REPUBLICANCOLLEGE
SCRUTINIZING THE PRACTICES AND CIRCUMSTANCES
AFFECTING FIREFIGHTERS’ RESILIENCE
A Thesis/Dissertation
Presented to
The faculty of Graduate School
Republican College
Murphy, Quezon City
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
MORRIS M. CALLEJO
2022
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APPROVAL SHEET
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science in Criminal Justice, this
thesis/dissertation entitled, “SCRUTINIZING THE PRACTICES AND
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING FIREFIGHTERS’ RESILIENCE” prepared and
submitted by MORRIS M CALLEJO has been examined and is hereby
recommended for approval and acceptance.
DR. JOSE S. REYES, JR./ LPT
Adviser
_______________________________________________________________
Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a
grade of __________.
DR.NOEMI M. SANTOS, LPT
Chairman
DR. REY S. NICOLS, LPT DR. DONNA S. MENDEZ, LPT
Member Member
Approved and accepted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Criminal
Justice.
Comprehensive examination taken with a grade of “Passed”
on August 3, 2022.
DR. JATHRY R. REDONDO, LPT, MAED
Dean, Graduate School
August 10, 2022
Date of Oral Defense
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
M.M.C.
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ABSTRACT
Title : SCRUTINIZING THE PRACTICES AND
CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING FIREFIGHTERS’
RESILIENCE
Number of Pages : 120
Researcher : MORRIS M CALLEJO
Adviser : DR. JOSE S. REYES, JR., LPT
School : Republican College
Year : 2022
Degree Conferred : Master of Science in Criminal justice
Objective/Problem : In paragraph form
Hypothesis/es : In paragraph form
Methodology : In paragraph form
Major Findings : In paragraph form
Conclusion and : In paragraph form
Recommendations
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… i
Approval Sheet……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… iii
Thesis Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… iv
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… v
List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… vi
List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… vii
List of Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
viii
Chapter
I. THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………… 2
Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………… 3
Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Significance of the Study…………………………………………………………… 5
Scope and Limitation/ Delimitation of the study… 6
Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………………………… 7
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Overview of Problem-Solving Maps…………………………………………… 8
Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Maps……………………………… 9
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Synthesis……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
III. THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Method……………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Population Frame and Sampling Scheme……………………………… 12
Description of the Respondents……………………………………………… 13
Research Instrument…………………………………………………………………………… 14
Data Gathering Procedures…………………………………………………………… 15
Statistical Treatment of Data………………………………………………… 16
IV. PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Profile of the Respondents………………………………………………………… 19
Results of the Pretest…………………………………………………………………… 20
Comparison of the Control and Experimental Groups
in their Pre and Posttests……………………………………… 21
V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of Findings…………………………………………………………………………… 22
Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………… 24
References………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
Curriculum Vitae………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
LIST OF TABLES
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Page
1. Breakdown of the Respondents…………………………………………………………………………
16
2. Age of the Respondents…………………………………………………………………………………………
18
3. Extent of the Bureau of Fire Protection Personnel…………………
20
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1. The Research Paradigm……………………………………………………………………………………………
16
2. The Qualitative formula………………………………………………………………………………………
18
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LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix Page
A. Letter to the Provincial Director…………………………………………………… 16
B. Sample Questionnaire……………………………………………………………………………………… 18
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CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is part of the Department
of the Interior and Local Government responsible for ensuring
public safety through the prevention or suppression of all
destructive fires on buildings, houses, and other similar
structure, forests, and land transportation vehicles and
equipment, ships/vessels docked at piers, wharves or anchored
at major seaports, petroleum industry installations. It is
also responsible for the enforcement of "Fire Code of the
Philippines of 2008" otherwise known as Republic Act (RA)
No. 9514 and other related laws, conduct investigations
involving fire incidents.
Firefighting exposes fire fighters to health risks and
psychological hazards as they respond on different
emergencies. Fire-fighters on the scene of a fire are
frequently exposed to carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide,
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride,
aldehydes, and organic compounds such as benzene. Different
gas combinations present different degrees of hazard when
saving people during times of emergencies. Consequently, fire
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fighters always fringe to unknown and changing environments.
Due to the changes, high incidence rates of occupational
accidents among firefighters are recorded.
According to research of the Occupational Injuries, Duty
Status, and Factors with injuries among firefighters, high
rates of occupational injuries and several demographic and
work-related factors associated with injuries among fire
fighters. A retrospective study based on National Fire
Protection Association showed that overexertion, stress and
medical are the main cause of fatalities among BFP personnel.
The nature of work involves intermittent periods of
exposure to extreme physical and psychological stress on the
job and individual personality assessment indicates whether
candidates are truly motivated to perform rescue jobs. It is
intended to determine the firefighters' ability to deal with
severe and emotional stress when facing fire to deal with the
root causes of occupational injuries, as well as the
individual factors affecting individual safety while on
service.
Theoretical Framework
Resilience is the ability to cope with and able to
withstand stress and job difficulties, individual abilities
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and having job skills. One who remain calm in the face of
disaster have resilience. People with psychological
resilience can use their skills and strengths to respond to
life's challenges. Resilience is known as a pivotal factor in
reducing the incidents and trauma. It has been suggested to
address the emerging and unpredictable safety risks to
consistently achieve high safety performance.
In contemplation of minimizing casualties, it is
essential to have an appropriate tool for assessing
firefighters' competence to ensure that they are
appropriately suited to handle the hazards during operations.
Upon entering the service, medical assessment, physical
examination, and fitness for duty has been done for
firefighters. Significantly, physical agility is the valid
criteria to assess their fitness for the job.
In sum, to decrease the fatalities, it is necessary to
measure firefighter's abilities. This research aimed to
explore the main factors affecting firefighters' resilience
at the workplace to promote safety during operation. Included
are factors leading to occupational injuries to provide
effective strategies to prevent firefighters’ vulnerability
based on their involvement during operation.
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Hypothesis
BFP personnel’s physical condition, behavior and
psychological characteristics can affect their resilience
while performing duties and responsibilities and management
of which play significant role in people's safety in the
community. Amplifying an instrument for assessing resilience
can help to have a real representation of firefighters'
capability.
Significance of the Study
Specifically, the research will be beneficial to most of
the BFP personnel mainly exposed on high level of risks and
hazards during emergencies that may jeopardize one’s life.
Furthermore, the aim of this research is to investigate the
criteria and factors affecting personnel’s resilience based
on operational exposures.
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Scope and Limitation/s or Delimitation/s of the study
The scope of this study is qualitative in nature and
focused on survey to be responded by firefighters who were
deployed during operations. The survey was carried out from
July 2022 to August 2022.
The research sample is composed of thirty (30) BFP
personnel who had more than three (3) years of experience in
the field of operations dealing with firefighting, search,
and rescue. The gathered data were analyzed using frequency
distribution and coding.
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Definition of Terms
For better understanding and clarity, the following terms
used in this study are hereby defined operationally:
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – is an agency of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
responsible for implementing national policies related to
firefighting and fire prevention as well as implementation of
the New Fire Code.
Fire fighter – BFP personnel whose duty is to respond on
different emergencies, fire, search, and rescue.
Firefighting – the act of extinguishing fire.
Hazardous - danger or risk of work.
Resilience – the capability or flexibility to recover quickly
after difficult situations.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter involves the ideas, finished dissertation,
generalization, and conclusion. Those included in this
chapter helps in familiarizing in information that are
relevant and similar to present the research.
Resiliency of Firefighters
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 6975 entitled “An Act
establishing the Philippine National Police under a
reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government,
and for other purposes”, the Fire Bureau is responsible for
the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on
buildings, houses and other structures, forest, land
transportation vehicles and equipment, ships or vessels
docked at piers or wharves or anchored in major seaports,
petroleum industry installations, plane crashes and other
similar incidents, as well as the enforcement of the Fire
Code and other related laws. It also has the power to
investigate all causes of fires.
According to Luthans, 2002: measuring one’s resiliency
shows developable capacity to rebound or bounce back from
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adversity, conflict, and failure or even positive events,
progress, and increased responsibility. Within the
operational experiences, it’s a different process to define
and shape resiliency when faced with personal upheaval. A
similar story with a responder who has been placed fire truck
crews in the collapse zone on a defensive fire. Firefighters
don’t just run into burning buildings, they are often first
responders on the scene of explosions, natural disasters,
wildfires, traffic accidents and other catastrophes. Being a
firefighter is a noble service profession, one that average
citizens rely on heavily in case of emergencies.
