Employment standards for Australian urban firefighters. Part 4: Physical aptitude tests and standards

Authors

Hugh Fullagar, University of WollongongFollow
John Andrew Sampson, University of WollongongFollow
Brendan Mott, Fire & Rescue NSW
Catriona A. Burdon, University of WollongongFollow
Nigel A.S. Taylor, University of WollongongFollow
Herb Groeller, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

103560

Publication Details

Fullagar, H. H.K.., Sampson, J. A., Mott, B. J., Burdon, C. A., Taylor, N. A.S.. & Groeller, H. Employment standards for Australian urban firefighters. Part 4: Physical aptitude tests and standards. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2015; 57 (10): 1092-1097.

Abstract

Objective: Firefighter physical aptitude tests were administered to unskilled subjects and operational firefighters to evaluate the impact that testing bias associated with gender, age, activity-specific skills, or task familiarity may have upon establishing performance thresholds. Methods: These tests were administered in sequence, simulating hazmat incidents, ventilation fan carriage (stairs), motor-vehicle rescues, bushfire incidents, fire attacks, and a firefighter rescue. Participants included two unskilled samples (N = 14 and 22) and 143 firefighters. Results: Firefighter performance was not significantly different from the unskilled subjects. Participants from both genders passed the test, with scores unrelated to performance skill or age; however, familiarization significantly improved performance when the test was repeated. Conclusion: These outcomes confirmed this test to be gender-, age-, and skill-neutral. Familiarization effects could be removed through performing a single, pre-selection trial of the test battery.