Smoldering Foundations put the Fire House at Risk: A Functional Communication Audit

Vol. 6 No. 4

Year : 2012

Issue : Mar-May

Title  : Smoldering Foundations put the Fire House at Risk: A Functional Communication Audit 

Author Name  : Kathryn Toelken, Thomas Shaw 

Synopsis  : 

This study examines fire fighters’ firehouse communication as it contributes to safety culture. This study employed the International Communication Association Communication Audit (ICA CA) to survey 228 firefighters.  This study demonstrates that organizational communication is a key component of safety culture.  This study also serves to replicate previous research using ICA CA and examines the relationships between upper management and the rank-and-file across five different scales: receiving, sending, follow-up, interpersonal, organizational, and channels of communication.  Significant findings among five of the eight scales from the ICA CA demonstrates real and systematic differences between upper management and the rank-and-file.  This series profiles communication behaviors and suggests a set of recommendation for new communication practices which may improve organizational communication and safety culture.