Physical Hazards
The primary risks of being a BFP personnel is that of
personal physical injury. Firefighters are susceptible to
burns, smoke inhalation and crush injuries from collapsing
structures. One can suffer from heat exhaustion, as well as
long-term job-related illnesses such as asthma, persistent
coughing, heart disease, cancer, and lung damage. Due to the
highly physical nature of the job, all matter of bodily harm
can befall firefighters in the line of duty.
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Mental Torment
Furthermore, along with the physical perils, responders
face the potential for mental trauma, particularly in
situations involving mass casualties. As first responders on
the scene, firefighters and other rescue personnel are often
faced with the high stress, high stakes environment of trying
to attend to as many people as possible, remove them from
danger and assist in aiding treatment, often performing their
duties in tenuous or unfolding situations. The elevated
stress levels don’t always dissipate when they leave the
emergency or fire scene.
Unstable Work-Life Balance
Personnel with work long hours within unstructured
schedules, making it a challenge to create a viable work-life
balance. Standard family life may be distorted, which can
lead to familial discontent and disconnection. While
responders are trained and educated about the potential
physical and mental stress the job can take, not all realize
the full impact until they are on the job, and some not until
years after the fact.
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CHAPTER III
THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter describes methods and procedures that the
research employed in the conduct of the study. This section
consists of the locale of the study, research design,
population, sample of the population, sampling technique,
research instrument, data gathering procedure, data analysis,
and ethical considerations.
Research Method Used
The researcher chose a survey research design because it
best served to answer the questions and the purpose of the
study.
The research is one in which a group of people is
studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few
people considered to be representative of the entire group.
In other words, only part of the population is studied, and
findings from this are expected to be generalized to the
entire population.
Population Frame and Sampling Scheme
The research study took largely with reference to the
three (3) selected Fire Stations namely Lucena City Fire
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Station, Mauban Fire Station, and Sampaloc Fire Station. The
selected Fire Stations were chosen based on the information
given by the Office of the Provincial Fire Marshall which are
known to have personnel serving the bureau for over five (5)
years. The researchers purposively visited the office in
gathering the needed data.
Table 1
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Description of Respondents
The respondents were divided into three groups of
respondents based on their respective stations; twenty-five
(25) in Lucena City Fire Station, ten (10) in Mauban Fire
Station, and fifteen (15) in Sampaloc Fire Station. The study
of quantitative data from the respondents who tend to be
qualified to offer important view and perceptions on the
circumstances and difficulties of fire fighters on the field
based on their experience. Their opinions were particularly
useful in the study.
Research Instrument
In order to gather the needed information a set of
survey questionnaire was distributed to respective
respondents. The questionnaire was designed to determine
whether the researcher’s objectives are attained. The first
part of the instrument contained the demographic profile of
the respondents such as age, baccalaureate degree and years
in service. The second part enclosed statements drawing out
the respondent’s extent of capability and actions taken
before, during, and after emergency response.
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Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers used a survey questionnaire which was
validated by the research adviser. The pre survey was
conducted to ten (10) personnel of Sampaloc Fire Station. The
respondents vary in terms of their key positions and
designations in the fire station namely Fire Marshall which
is the head or chief of fire station, operations staff,
emergency medical services and administrative staff therein.
Statistical Treatment of Data
The mathematical procedure used to analyze the gathered
data was the following:
f
1. Percentage Formula P= X 100
n
Where: p = percentage
f = frequency
n = total number of respondents
∑ fx
2. Weighted Mean WPM =
n
Where: w = unit of weights corresponding to the assigned
response
V = number of respondents
n = total number of respondents
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To understand clearly the results of the study, the
graphical representation and table of interpretation will
show as formulated from the responses which gathered and
grouped. Analysis was based from computed frequency
percentage and weighted mean and its corresponding
interpretation were derived. The arbitrary scale was used to
determine the respondents’ capabilities during the conduct of
responses on different emergencies of the personnel of the
three fire stations.
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