Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a systematic task analysis process for determination of minimum acceptable job performance in arduous safety-related occupations.
METHODS: A task analysis using modifications on established methods was completed in UK firefighters. Subject-matter experts (all male) identified critical, physically arduous tasks generic to all UK firefighters and developed individual, role-specific task simulations. Video footage and blinded voting were used to determine minimum acceptable task performance.
RESULTS: Eight tasks were identified in combination with role-specific variations, task simulations suitable for use in a physical demands analysis, and corresponding minimum acceptable performance.
CONCLUSIONS: The bespoke steps highlighted here allow structured identification of task-specific minimum performance standards and simulations from which physical employment standards could be based. However, including a more divergent expert panel with respect to age, sex, and race would strengthen the applicability of this framework in future practice.
METHODS: A task analysis using modifications on established methods was completed in UK firefighters. Subject-matter experts (all male) identified critical, physically arduous tasks generic to all UK firefighters and developed individual, role-specific task simulations. Video footage and blinded voting were used to determine minimum acceptable task performance.
RESULTS: Eight tasks were identified in combination with role-specific variations, task simulations suitable for use in a physical demands analysis, and corresponding minimum acceptable performance.
CONCLUSIONS: The bespoke steps highlighted here allow structured identification of task-specific minimum performance standards and simulations from which physical employment standards could be based. However, including a more divergent expert panel with respect to age, sex, and race would strengthen the applicability of this framework in future practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 846-851 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 14 Jun 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Aug 2016 |
Keywords
- Physically demanding occupations
- task analysis
- physical demands analysis
- physical fitness
- physical employment standards