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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. - U ' > ; aT: f Py a ee ” 5 ‘ 7 = sce e OE (g ae |— 3; , mel: Ceeaentl aPye rce 2 m pfaag i Reserve [lUmerbecs Department of : ay 36 Agriculture é 1997 Forest Service . ot 5100 Fire . April 1997 9751-2814-MTDC United States Department of Agriculture ma AE eo National Agricultural Library “Brian J.S harkey, Ph.D. 3 Project pendets USDA Forest Service ; Technology & Development Program Mesoule, Montana, 4E42P30—Firefighter Wo rk Capacity 4 April1 997 The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, has developed this information for the gui ance of its employees, contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible: for the interpretation or use Of thi information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader, and does not constitute an endorsement by theD epartment of any product or service‘ to the exclusion of - others that may be suitable. | : The United States Department of Aaiicalture (USDA) prohibitsd iscrimination inits programs: onthe basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not allP rohibited bases applyt oa ll programs.) Persons. with disabilities who require alternative means of communicationo f progr: contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. Tofilea complaint, write the Secretary of Agricult e, U. S.D epeitment of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250, or call 1-800- 245-6340 (voice) or (202) f20 Ver a Me USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. Dy coe Rens, Contents Acknowledgments Preface Part One—Fitness and Work Capacity Chapter 1—Fitness, Health, and Work Capacity Chapter 2—Aerobic Fitness and Work Capacity Chapter 3—Muscular Fitness and Work Capacity Part Two—Health, Safety, and Performance Chapter 4—Nutrition and Performance Chapter 5—Environment and Performance Chapter 6—Health and Safety Part Three—Fit to Work Chapter 7—Work Capacity Tests and Training Chapter 8—Aerobic Fitness Programs Chapter 9—WMuscular Fitness Training References and Resources Acknowledgments - rng * enti ae wii Paseo? Coa=eosm eamnains es oe — a Nee Special thanks go to my talented colleagues at MTDC, including Ted Cote, Jim Kautz, Bert Lindler, Bob Beckley, and Sung Kokko, for their help in preparing this publication. - Thanks also to the reviewers for their thoughtful comments and suggestions, and to the researchers whose studies have contributed to our understanding. Finally Iw ant to recognize the firefighters and other employees whose comments andj | experiences have helped to focus this edition, and to dedicateu e 5s the book to their health, safety, and performance. = a ER le se = aes ee a ae, — bees 3S pone3 PO eal Preface The first edition of this booklet, published in 1977, was designed to help field workers and wildland firefighters achieve health, fitness, and work capacity. This long-overdue second edition updates information on fitness and work capacity, and provides additional material on nutrition, hydration, the environment, work hardening, and injury prevention. It consolidates important information under one cover, introduces a new generation of job-related work capacity tests, and provides workers with guidelines to help them achieve and maintain fitness and the capacity to perform prolonged arduous work. Fit employees will not become a hazard to themselves or coworkers. They have a reserve to meet unforeseen emergencies. While the focus of this booklet is on field workers and firefighters, it can be used by others interested in improving health, fitness, and the quality of life. The 1996 Surgeon General’s Report warns that: Physical inactivity can be hazardous to your health! The report recommends that everyone should engage in 30 minutes or more of moderately vigorous physical activity, most days of the week. Regardless of your job description, activity will improve your health and extend the prime of your life. Var ONE Fitness and Work Capacity ——— _ 2 z Chapter 1 — Fitness, Health, and Work Capacity ntil recently the primary Many jobs, such as field work and source of power for wildland firefighting, still require accomplishing work strength and endurance. Workers who came from the are accustomed to spending their days contractions of human at a desk must engage in strenuous and animal muscles. While wind and field work during the field season. water were used to augment muscular power, it wasn’t until the 18th century ————+— ——_—_ . that mechanization began to reduce the Job Task Analysis need for muscular work. Machines, Acomprehensive job task analysis computers, and robots have been was conducted to identify the tasks developed to supplement or replace required of wildland firefighters, human effort. Today when men and and to determine the importance, women go to “work,” few engage in difficulty, duration, and frequency arduous muscular effort. At the same of each task. Last conducted in time labor-saving devices have reduced the 1970's, the analysis was the need for muscular work at home, updated to reflect possible and the automobile has made getting changes in the demands of from place to place physically wildland firefighting. The top- effortless. ranked tasks included: Not surprisingly, we are now witnessing ¢ Using handtools to construct the consequences of mechanization fireline and diminished activity. The United ¢ Performing under adverse States, with one-third of its population conditions overweight, has become the fattest ® Hiking with light loads nation on earth. Degenerative diseases © Liftingandcarrying lightloads or diseases of lifestyle, such as heart (such as firehose). disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer have become the major causes Tasks that ranked lower, largely of death. Overuse or repetitive trauma because they occurred less injuries are on the rise as the frequently, included: population becomes less active. Asa ° Packing heavy loads consequence, many workers are ¢ Emergency responses unable to deliver a full day’s effort ina physically demanding job. © Chain sawing. The job task analysis confirmed the importance of fitness for Work Capacity wildland firefighters. The task “Performing under adverse Work capacity is the conditions, "identified in interviews employee's ability to of experienced fire managers, was accomplish production goals defined as “including long work without undue fatigue, and shifts; rough steep terrain; heat, without becoming a hazard to cold, altitude, smoke; insufficient oneself or coworkers. Itis a food, fluid replacement, sleep.” complex composite of aerobic “Emergency responses,” another and muscular fitness, natural category added in the 1995 abilities, intelligence, skill, analysis, was defineads “fast pull- experience, acclimatization, out to safety zone, rescue or nutrition, and—of course— evacuation assistance to others.” motivation. For prolonged Firefighting continues to be arduous work, fitness is the demanding, often dangerous most important determinant of work, performed under adverse work capacity. conditions. Chapter 1—Fitness, Health, and Work Capacity Without proper preparation, the Activity, Fitness, Activity and fitness also confer stresses of arduous field work can lead and Health substantial psychological benefits, to injury, illness, even death. Concern including: for employee safety and health has ° Reduced anxiety and depression The benefits of physical activity and prompted the development of employee _ fitness extend well beyond those ° Reduced tension and stress health or wellness programs, and related to your job. Activities that lead ° Enhanced self-concept and body special programs to ensure that only the fit are assigned arduous field tasks. to improved fitness and work capacity image are also associated with: Studies show that fit workers are safer ° Improved appearance and and more productive than their ¢ Reduced risk of heart disease, performance sedentary counterparts. Unfit hypertension, and stroke ¢ Enhanced joy of living, vitality, and individuals can become a safety hazard ° Reduced incidence and severity of quality of life. to themselves and their coworkers. This diabetes booklet is designed to help managers, Activity and fitness also contribute to © Reduced risk of certain cancers crew leaders, and field workers achieve longer life and to shortening the period the fitness and work capacity needed to © Reduced incidence of overweight of debilitating illness that frequently do the job safely. and obesity precedes death. Active living extends ¢ Strengthened bones, ligaments, the prime of life, and adds life to your But fitness is more than increased tendons, and muscles years as well as years to your life. performance or improved safety. The ¢ Reduced risk of osteoporosis Aerobic and muscular fitness extend active life and fitness lead to better the period of vigor so retired workers ¢ Reduced risk of injury and illness physical and psychological health, can lead vital, independent lives lower risk of degenerative disease, ° Increased energy, mobility, and (Figure 1.1). enhanced vitality and longevity, and an even longevity. improved quality of life. It pays dividends on and off the job, with improved performance and morale, reduced absenteeism, and lower worker's compensation and health care costs. Frailty Failure Figure 1.1—Vigor and the active life. Active living extends the periods of fun and function and shortens the time of frailty and failure.