Fitness and work capacity

88 Pages·1997·12.6 MB·English

by  Sharkey, Brian J

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
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National Agricultural Library
“Brian J.S harkey, Ph.D.
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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 [phone]. 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
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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. =
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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.