National Occupational Research Agenda for Public Safety

Public safety workers are expected to engage in response efforts, often during and after traumatic events, and while the work may be personally rewarding, it is also challenging and has the potential to affect public safety workers in harmful ways. One of the greatest threats to public safety workers’ health is the stress they may encounter as a result of their occupation. Often, stress experienced by public safety workers is addressed as an afterthought, or not at all. If not addressed properly, stress may affect worker’s emotions, behaviors, mental, and physical health. In some cases, a stressful work environment may play an important role in increasing public safety workers risk for illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.