Pack hike test finishing time for Australian firefighters: pass rates and correlates of performance

The pack hike test (PHT, 4.83 km hike wearing a 20.4-kg load) was devised to determine the job readiness of USA wildland firefighters. This study measured PHT performance in a sample of Australian firefighters who currently perform the PHT (career land management firefighters, LMFF) and those who do not (suburban/regional volunteer firefighters, VFF). The study also investigated the relationships between firefighters' PHT performance and their performance across a range of fitness tests for both groups. Twenty LMFF and eighteen age-, body mass-, and height-matched VFF attempted the PHT, and a series of muscular endurance, power, strength and cardiorespiratory fitness tests. Bivariate correlations between the participants’ PHT finishing time and their performance in a suite of different fitness tests were determined using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. The mean PHT finishing time for LMFF (42.2 ± 2.8 min) was 9 ± 14% faster (p = 0.001) than for VFF (46.1 ± 3.6 min). The pass rate (the percentage of participants who completed the PHT in under 45 min) for LMFF (90%) was greater than that of VFF (39%, p = 0.001). For LMFF, VO_2peak in L min⁻¹(r = −0.66, p = 0.001) and the duration they could sustain a grip ‘force’ of 25 kg (r = −0.69, p = 0.001) were strongly correlated with PHT finishing time. For VFF, VO_2peak in mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹(r = −0.75, p = 0.002) and the duration they could hold a 1.2-m bar attached to 45.5 kg in a ‘hose spray position’ (r = −0.69, p = 0.004) were strongly correlated with PHT finishing time. This study shows that PHT fitness-screening could severely limit the number of VFF eligible for duty, compromising workforce numbers and highlights the need for specific and valid firefighter fitness standards. The results also demonstrate the strong relationships between PHT performance and firefighters’ cardiorespiratory fitness and local muscular endurance. Those preparing for the PHT should focus their training on these fitness components in the weeks and months prior to undertaking the PHT.     

The role of human factors engineering in establishing occupational fitness standards

Human factors engineering (HFE) is the study of the impact of workplace design, and workplace environment, on people and includes those issues that have an impact on the body's structure and functioning. The goal of HFE is to assure the personal health, wellness and safety of people in their workplace, while enhancing their productivity. In recent history there have been cases in which an employee has been dismissed from their job for failing the physical requirements test portion of the job. This is particularly prevalent in industries that require significant strength capacities which until recently have been traditionally male dominated. There is still a need to implement test procedures, which define task requirements in terms of psychomotor ability and physiological capacity rather than the limited measures of aerobic power or muscular strength. This paper examines the current practices used to develop job task requirements in the traditionally male-dominated occupations of firefighter, police officer and armed forces personnel and the role of task analysis. A case study of a local firefighting unit is presented in the context of task analysis.     

Performance requirements of physically strenuous occupations: validating minimum standards for muscular strength and endurance

Employment rights legislative mandates passed in the USA over the last three decades emphasize the importance of validating performance standards for physically strenuous occupations. This study validated minimally acceptable standards for the muscular strength and endurance necessary to perform fire suppression activities. Incumbent firefighters (n?=?153) selected for key demographic characteristics completed a simulated set of firefighting tasks (Fire Suppression Evolution) and then a Predictor Test Battery of physical abilities tests. Regression analysis revealed that three predictor test items (hose drag/high rise pack carry; arm lift; arm endurance) combined to significantly predict performance time of the Fire Suppression Evolution (p???0.01). Firefighters (n?=?41) rating videotaped performance times of the Fire Suppression Evolution determined that more than one-half a standard deviation slower than the mean time established by the incumbents reflected unacceptable performance. Approximately 80% of incumbent firefighters passed the minimally acceptable performance standard. Use of the 3-predictor test battery would correctly identify 89% of successful performers and 72% of unsuccessful performers. This study demonstrates that validation of minimal physical performance standards will identify a cohort of individuals with a high probability of not being able to perform critical fire suppression activities. This finding has important implications for examining the relationship between physical performance standards and medical and economic outcomes.     

