Risky Decision Making Due to Goal Conflicts in Firefighting—Debriefing as a Countermeasure to Enhance Safety Behavior

Firefighters act within extreme environments, work under threatening conditions and are often exposed to goal conflicts (e.g., self-protection vs. mission objective) during their missions. However, what the consequences of these safety task conflicts, countermeasures could help reduce occurrence? In an online survey, 340 firefighters were asked about risky decision making, debriefings frequency difficulties in teamwork firefighting. Associations between survey variables determined by multivariate regression mediation analyses. Data show that associated with making unsafe acts. Furthermore, fewer as mediated less-frequent (communication, leadership shared mental models). Though limited cross-sectional design our study, results provide evidence debriefing is a valuable tool experienced on missions therefore occurrence conflicting goals. Fewer decrease decisions and, thus, safer working environment for firefighters. Accordingly, it recommended conduct debriefings, increased focus team aspects.