Job-Related Aerobic and Musculoskeletal Fitness Standards for Front-Line Structural Firefighters That Qualify as bona fide Occupational Requirements; Critical Considerations

Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) reflects the upper limit of the body’s aerobic fitness and represents the highest rate at which oxygen can be taken up, transported, and utilized by the body. It is the most widely used measure characterizing the effective integration of the body’s many physiological systems in exercise sciences. However, the precise measurement administration protocol and relevance of VO2max regarding physically demanding public safety occupations remain unclear. Structural firefighter applicants routinely have their VO2max measured to ensure that they possess the aerobic fitness required to perform the most frequently occurring and physically demanding on-the-job tasks safely and efficiently. The purpose of this research project was to determine 1) if using a verification phase (VP), following a graded exercise test (GXT), helped to accurately measure VO2max and affected the proportion of participants who met the job-related aerobic fitness standard, 2) if there were any significant relationships between the firefighter applicants’ VO2max, select physical characteristics and simulated job task completion times and performance scores, and 3) what effect short-term reduced-training (i.e., detraining), consequent to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, had on the job-related aerobic fitness and critical simulated job task completion times of firefighter applicants. Performing a VP helped to accurately measure VO2max and significantly increased the proportion of participants who met the job-related aerobic fitness standard. A VP should always be used to ensure the measurement of a VO2max and not just a VO2peak. Participants’ VO2max and select physical characteristics had significant negative regression weights on all simulated job task completion times. Multiple regression equations can predict simulated job task completion times and allow applicants to customize their physical activity and exercise regimes to ensure that they have the physical and physiological characteristics to successfully meet the job-related aerobic fitness and simulated job task standards. Short-term periods of reduced training significantly decreased the participants’ ability to meet the job-related aerobic fitness standard. Structural firefighters must engage in habitual exercise regimes to ensure they possess the aerobic and musculoskeletal fitness required to perform critical on-the-job tasks safely and efficiently during emergencies where job completion is critical to safety, life, and property.