faculty member at the University of Montana where he is now professor emeritus. He was a respected researcher within the U.S. Forest Service working at the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) as the Project Leader for the Health Hazards of Smoke.
Dr. Sharkey has led numerous studies of wildland firefighters, including:
- Development and validation of work capacity tests for wildland firefighters;
- Health hazards of smoke;
- Heat stress, hydration, and uniforms;
- Nutrition and energy for wildland firefighters;
- Ergonomics as related to tools studies, load carriage and production rates;
- Work/rest issues; and
- Employee health and wellness.
Many of his studies have led to wildland fire equipment or policy changes. Sometimes his experience and knowledge were necessary fight off inappropriate proposed policy changes or in defense against legal challenges to health and safety issues in court.
Throughout his years studying wildland firefighters, Dr. Sharkey provided a credible and thoughtful voice for issues related to firefighter health and performance. Everywhere they turn, firefighters are affected by Dr. Sharkey's work, though they may not know it.
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