Training Should Build Readiness — Not Create Injuries

Law enforcement officers and firefighters train to perform under pressure, but training itself can create significant risks. Physical skills training, defensive tactics, live-fire exercises, rescue scenarios, and realistic simulations all place stress on the body. The good news is that many training injuries are preventable. CIS data shows that training-related injuries account for a notable share of workplace injuries, even though training occurs in controlled environments. By focusing on planning, safety oversight, and fatigue management, agencies can reduce injuries while maintaining realistic, high-quality training.

Most training injuries do not result from catastrophic failures. Instead, they often stem from predictable issues such as fatigue, horseplay, loss of focus, mismatched participants, or deviations from the lesson plan. These risks tend to increase as training sessions become longer or more physically demanding.

A real-life example involves a law enforcement defensive tactics class nearing the end of a three-hour session. Participants are tired, hydration has been overlooked, and one pair begins increasing the intensity beyond the instructor's guidance. A takedown drill leads to a fall and a wrist injury.

In many cases, the injury was not caused by the technique itself. The contributing factors included fatigue, reduced attention, and a lack of intervention before the risk escalated.

The following checklist can help prevent injuries:

• Schedule hydration breaks every 45–60 minutes

• Monitor participants for signs of fatigue

• Match training partners by size and skill level

• Reinforce lesson-plan expectations throughout training

• Address horseplay or unnecessary roughness immediately

Warning signs that may warrant pausing training for reassessment include:

• Excessive fatigue

• Loss of concentration

• Unsafe improvisation

• PPE being removed or used incorrectly

• Physical complaints or signs of injury

• Escalating competition between participants

Every training event needs a safety officer. Most agencies would never conduct firearms training without a range safety officer. The same philosophy should be applied to physical and scenario-based training. A dedicated Training Safety Officer (TSO) can focus exclusively on identifying hazards, allowing instructors to concentrate on delivering the lesson.

What does implementing a dedicated TSO look like in the real world? During a training exercise, the instructor is actively coaching participants and demonstrating techniques. Meanwhile, a mat begins to separate from the floor, creating a trip hazard. Because the instructor is focused on the drill, the hazard goes unnoticed. A dedicated safety observer can identify and correct the problem before someone gets hurt.

Agencies can use the following pre-training safety checklist to help prevent injuries:

• Inspect floors, mats, props, and equipment

• Verify PPE is available and in good condition

• Confirm first-aid supplies and automated external defibrillator (AED) access

• Identify emergency vehicle access routes

• Establish a universal stop command such as "time out"

• Review emergency procedures with all participants

Before training, both the instructor and TSO should review safety precautions with every participant, ensuring they know the following:

• Who the safety officer is

• How to stop training immediately

• Where first-aid equipment is located

• How to report injuries and safety concerns

• Emergency communication procedures

One of the most effective safety practices is conducting a brief review after training. Near-miss incidents often reveal the same weaknesses that later lead to actual injuries. Reviewing these events helps agencies improve future training while strengthening a culture of safety.

The goal is not to make training easier — it is to make training safer. Well-planned, realistic training remains essential for public safety professionals. By emphasizing preparation, active safety monitoring, and post-training reviews, agencies can reduce preventable injuries while ensuring personnel remain ready for the real-world challenges they face every day.

Public safety members are encouraged to review the CIS Law Enforcement Training Injury Prevention Program for additional guidance on reducing training-related injuries, improving safety practices, and promoting a culture of safety during training activities.