Mines Rescue / Emergency Response Testing

AIM

• To perform a fitness and musculoskeletal assessment of prospective and current mines rescue / emergency response members according to the guidelines established by the Department of Industry and Resources – Fitness for Mines Rescue Personnel (1997).

• To ensure that ERT members are in good health and physically fit and are capable of performing long and arduous physical labour.

TESTING PROTOCOLS

• Review patient questionnaire. Ensure no contraindications are present for ERT members (Table 1).

• Take baseline data including resting heart rate, blood pressure and weight.

Fitness / Cardiovascular Test:

• Perform Astrand cardiovascular fitness test as per standardize protocol.

• Acceptable range:

o 40 ml/min/kg males

o 35 ml/min/kg females

Musculoskeletal Fitness (with SCBA):

• Performed whilst wearing SCBA backpack

• Acceptable sequence: 25 to 30 minutes

• Sequence:

Walk 500 m

• On treadmill. Brisk pace, recommend 6 kph. Client can increase speed but cannot run / jog.

Walk 200m up 10% incline

• Brisk pace, recommend 6kph. Client can increase speed but cannot run / jog. Incline to 10%.

Shovel 5kg 50 times to height of 44 gallon drum

• Monitor shovelling technique for fatigue in upper extremities, poor spinal control, etc.

Move 10kg at a height of 1m x 15m

• 10kg plate held to chest and client is asked to squat walk (1m height).

• Monitor ability to sustain posture, control of lower extremities, spinal posture.

Move 10kg at a height of 1m x 15m

• Client holds 2 x 10kg dumbbells and walks a distance of 10 m ten times.

• Monitor control of load, control of lower extremities.

Saw with wall pulleys x 5minutes

• Monitor glenohumeral movement and scapular control, evidence of fatigue, symptoms, etc.

Walk 500 m

• On treadmill. Brisk pace, recommend 6 kph. Client can increase but cannot run / jog.

STOP TESTING / DEFER TESTING

• High resting blood pressure.

• High resting heart rate.

• Exceeding maximal heart rate.

• Symptomatic (dizziness, excessive shortness of breath) or not safe.

DOCUMENTATION

• If they do not achieve an acceptable range on both tests then rate them as UNACCEPTABLE. Please comment on reasons for rating (i.e. weight, cardiovascular fitness, medication, wellness, etc.).

• If an individual scores close on the cardiovascular test rate them as RESTRICTED. This would generally encompass people who are carrying a little bit too much weight or who have not been performing regular cardiovascular exercise. Provide them with guidelines and suggestions on how to improve.

• If they have significantly failed you should rate them as UNACCEPTABLE and provide them with guidelines and suggestions on how to improve.