Affiliations: Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW, Australia
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Herbert Groeller, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 4221 3461; Fax: +61 2 4221 5945; E-mail: hgroell@uow.edu.au.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Given the physical demands of mining and rescue operations, a physical employment standard was warranted to ensure capable workers are selected. While evaluations of muscular strength and muscular and cardiorespiratory endurance domains are common, assessment of a worker’s ability to meet the physically demanding postural requirements is often neglected. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this investigation was to develop a valid assessment for NSW Mines Rescue Brigadesmen that replicated the combined muscular and cardiorespiratory endurance and postural demands of constructing a timber pillar. METHODS:Oxygen consumption ()
V̇
O2) was measured and dominant postures identified when incumbent Brigadesmen constructed a timber pillar. A shelf-stacking assessment was designed and validated. RESULTS:When Brigadesmen performed the block placement role, the task elicited a mean
V̇
O2 of 1.6 L.min–1, and required repeated placement of ∼8.7 kg blocks from 0 to 3.0 m. A shelf stacking assessment (5 min, mean
V̇
O2 1.7 L.min–1) replicating dominant postures and requiring repeated block placement at 0, 0.65, 1.10, 1.64 and 2.20 m was developed. The demand of the test, performed within a discontinuous circuit, was subsequently verified (1.6 L.min–1). CONCLUSIONS:A valid, physiological aptitude test that considered the job-related movement patterns, in addition to cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance requirements, was developed for Brigadesmen.
