Physical Tests (advice)

[paleredfox]

Does anyone have any advice or information on how to improve and pass each stage of the physical tests?
Ladder Climb, BA exercise, hose running, ladder extension etc etc

This is my third application and each time i have failed at the physical tests. My feedback shows me that i have failed overall by 1 or 2 marks each time.

I am lucky enough that my dad is retained so had use of hoses, ladders etc etc for previous tests and thought that i was fairly well prepared.

Its very frustrating as im a fit and active individual but just have no idea what is going wrong.

The bleep test is no problem luckily!

Any help, advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

[Cat]

Hi paleredfox,

Some of tests you mention sound like the old fitness tests.  I'm not sure how much this will help you but in case you didn't know, they have recently changed to (sorry if you already know this):

Ladder ascent and descent - The ones I have done are all untimed so you just have to demonstrate your ability to work at heights.

Casualty evacuation - Drag a 55Kg dummy round 3 sides of a square (30m) in a set time.  The last time I did it I had 41 seconds so as long as you follow their instructions on how to do it safely and be able to do it in the time you should pass.

Ladder Simulation Lift - There's a long metal bar on a pivot.  There is a cradle next to where you hold and a maximum of 15kg is added.  You pull the bar up to chest height, change grip and push up to a set height (its to simulate replacing a ladder on an appliance.)  This is again untimed.

Dexterity Test - You have to make up a particular piece of equipment by following pictures and instructions in front of you.  This again is timed.

BA Crawl and Walkway - You have to follow a set route twice.  The first time you have a clear mask which for the second time is blanked out.  This again is timed.

The final test is the equipment carry - 2 cones either 20/25m apart (I have seen both distances)
Pull a hose reel off a fire engine and run back to appliance
Walk with 2 rolls of hose at waist height there and back twice
Put one down and walk one length holding the hose by the lugs at chest height
Run 3 lengths
Pick up a length of hard suction hose and basket filler and go there and back twice.
Run there and back twice
Pick up a bar with a weight simulating 4 people carrying a 100kg portable pump and go there and back twice.  (I have seen and been told different weights for this but I believe it should be a maximum weight of 25kg).

There's no hose running now and only some fire services still include a bleep test which when I did it was lowered from 9.6 to 8.7.  May I ask how you got feedback on your performance cause all the fire services I have applied to won't provide individual feedback and I'd love to know where I'm going wrong so I can fix it too?  Good luck with your applications.

[paleredfox]

The current recruitment in Scotland is a joint firefighter board which includes Lothian, Central and Fife fire brigades.

Im aware that there are differences regarding the different recruitment methods employed by the respective fire brigades.

The Last recruitment (2007/2008) still involved ladder extension, dead lift, hose running, BA exercise (cages) and ladder climb - all done in a half
I try to take one stage at a time but to be honest i have not checked the application pack as yet for changes as i have yet to receive results for the Examination stage.

With regard to the feedback, if you were unsuccessful you simply requested feedback from the fire authority you applied for and they sent you a single sheet with your respective scores usually out of 30 so you can see where you scored low.  This included your marks for the intial questionaire and psychometric profiling questions. - to be honest it was not THAT great a help as if you miss out by such a fine margin you can obviously improve your weak parts but the next year i scored lower in parts i had scored very high in previously! aarrrggghhh!

[Cat]

Like you, I knew there were some differences between the individual fire services but I didn't realise some were still using the older system, I thought everything was changed over at the beginning of the year, my fault for assuming.

The joint fire board sounds similar to the Welsh fire services as well, they seem to combine some of their recruitment too. I also agree with you, taking one step at a time, I think you need to pace yourself with these applications.  Thanks for the info on the feedback, I probably won't be able to get any then cause the fire services I've applied to say not to ask for individual feedback.

Hopefully someone with a bit more experience might be able to give you more help.  Good luck with your applications anyway.