Fitness Tests
Firefighting can be intensely physically demanding and fitness is crucial to the role. Firefighters need to be able to meet required standards of fitness. You also need to maintain fitness throughout your career and will undergo regular fitness assessments to ensure you are fit to do the job.
Consideration Prior to Participation in Exercise
Prior to adopting any of our fitness advice, please contact your GP if you have not participated in physical activity for some time.
If you are in any doubt about your health or physical ability to exercise please also consult your GP. To help reduce the risk of injury you should look to protect yourself by wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the activity you are undertaking.
Pre-employment Fitness Assessment
Chester Treadmill Walk Test – Aerobic Fitness Assessment
This assessment measures your aerobic fitness. This is the ability of your body to take in and use oxygen to fuel exercise and can also be referred to as stamina or endurance. Aerobic Fitness is closely linked to your ability to safely and effectively complete a number of different firefighting activities.
As part of our pre-employment checks, you will be required to undertake an aerobic fitness assessment. The test used will be the Chester Treadmill Walk Test (CTWT). This is a 12 minute long treadmill walking test, designed to identify individuals capable of reaching the required fitness standard of 42 VO2 max.
The Chester Treadmill Walk Test involves walking at a speed of 6.2 km/hr for the entire test. The gradient starts at 0% for the first two minutes, and then increases by 3% every two minutes. Successful completion of the test requires you to walk unaided for a total time of 12 minutes with an increasing incline up to 15%. The test ends after 12 minutes, at which the gradient is returned to 0% and the speed reduced to enable the subject to cool down.
Chester Treadmill Walk Test – Speed 6.2km / hr | ||||||
Time (mins) | 0-2 | 2-4 | 4-6 | 6-8 | 8-10 | 10-12 |
Treadmill Gradient | 0% | 3% | 6% | 9% | 12% | 15% |
VO2 (mlsO2/kg/min) oxygen cost | 14 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 36 | 42 |
Before undertaking the assessment, you will be required to answer some questions about your past and current health and undergo a blood pressure assessment to ensure that you are fit to participate in a fitness assessment (see Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire).
Ladder Lift / Lower Simulation (Shoulder Press) – Strength Assessment
One of the main attributes that a Firefighter needs to have is physical strength. Firefighters should have sufficient upper body strength to be able to carry out their duties safely.
At pre-employment check stage, you will be required to successfully complete a ladder lift / lower simulation assessment again. However at this stage, you will be required to successfully lift 30kg using the ladder lift / lower simulation. This is to ensure you have the required level of upper body strength in order to safely carry out the duties of a Firefighter. If you fail to successfully lift 30kg at pre-employment check stage, you will not be appointed to the role and your application will no longer be considered.
*See Practical Aptitude Tests for further guidance on the Ladder Lift / Lower Simulation test.
The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
Prior to taking part in any physical activity you need to make sure that you are fit enough to participate. Please answer the following questions as honestly as possible.
Yes | No | ||
1. | Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity recommended by a doctor? | ||
2. | Do you feel pain in your chest or shortness of breath at rest, during daily activities or living, OR when you do physical activity? | ||
3. | Do you lose balance because of dizziness OR have you lost consciousness in the last 12 months? Please answer NO if your dizziness was associated with over breathing (including during vigorous exercise) | ||
4. | Do you have a bone or joint problem (for example, back, knee or hip) that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity? (If you are currently working operationally, on full duties answer to this question should be NO) | ||
5. | In the past 4 weeks have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure by your GP, OR had new medication for existing high blood pressure? | ||
6. | Are you, or do you have any reason to believe that you may currently be pregnant? Or have you recently given birth? | ||
7. | Do you know of any other reason why you should not do physical activity? |