Performance on a Work-Simulating Firefighter Test Versus Approved Laboratory Tests for Firefighters and Applicants

Heimburg, Erna von; Medbø, Jon Ingulf; Sandsund, Mariann; Reinertsen, Randi Eidsmo

doi:10.1080/10803548.2013.11076981

Cited by 42 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…The results of this study suggest that the Trondheim test could be used to examine adequate physical fitness of professional firefighters. A parallel study has shown that physically fit recruits perform as well as experienced fire fighters on this test [46]. That is a further advantage of this work-simulating test.…”

Section: Work-simulated Tests or Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 71%

Energy Cost of the Trondheim Firefighter Test for Experienced Firefighters

Heimburg¹,

Medbø

2013

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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We thank Lisbeth Andersen, head of the education programs at the Trondheim fire brigade, for her support in carrying out the experiments. We appreciate the technical skills of Steinar Messel and Ole Synnes at the work-shop of the National Institute of Occupational Health who made connections between the Interspiro face mask (SM) and electronics producing an inspiration signal after each expiration (OS), and further to Morten von Heimburg at Nord-Trøndelag University College who made a heat-proof box for the MetaMax II.Correspondence blood lactate concentration fire fighting maximal oxygen uptake lactate threshold pulmonary ventilation rating of perceived exertion

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Section: Work-simulated Tests or Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 71%

Energy Cost of the Trondheim Firefighter Test for Experienced Firefighters

Heimburg¹,

Medbø

2013

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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“…Perhaps one of the superior tests that considers the effects of the work environment on physical capability and job performance is the Trondheim test, developed by the Trondheim Fire Brigade in Norway for firefighter applicants (von Heimburg and Medbo 2013;von Heimburg et al 2013). The test, which was designed to assess physical capabilities specific to firefighting, requires participants to complete several firefighting task in 3 parts.…”

Section: Firefightingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Applicants must complete the entire test battery in 19 min or less to pass. It is, however, noteworthy that this proposed standard has yet to be verified (von Heimburg et al 2013). Furthermore, this test may require further enhancement as it was found to be less predictive of muscular fitness (von Heimburg et al 2013).…”

Section: Firefightingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Cheung

Lee

Oksa

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

109

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Many physically demanding occupations in both developed and developing economies involve exposure to extreme thermal environments that can affect work capacity and ultimately health. Thermal extremes may be present in either an outdoor or an indoor work environment, and can be due to a combination of the natural or artificial ambient environment, the rate of metabolic heat generation from physical work, processes specific to the workplace (e.g., steel manufacturing), or through the requirement for protective clothing impairing heat dissipation. Together, thermal exposure can elicit acute impairment of work capacity and also chronic effects on health, greatly contributing to worker health risk and reduced productivity. Surprisingly, in most occupations even in developed economies, there are rarely any standards regarding enforced heat or cold safety for workers. Furthermore, specific physical employment standards or accommodations for thermal stressors are rare, with workers commonly tested under near-perfect conditions. This review surveys the major occupational impact of thermal extremes and existing employment standards, proposing guidelines for improvement and areas for future research.Key words: Heat stress, cold stress, occupational physiology, testing, work.Résumé : Plusieurs emplois physiquement exigeants dans les économies développées et en émergence s'exercent dans des milieux thermiques extrêmes qui peuvent affecter la capacité de travail et, en fin de compte, la santé. Ces milieux de condition thermique extrême se retrouvent dans des environnements de travail intérieur ou extérieur et peuvent découler d'une combinaison d'un milieu ambiant naturel ou artificiel, de la production de chaleur métabolique due au travail physique, des procédés spécifiques au milieu de travail (p. ex. fabrication de l'acier) ou du port obligatoire d'un équipement de protection s'opposant à la dissipation de la chaleur. Globalement, l'exposition à la chaleur peut diminuer ponctuellement la capacité de travail et générer des effets chroniques sur la santé, augmentant ainsi le risque de maladie chez le travailleur et la diminution de la productivité. Étonnamment, dans la plupart des emplois même dans les économies développées, il y a rarement, à propos du froid et de la chaleur, des normes de sécurité ou des règlements en vigueur à l'intention des travailleurs. De plus, rares sont les normes spécifiques aux tâches physiques ou les accommodations aux agents de stress thermique et les travailleurs sont généralement évalués dans des conditions presque parfaites. Cette analyse documentaire sonde les effets principaux des agents thermiques extrêmes sur les tâches physiques, fait le bilan des normes en vigueur en matière d'emploi, suggère des lignes directrices et des pistes pour des études ultérieures. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : stress thermique, stress dû au froid, physiologie du travail, évaluation, travail.

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“…Weak to moderate (but significant) correlations have been observed with combined task simulations lasting between 5 and 10 minutes in U.S (r = -0.38) (Williford et al, 1999) and Norwegian (r = -0.53) firefighters (Von Heimburg, Rasmussen, & Medbo, 2006). Cardiorespiratory fitness exhibits the strongest associations with firefighting simulations lasting approximately 10 minutes (r 2 = 0.57) (Williams-Bell, Villar, Sharratt, & Hughson, 2009) or longer (r = -0.72) (Von Heimburg, Medbo, Sandsund, & Reinertsen, 2013), supporting the notion that cardiorespiratory fitness is an important determinant of task performance during sustained tasks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity and Reliability of Firefighting Simulation Test Performance

Stevenson¹,

Siddall

Turner

et al. 2019

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objective To assess the validity and reliability of a firefighting simulation test (FFST).Methods Sixty-nine operational firefighters completed a best-effort FFST on one occasion and twenty-two participants completed a further FFST. All participants completed a maximal treadmill test to determine cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max). Results Time to complete the FFST demonstrated a strong inverse relationship with VO 2 max (r = -0.73), although the prediction error was high. Reliability of the FFST was high (r = 0.84, p = 0.01), demonstrating a coefficient of variation of 4.5%. Conclusions The FFST demonstrated reasonable validity as a surrogate assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness for firefighting. The FFST also demonstrated good reliability. Given the apparent magnitude of the prediction error, the FFST would be best used as a training tool, rather than as a primary means of assessing cardiorespiratory fitness for firefighting.

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Performance on a Work-Simulating Firefighter Test Versus Approved Laboratory Tests for Firefighters and Applicants

Abstract: Aim. Firefighters must meet minimum physical demands. The Norwegian Labour Inspection

Cited by 42 publications

References 30 publications

Energy Cost of the Trondheim Firefighter Test for Experienced Firefighters

Energy Cost of the Trondheim Firefighter Test for Experienced Firefighters

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Validity and Reliability of Firefighting Simulation Test Performance

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