Siddall, A. G., Stevenson, R. D. M., Turner, P. J. F., Stokes, K. and Bilzon, J. L. J. (2016) Development of role-related minimum cardiorespiratory fitness standards for firefighters and commanders. Ergonomics, 59 (10). pp. 1335-1343. ISSN 0014-0139
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Abstract
A minimum cardiorespiratory fitness standard was derived for firefighters following a metabolic demands analysis. Design and minimal acceptable performance of generic firefighting task simulations (i.e. hose running, casualty evacuation, stair climb, equipment carry, wild-land fire) were endorsed by a panel of operationally experienced experts. Sixty-two UK firefighters completed these tasks wearing a standard protective firefighting ensemble while being monitored for peak steady-state metabolic demand and cardiovascular strain. Four tasks, endorsed as valid operational simulations by ≥90% of participants (excluding wild-land fire; 84%), were deemed to be a sufficiently valid and reliable basis for a fitness standard. These tasks elicited an average peak steady-state metabolic cost of 38.1 ± 7.8 ml kg−1 min−1. It is estimated that healthy adults can sustain the total duration of these tasks (~16 min) at ≤90% maximum oxygen uptake and a cardiorespiratory fitness standard of ≥42.3 ml kg−1 min−1 would be required to sustain work.
Practitioner Summary: A cardiorespiratory fitness standard for firefighters of ≥42.3 ml kg−1 min−1 was derived from monitoring minimum acceptable performance of essential tasks. This study supports the implementation of a routine assessment of this fitness standard for all UK operational firefighters, to ensure safe physical preparedness for occupational performance.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Physical Demands Analysis; Metabolic cost; Oxygen uptake; Firefighting; Rolerelated fitness; Physical Employment Standards. |
Subjects: | Q Science > QP Physiology |
Divisions: | Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology |
Depositing User: | Andy Siddall |
Date Deposited: | 24 Feb 2019 14:01 |
Last Modified: | 28 Mar 2021 13:46 |
URI: | https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/4270 |