Firefighter fitness and pensions

Conference notes some recent important developments on fitness, which strengthen
the union’s case on pensions, notably the first meeting of the Joint Working Group
(JWG) on Firefighter Fitness on 31 March 2015. The Working Group received a
presentation by Dr James Bilzon on ‘Occupational fitness standards for operational
UK fire and rescue service (FRS) personnel’, which reinforced the importance of
fitness standards to ensure that all firefighters are fit enough to safely and effectively
perform all the necessary requirements of their role.

This report highlights a number of points that support the FBU’s stance in the ongoing
pension campaign. He reiterated the conclusion of his most recent report into
operational fitness standards for UK fire and rescue services:
‘firefighters with an aerobic capacity below an occupational fitness standard of
42.3 mL.kg-1.min-1 would not be guaranteed to be safe and effective in their ability
to complete necessary roles within their occupation. Although this does not greatly
differ from the current fitness standard of 42 mL.kg-1.min-1, it does indicate that
the lower VO2 max standard of 35 mL.kg-1.min-1 for continuation of work with
remedial training amongst operational firefighters is potentially unsafe for the
majority of firefighters.’

Conference notes that this undermines DCLG’s suggestion that 100% of firefighters
can remain operationally fit until age 60 by using the 35 VO2 standard. The research
supports the FBU’s case that the majority of firefighters are unlikely to be able to
maintain their operational fitness beyond age 55.

Conference does not accept the recommendation that a lower fitness standard of
36.8 mL.kg-1.min-1 be used for incident command roles.

Conference notes that as far back as 1988, the FBU took part in a joint working party
on appointment provisions and supported a recommendation that all applicants to the
fire service should have an aerobic capacity of 45mL.kg-1.min-1 or greater. The union
subsequently took part in the research that led to the introduction of the National
Firefighters Selection Test (NFST).

Conference endorses the recommendations made by the Executive Council on 30
April 2015:

● On the need for an occupational fitness standard for all firefighters in the UK
● That this standard should be based around the recommended fitness
standard of 42.3 VO2 for all firefighting roles
● To immediately explore the extent of employers’ duty of care responsibilities
in relation to this and challenge as appropriate
● That ‘during career’ tests and standards must be objectively and clearly
linked to the requirements of the job
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● To explore the issue of differing fitness levels for firefighting roles and other
roles in more detail and agree a position in the future
● To support the request from Firefit to involve members in the selected
brigades
● To communicate this position to members
● For FBU officials to formally meet with the Firefit chair to discuss their work in
more detail
● To ensure that all ongoing work is closely monitored and any decision is
revisited if necessary in the future

Conference calls for further work to be undertaken by the union to ensure that all
firefighters can safely and effectively perform all of the necessary requirements of their
role. This work should be part of a continuing campaign to develop and defend
professional standards in relation to all aspects of our service including appropriate
pensions arrangements.