A comparison of two physical ability tests for firefighters

Smoke diving is physically demanding, and firefighters must therefore meet certain minimum physical requirements. The aim of this study was to compare the physiological demands of two fire fitness tests: a test of 8-min treadmill walking approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NLIA) (a laboratory test) and a Canadian test consisting of 10 firefighting specific tasks carried out in sequence (an applied field test). If the Canadian field test is as physically demanding as the NLIA-approved laboratory test, it may be suitable for testing Norwegian firefighters. Twenty-two male professional firefighters were tested on separate days. In both tests, the subjects wore a complete firefighting outfit including a breathing apparatus. The test durations were 8 min (NLIA test) versus approximately 6 min (Canadian test). Neither the peak O₂ uptake (VO₂) of approximately 45 ml kg ^? 1 min ^? 1 nor the blood lactate concentration (BLC) at test termination ( ≈ 9 mmol L ^? 1) differed between the two tests. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE_CR-10) was lower for the Canadian test than for the Norwegian test (5.2 ± 1.5 vs. 7.0 ± 2.0, respectively), and the exercise time at a high VO₂ was also shorter. In conclusion, the Canadian test appeared to be almost as physically demanding as the NLIA-approved test, having equal peak VO₂ and BLC, but shorter time at a high VO₂ and shorter duration. It might thus be a suitable alternative to the NLIA test with some modifications. The advantage of the Canadian field test is the inclusion of specific firefighting-like tasks that are not part of the NLIA test.     

Physical employment standard for Canadian wildland firefighters: examining test–retest reliability and the impact of familiarisation and physical fitness training

Abstract

To assess the impact of repeat performances (familiarisation) plus exercise training on completion time for the Ontario Wildland Firefighter (WFF) Fitness Test circuit (WFX-FIT), normally active general population participants (n = 145) were familiarised to the protocol then randomised into (i) exercise training, (ii) circuit only weekly performances or (iii) controls. At Baseline, the WFX-FIT pass rate for all groups combined was 11% for females and 73% for males, indicating that the Ontario WFX-FIT standard had a possible adverse impact on females. Following test familiarisation, mean circuit completion times improved by 11.9% and 10.2% for females and males, respectively. There were significant improvements in completion time for females (19.8%) and males (16.9%) who trained, plus females (12.2%) and males (9.8%) who performed the circuit only, while control participants were unchanged. Post training, the pass rate of the training group was 80% for females and 100% for males.

Practitioner Summary: This paper details the impact of familiarisation plus exercise training as accommodation to mitigate potential adverse impact on initial attack wildland firefighter test performance. The results underscore the importance of test familiarisation opportunities and physical fitness training programmes that are specific to the demands of the job.     

国内外标准法规比对分析系统设计与实现

为发现我国国家标准与国外发达国家标准法规的差距,从根本上提高我国国家标准的总体质量,提升我国产品的质量安全水平,以关键指标(因子)为核心,研究国内外标准法规比对的工作流程,利用面向对象的方法设计,实现了国内外标准法规比对分析系统。该系统适用于所有产品国内外标准法规的比对工作。     

A review of essential standards and patent landscapes for the Internet of Things: A key enabler for Industry 4.0

This paper is a formal overview of standards and patents for Internet of Things (IoT) as a key enabler for the next generation advanced manufacturing, referred as Industry 4.0 (I 4.0). IoT at the fundamental level is a means of connecting physical objects to the Internet as a ubiquitous network that enables objects to collect and exchange information. The manufacturing industry is seeking versatile manufacturing service provisions to overcome shortened product life cycles, increased labor costs, and fluctuating customer needs for competitive marketplaces. This paper depicts a systematic approach to review IoT technology standards and patents. The thorough analysis and overview include the essential standard landscape and the patent landscape based on the governing standards organizations for America, Europe and China where most global manufacturing bases are located. The literature of emerging IoT standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Guobiao standards (GB), and global patents issued in US, Europe, China and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are systematically presented in this study.