Physical assessment day
Find out what would be expected of you at a physical assessment day.
There are seven tests to complete for the physical assessment. The aim of the tests are to assess your level of fitness, strength and manual dexterity as well as your level of confidence in simulated exercises.
The ladder climb
- In full personal protective equipment you will need to climb up and down the ladder once in 90 seconds
- Climb the ladder to the top, lock your leg over the ladder and look over your shoulder for the number or letter, then regain your hand hold, remove your leg lock and climb down. You will be allowed two tries and there is no time limit for this part of the assessment
Read the transcript
A person in full personal protective equipment climbs up and down the ladder. They climb the ladder again and lock their leg over the top section and look over their shoulder. They then regain their hand hold and remove their leg lock and descend to the ground.
Hand grip test
- In full personal protective equipment without gloves reach a reading of 35 or above on the dynamometer
- Squeeze the dynamometer as hard as you can on the left hand
- Squeeze the dynamometer as hard as you can on the right hand
Read the transcript
A person in full personal protective equipment without gloves squeezes the dynamometer as hard as they can with their left hand to reach a reading of 35 or above. They repeat this test with their right hand.
The ladder lift
- In full personal protective equipment you will need to lift a15kg weight bar to a height of 190cm three times in 90 seconds
Read the transcript
A person in full personal protective equipment lifts a bar with a 15kg weight on the end to reach the 190cm mark. They lower it back to the resting position and they repeat this action another two times.
Equipment carry
- In full personal protective equipment you will have five minutes and 47 seconds to complete this assessment
- Run the hose reel out to the cone and place the nozzle on the ground and returned to the start
- Pick up two coils of red hose by the handles and carry them for four lengths of the course, placing them back down in the marked space
- Pick up one of the coils of red hose by the lugs and carry it at chest height down to the cone, place it down and then jog three lengths of the course returning to the start
- Pick up and carry the straight hose and basket up for four lengths of the course, placing them back down in the marked space
- Jog for four lengths of the course returning to the start
- Pick up the barbell and carry it for four lengths of the course
Read the transcript
A person runs a hose real to a cone and places the nozzle on the ground. They run back to the fire engine and pick up two coils of red hose by the handles and carry them up and down the course four times, placing them back down in the marked space. The person then picks up one of the coils of red hose and carries it at chest height down to the cone at the end of the course. They place it down and then jog three lengths of the course. The person then picks up a straight house and a basket and carries them up and down the course four times and places them back down in the marked space. They then run four lengths of the course. The person picks up and carries the barbell up and down the course four times.
Equipment assembly
- In full personal protective equipment, you will have five minutes and eight seconds to complete this assessment.
- Following the instructions and diagrams provided, assemble the portable pump unit.
- Then, disassemble the unit in the reverse order, placing each item back on the board in the designated position.
Read the transcript
A person assembles a portable pump unit following instructions and diagrams. They then dissemble the unit in reverse order placing each item on a board in the designated position.
Confined space
- In full personal protective equipment wearing breathing apparatus, with an obscuration mask fitted you will have seven minutes to complete this assessment
- Negotiate your way through the confined space run in the dark by either crawling or walking. There is only one way through the run; forward, left, right, up or down, and no doors to open.
Read the transcript
A person in full personal protective equipment and breathing apparatus is being instructed on how to enter the confined space. They kneel down and crawl through a small door. They then feel their way through the caged confined space in the dark until they reach the end of the course.
Casualty evacuation
- In full personal protective equipment you will have 56 seconds to complete this assessment
- Grasp the carry handle at the back of the dummy’s head with both hands
- Keeping your body upright and your back neutral pick up the dummy and walk backwards dragging the dummy (you will be guided) along the route to the finish line
Read the transcript
A person in full personal protective equipment grabs the carry handle at the back of the dummy’s head with both hands. Keeping their body upright they drag the dummy from along the course, walking backwards and being guided by an instructor. They reach a set of steps and drag the dummy to the top.