HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Association of Fire Chiefs has recognized the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy with the 2009 Near-Miss Safety Leadership Award. State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann accepted the award on behalf of the academy.

"Unfortunately, Pennsylvania ranks among the top 10 states for line-of-duty deaths each year," Mann said. "There is no doubt in my mind that bringing this training to our men and women in the fire service will save lives."

Across Pennsylvania, 16 workshops and presentations about the Near-Miss program were delivered in just four months.

In the fire service, a near-miss is defined as an unintentional, unsafe act that could have resulted in an injury, fatality or property damage. Approximately one million of these near-misses occur each year across the nation. By collecting and analyzing information on near-miss events, improvements can be made in firefighter education, operations and training.

The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System, administered by the IAFC, is a voluntary, confidential, non-punitive and secure reporting system with the goal of improving firefighter safety. The program is intended to allow firefighters to learn from each other in real-life experiences, to formulate strategies to reduce the frequency of firefighter injuries and fatalities, and to enhance the safety culture of the fire service.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs represents the leadership of more than 1.2 million firefighters and emergency responders. Established in 1873, IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation.

For more information on the fire service in Pennsylvania, visit the Office of the State Fire Commissioner at www.OSFC.state.pa.us or call 1-800-670-3473.

Media contact: Ruth Miller, OSFC; 717-651-2009

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner