Working in noisy environments presents daily safety challenges to wildland firefighters. Research clearly indicates that accidents and injuries increase in noisy work environments. This can be due to distraction, miscommunication, and an inability to hear warnings. Hearing loss can be permanent, but it is also preventable.

The most at risk of excessive noise exposure include:

Mud slides and debris flows: What are they? 

• Mud Slide: A river of liquid and flowing mud on the surface of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water 
• Debris Flow: rapid movements of rock, earth, and other debris saturated with water, carried by gravity

Rain over burned areas presents a very high risk of mud slides and debris flows.

Everybody is responsible for briefing incoming employees

Throughout the year, airtanker bases may have multiple AD and detailed employees come in from other bases or agencies.