Citation

Gumieniak RJ, Shaw J, Gledhill N, Jamnik VK. Ergonomics 2018; 61(10): 1299-1310.

Affiliation

Norman Bethune College, York University , School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health , Toronto , Ontario , M3J 1P3 , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00140139.2018.1464211

PMID

29637835

Abstract

Physical employment standards evaluate whether a worker possesses the physical abilities to safely and efficiently perform all critical on-the-job tasks. Initial Attack (IA) wildland fire fighters (WFF) must perform such critical tasks in all terrains. Following a physical demands analysis, IA WFF (n=946 out of a possible 965) from all fire jurisdictions ranked the most demanding tasks and identified mountains, muskeg and rolling hills as the most challenging terrains. Experimental trials found the oxygen cost (mean ± SD VO2 mL∙kg-1∙min-1) while performing the hose pack back carry to be 40±7 in steep mountains, 34±5 in muskeg and 34±2 in rolling hills (n=168). Back-carrying and hand-carrying a 28.5 kg pump, back-carrying a 25 kg hose pack and advancing charged hose were the most demanding tasks. Performing the same emergency IA WFF tasks was significantly more demanding in mountains (p≤0.05), and these higher demands must be taken into account when developing a physical employment standard for Canadian wildland fire fighters (WFX-FIT). Practitioner Summary: Physical employment standards evaluate whether an applicant or incumbent possesses the physical and physiological abilities to safely and efficiently perform the critical on-the-job tasks. This paper details the process used to undertake a physical demands analysis and characterize tasks for the development of a fitness standard for IA WFF.

Language: en

Keywords

BFOR; fitness screening; job fitness; occupation