Fort Worth Fire Department Standards of Readiness PDF

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TITLE: ADMINISTRATION, STANDARDS OF READINESS NUMBER: S 1001 R6 EFFECTIVE: November 1, 2023 REPLACES: S 1001 R5 (6....

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TITLE: ADMINISTRATION, STANDARDS OF READINESS NUMBER: S 1001 R6 EFFECTIVE: November 1, 2023 REPLACES: S 1001 R5 (6.21.23) James Davis ACCOUNTABILITY: ADMINISTRATION Fire Chief REVIEW CYCLE: ANNUAL Purpose: To ensure that all Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) civil service personnel maintain a minimum fitness level in the Green category as determined by their annual physicals. General Information I. Personnel shall have an annual physical provided by the health and fitness provider under contract with the City of Fort Worth. II. The annual medical evaluation consists of many components and is outlined in the National Fire Protection Association 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. As it relates to physical fitness, the departments health and fitness provider will utilize the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to evaluate all personnel. CPET is considered the gold standard for evaluating aerobic capacity and allows for the measurement of a member's aerobic capacity (i.e. VO2 Max). Ill. Personnel completing the physical evaluation shall be assigned to a fitness category based on the results of their CPET. Fitness categories are determined by measuring aerobic capacity (VO2 Max) and is represented in mUkg/min. Measured VO2 Max results will place them into one of three categories; Green, Yellow, Red. Red - VO2 Max under 20 Yellow - VO2 Max 20-24.99 Green - VO2 Max 25 and over IV. Up-slip- A document provided to fire personnel by our Health and Fitness Provider, that places the employee in the Yellow Category. This recommendation is made when there is a reasonable expectation that the firefighter can return to the Green Category within 30-90 days V. Down-slip- A document provided to fire personnel by our Health and Fitness Provider, that places the employee in the Red category. This recommendation is made when there is a reasonable expectation that the firefighter cannot return to the Green Category within 90 days and will need a longer period of time to rehabilitate, or seek further medical care Instructions/Procedures: I. Personnel scoring in the green category shall be allowed to work in the Operations Division without any restrictions. FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1001 R6 ADMINISTRATION, STANDARDS OF READINESS November 1, 2023 PAGE 2 OF 4 II. Personnel scoring in the Yellow category will be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Officer and the Return to Work Coordinator. A All personnel scoring in the Yellow category will remain in their assigned position but shall be required to participate in a fitness rehabilitation program and /or referral process which includes: 1. Meeting with the Athletic Trainer who shall prescribe a workout program and a nutritional guide. The workout program will consist of monitored workouts. 2. Participating in a monthly evaluation by the Occupational Safety and Health Officer and the Athletic Trainer 3. Adhering to the timeline of the UP=Slip, if received B. Personnel will be allowed to remain in the Yellow category for a specific number of days according to their age groups as follows: Group number AQe ranQe Max days allowed in Yellow 1 18-29 30 2 30-39 60 3 40-49 90 4 50-59 120 5 60 and over 150 C. Personnel in Group 1 shall be retested by the health and fitness provider at the 30-day mark from their entry date into the rehab program. Groups 2-5 will be tested at the midpoint of the maximal allowable days and again at the end of the time frame. Personnel can be tested sooner if approved by the Athletic Trainer. D. Operations personnel who are unable to reach the Green category by the end their assigned timeframe shall be placed in to the Red category. In addition, these personal shall: 1. Be removed from Operations-and-assigned to a 40-hour workweek 2. Have supervised workouts, and 3. Be ineligible to work Operations overtime E. Non-Operations personnel who are unable to reach the Green category by the end their assigned timeframe shall be placed in to the Red category. In addition, these personal shall: 1. Have their schedules modified to include supervised workouts. 2. Be ineligible to work Operations overtime. F. Personnel in the Red category shall be tested every 30-45 days until they reach the Green category. G. Personnel who fail to reach the Green category within 1 year of entering the fitness rehabilitation program may be subject to disciplinary action including a fitness-for-duty evaluation. FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1001 R6 ADMINISTRATION, STANDARDS OF READINESS November 1, 2023 PAGE 3 OF 4 Ill. Personnel scoring in the Red category will be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Officer and the Return to Work Coordinator. A. Operations personnel scoring in the Red category shall: 1. Be removed from Operations and assigned to a 40-hour work week 2. Be required to participate in a fitness rehabilitation program: 3. Meet with the Athletic Trainer who shall prescribe a workout program and a nutritional guide. The workout program will consist of supervised workouts at the Fire Training Center or other site deemed appropriate by the Athletic Trainer. 4. Be ineligible to work Operations overtime 5. Participate in a monthly evaluation by the Athletic Trainer and Occupational Safety and Health Officer. 6. Adhere to the timeline of the Down-Slip, if received 8. Operations personnel shall be retested by the health and fitness provider every 30-45 days after entering the fitness rehabilitation program until they reach the Yellow category. C. Personnel may return to the Operations Division after: 1. Retesting with the Health and Fitness provider and scoring, at minimum, in the Yellow category, and 2. Being subject to the guidelines of the Yellow category. D. Personnel who fail to reach the Green category within a year of entering the fitness and rehabilitation program may be subject to disciplinary action including a fitness-for-duty evaluation. E. Non-Operations personnel scoring in the Red category shall have their schedule modified to include supervised workouts and will adhere to measures outlined below: 1. Meeting with the Athletic Trainer who shall prescribe a workout program and a nutritional guide. The workout program will consist of supervised workouts. These workouts will take place at the Fire Training Center or site deemed appropriate by the Athletic Trainer. 2. Ineligible to work Operations overtime 3. Participating in a monthly evaluation by the Athletic Trainer and the Occupational Safety and Health Officer 4. Adhere to the trimline of the Down-Slip, if received F. Personnel shall-be retested by the health and fitness provider every 30-45 days after entering the fitness rehabilitation program until they reach the Yellow category. G. Personnel may return to their regular assignment after: 1. Retesting with the health and fitness provider and scoring, at minimum, in the Yellow category, and 2. Being subject to the guidelines of the Yellow category. H. Personnel who fail to reach the Green category within a year of entering the program may be subject to disciplinary action, including a fitness-for-duty evaluation. FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE S 1001 R6 ADMINISTRATION, STANDARDS OF READINESS November 1, 2023 PAGE 4 OF 4 IV. Any personnel failing to report for an annual physical or bloodwork may be subject to disciplinary action Referral Procedures: I. Referrals will be given by the Health and Fitness provider for health-related issues. Fire Personnel are required to follow the referral process if they receive one for the following: 1. VO2 under 20- This constitutes a down-slip (Red Category) 2. A 1C over 8.0% will result in a Down-Slip (red Category) 3. A resting blood pressure over 160 Systolic or 100 Diastolic or both. This constitutes an Up-Slip (Yellow Category) of 30 days, with retesting at the expiration of the Up­ Slip. If firefighters blood pressure is not controlled within this period of time, they will be placed in the Red Category 4. Hematocrit over 53.0%- This constitutes a 30 day up-slip (Yellow Category) with retesting at the expiration of the Up-Slip. If the firefighter's hematocrit is not below 53.0% by the expiration of the 30 day Up-Slip they will be placed into the Red Category 5. Significant changes from your last physical- In this instance, the firefighter may have been considered "green" as it relates to VO2 Max, but the Health and Fitness provider has found an additional issue, or a constellation of issues that would not otherwise place the firefighter in the yellow or red category but when put together are concerning for the firefighter's health, safety or that of their teammates. This determination may result in a 90-day Up-Slip (Yellow Category), or if concerning enough a Down-Slip (Red Category). Firefighters placed in the Yellow Category who fail to appropriately address the issues discovered, or fail to obtain the necessary specialty evaluations will be placed into the Red Category A Personnel failing to comply with the timelines associated with the referral will be lowered to the Red Category and subjected to those restrictions 8. Personnel failing to comply with the timelines associated with the referral may be subject to disciplinary action References: Frontline Monday Board Report Texas Lo al overnment Code Chapter143