The physical demands upon (Dutch) fire-fighters in relation to the maximum acceptable energetic workload.
The aim of this study was to assess the tasks and activities that make physical demands on Dutch fire-fighters and to compare them with a guideline related to the development of excessive fatigue. The occupational physical demands on Dutch fire-fighters were assessed by conducting a task analysis during 85 24-h shifts. While workplace observations on the duration and frequency of physical tasks and activities were recorded, the heart rate was measured. This was then used to calculate the heart rate reserve percentage (%HRR) for predefined working periods, tasks and activities during 24-h shifts. The findings indicate that actual fire-fighting during 24-h shifts is characterised by a low frequency of incidents, a short 'turn-out' time, short tasks, and activities with a moderate to occasionally high energetic workload. Two tasks which sometimes occur in actual fire-fighting exceeded the guideline on energetic workload. The conclusion was that, though the number of incidents and the occupational demands are low during 24-h shifts, the peak loads for these two tasks are energetically high and could lead to excessive fatigue. Consequently, attention may need to be paid to health surveillance for persons exposed to such energetic peak loads, the development of physical and medical selection procedures, training, and workplace adjustments.
Bos
Jurriaan
J
Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, AmCOGG Amsterdam Centre for Research into Health and Healthcare, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mol
Eric
E
Visser
Bart
B
Frings-Dresen
Monique
M
D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D016272:Occupational Health; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance