2001 Forest Service Direction
File Code: / 5100/6100 / Date: / March 26, 2001Route To:
Subject: / Health Screening Questionnaire
To: / Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director and
WO Staff Directors
Effective immediately, all persons shall fill out the Health Screening Questionnaire (HSQ) prior to conditioning exercises for, or taking, any level of the work capacity tests (WCT). The HSQ must be reviewed by a qualified, certified medical officer (physician, physician’s assistant, or registered nurse) prior to engaging in any activity. The medical officer will determine whether a person is cleared to start conditioning, take a WCT, or whether a physical is required beforehand. People taking any of the Work Capacity Tests, i.e., light duty, field test, or pack test, shall only take that test necessary for their red-carded position as described in the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide (NWCG Publication PMS 310-1) and must be made available for fire assignment. Revisions to the administrator’s guide are forthcoming. This change to the April 14, 2000, Memorandum of Understanding concerning WCT procedures has been agreed upon by the Forest Service Partnership Council. If there are any questions, please contact your Regional Safety Officer or the National Ground Safety Officer.
/s/ Michael T. Rains
MICHAEL T. RAINS
Deputy Chief
State and Private Forestry
WORK CAPACITY TESTS FOR WILDLAND FIRE QUALIFICATIONS
FITNESS STANDARDS FOR WILDLAND FIRE POSITIONS
The fitness standards are described in the "Wildland Fire Qualification Subsystem Guide" 310-1. The Guide describes four fitness categories; Arduous, Moderate, Light and None and assigns one category as the standard for positions identified in the guide.
TESTING FOR FITNESS STANDARDS FOR WILDLAND FIRE POSITIONS
The Work Capacity Tests for Wildland Firefighters (WCT) described in "Work Capacity Tests for Wildland Firefighters, Test Administrator's Guide", March 1998, Missoula Technology and Development Center, 9851-2810-MTDC, are the exclusive tests used by the Forest Service to determine whether a person meets the required fitness standard. The publication describes the PACK Test for Arduous positions, FIELD Test for Moderate positions and the WALK Test for Light positions and contains the instructions for conducting the tests.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORK CAPACITY TESTS
The purpose for including the fitness element in Wildland Fire Qualification System is to ensure persons assigned to fire activities do not become injured or ill because they do not have the fitness level required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job. The degree of fitness required ranges significantly between the ARDUOUS and LIGHT levels. The program to become physically fit before taking a WCT varies in intensity of work and the amount of time needed. The following describes a process beginning well before WCT's are conducted and carries through the actual testing. The steps are intended to make sure employees are not only fit enough to safely perform their fire duties but also to ensure they do not get injured or suffer an in illness during fitness training or while taking a WCT. The elements of the implementation include:
1. Determining which fire positions employees and prospective employees will fill.
2. Providing information to employees and prospective employees.
3. Health Assessments.
4. Physical Medical examinations.
5. Testing.
The "Associated Forms, Documents and Publications" section of this report includes materials needed to implement the guide.
1. DETERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES' ROLES IN FIRE PROGRAM
Each employee involved with or wanting to be involved with fire programs will work with Fire Program Managers to determine appropriate positions considering factors such as medical condition, physical condition and desire to achieve and maintain fitness levels required to perform the duties of targeted jobs. Positions targeted must be consistent with the considerations. The target positions should be discussed annually prior to scheduling training and beginning fitness training in preparation for fitness work capacity tests.
2. INFORMING EMPLOYEES AND PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES OF FITNESS EXPECTATIONS
All persons expected to perform fire duties and take a WCT to qualify for fire positions must be informed of the requirement in a timely manner. Those required to pass the Pack Test should be informed at least four weeks prior to a scheduled WCT to allow time for fitness training. Each must be notified of the nature of the work expected to be performed, the WCT required, how to prepare for the test and the approximate date of the test. A health assessment, PREPARTICIPATION HEALTH SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE (HSQ) will be provided to each person to perform a personal assessment with instructions for its use. Individuals required to obtain a physical examination will be provided the information needed to obtain one.
Career and Career Conditional employees or Term Employees with a term greater than one year
The expectations should be explained during the meeting with the Fire Program Manager when fire program positions are targeted. The applicable WCT will be identified and the employee should be informed of the approximate test date to allow time for fitness training prior to the test. Information related to fitness training, training for the WCT and the WCT to be taken shall be made available to the employee.
A health assessment (HSQ) will be given to the employee with instructions to complete it, sign it and return it. An addressed envelope marked "CONFIDENTIAL" will be provided to return the HSQ to the Fire Program Manager.
Each individual is responsible for their physical condition and their health: no amount of health screening or medical examination can insure your safety on a work capacity test or during wildfire suppression activities. If you are uncertain about the condition of your health, if you have been inactive, or if you are seriously under or overweight, you should consult your personal physician before taking a WCT or engaging in wildfire suppression activities..
Temporary Employees
There are at least two situations involving temporary employees who will be involved with fire activities requiring different processes. The first involves temporary employees to be hired to fill fire positions that require them to pass a WCT (usually the Pack Test for the Arduous level) to be able to perform the job they are hired to do. The second involves temporary employees not hired to fill a fire position but who will be assigned to perform fire activities.
Temporary employees required to pass a WCT as a condition of employment will be provided one opportunity to pass the requied test with a second chance provided at the discretion of management based on the results of the first test.
Hired for a Fire Position-
The expectations and requirements must be explained in a pre-employment letter received in time for the individual to become physically fit ( recommended not mandatory no less than 4 weeks prior to the scheduled WCT date). The pre-employment letter will include information about the work to be performed, the WCT to be taken, and how to prepare for the WCT. The letter will include the approximate date of the WCT and explain the consequences of not passing the WCT. A copy of the health assessment (HSQ) will be included for the optional and personal use of the individual. It will not be returned to the Forest Service.
Not Hired for a Fire Position
If the person will be subject to fire assignments but is not required for the position being filled, the expectations must be described in a pre-employment letter received in time for the individual to become physically fit (not less than four weeks prior to the scheduled WCT date). The pre-employment letter will include information about the work to be performed, the WCT to be taken, and how to prepare for the WCT. The letter will include the approximate date of the WCT and explain any consequences of not passing the WCT. The pre-employment letter will include a copy of the health assessment (HSQ) for the optional and personal use of the individual. It will not be returned to the Forest Service.
Casual (EFF) Employees
The announcement of intent to hire casual employees should include information about the type of work to be performed, if passing a physical examination is required, if passing a WCT is required, and if so, a brief description of the WCT required. Persons hired as casual firefighters (Arduous level) will be provided a physical examination paid for by the Forest Service, or arranged for at no cost to the applicant, before taking the Pack Test. No health assessment (HSQ) form will given to potential casual firefighters.
Retesting if the WCT is not passed - The goal is to have provided appropriate information to people within a time frame that allows them to become physically fit enough to pass the required test the first try. However, if they do not the following is applicable:
Temporary employees required to pass a WCT as a condition of employment will be provided one opportunity to pass the required test with a second chance provided at the discretion of management based on the results of the first test.
Permanent personnel required to pass a WCT for their jobs will be provided three chances within a two week period to pass the required test before permanent action is initiated to address their fitness limitations.
Permanent and temporary personnel who do not perform Arduous firefighter assignments as a recurring part of their position but who are authorized to perform such duties, may be retested as many times as management deems appropriate.
There are several sources of information about fitness and WCT available to provide to personnel required to pass one of the WCT. All individuals required to take a WCT will receive copies of:
Fit to Work (9751-2847-MTDC)
The Pack Test (FS 617- February, 1998)
The Fit to Work and The Pack Test to be combined into 1 color document
WCT, Questions and Answers
The publication, Fitness and Work Capacity, 2nd edition, (NFES - 1596) is for optional use. It is 78 pages with a great deal of information about fitness and work capacity, health, safety and performance and fit-to-work topics.
3. HEALTH ASSESSMENT
A health assessment , PREPARTICIPATION HEALTH SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE, (HSQ) is used for self screening employees involved with fire management programs. It is based on a questionnaire developed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine for use by Health/Fitness facilities for cardiovascular screening of people who would be participating in "...high-intensity recreational physical activity (e.g., basketball, tennis, racquetball and swim clubs)". The physical requirements of many of the activities are similar to those required by firefighting tasks - others are more demanding than firefighting. The questionnaire is a single page document to be completed by the individual. The HSQ includes guidance to the person completing it based on his/her responses whether or not to proceed with exercise or to consult a healthcare provider before proceeding. The HSQ contains confidential information and must be handled accordingly if it is used to collect information from employees. Completed forms will be mailed directly to the Fire
Program Manager for evaluation review and appropriate actions. It will be filed in the medical section of the employees official personnel record.
The Forest Service use of the HSQ depends on the employment status of the individual, described work duties and the fitness level required. It can be used to obtain information only from persons who are employed by the Forest Service at the time. Pending OMB Approval. It cannot be used to obtain information from persons not currently employed by the Forest Service. It may be provided to them for their personal use as long as the information is not collected by the Forest Service.
Career and Career Conditional employees or Term Employees with a term greater than one year
All employees required to pass a WCT will receive a copy of HSQ prior to the time they begin a fitness program but not fewer than four weeks prior to the WCT date. Those required to meet the Arduous fitness level will complete it and return it to the unit Fire Program Manager for review and action. Those not required to meet the Arduous fitness level will be informed the use is optional and any action in response to completing the questionnaire would be at their option and up to them personally.
Temporary Employees
Prospective employees in this group will receive a copy of the HSQ with their pre-employment letters with instructions it is for their use at their option in the interest of their safety and health if they are going to begin or intensify a personal fitness development program. When those who will be taking the Pack Test report to work and are officially employees, each will be given a copy of the HSQ with instructions to complete it and return it to the unit Fire Program Manager for evaluation and action if needed.
Casual (EFF) Employees
Applicants for casual employment will not be given the HSQ.
Evaluating HSQ forms for individuals required to take the Pack Test
Completed HSQ's required to be returned to the unit Fire Program Manager by employees required to take the Pack Test will be evaluated to determine whether each individual can take the Pack Test or if a medical evaluation is needed based on the responses on the questionnaire. If an individual marks any statement in the "HISTORY" section a medical consultation is needed before the Pack Test is taken. If two or more statements are marked in the CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS section medical consultation is needed before the Pack Test may be taken. If medical consultation medical review is indicated the employee should be notified and advised to cease fitness training until consultation medical review is received. No one needing When the HSQ results indicate a medical review is necessary consultation the individual will not be allowed to participate in fitness training on official time until a medical clearance review is obtained. A physical examination will be arranged for anyone required to meet the Arduous fitness level and has shown a need for medical consultation. The Forest Service will pay for the physical medical examination.