Fire Service Fitness Advisor brings groundbreaking guidance to fire services for injured firefighters returning to work

Having completed a PhD in Sports and Exercise Science, Dr Liam Noll has brought guidance into Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to introduce a first of its kind support system that can be adopted by fire services nationally. 

Liam’s work to implement the Fit for Duty screening tool marks a significant milestone in his field and will positively impact firefighters by assessing readiness to return to operational duties following musculoskeletal injury.

Previously, there was no guidance and research for firefighters returning to work post injury, so Liam embarked on a four-year PhD in Sports and Exercise Science to see how he could best support his colleagues.

Studying alongside his busy day job during a global pandemic, Liam worked tirelessly to complete his PhD which has seen him introduce in a first of its kind Fit for Duty screening tool which is now part of ECFRS Attendance Policy.

He said: “Since the research has finished, we now have research backed guidance on how we should assess firefighters following an injury and as such, we have now implemented the Fit for Duty screening tool within ECFRS’ return to work policy and we are currently in the process of using that.

“The reason for the screening tool is to assess a firefighters ability to meet the minimum physical requirements of their role. Previous research has indicated that returning to work without being able to meet these physical requirements increases the risk of re-injury.

“By implementing this screening tool, we now have a method to assess a firefighters physical readiness to return to operational duties in a safer way, with the aim of reducing re-injury rates and sickness across UK fire and rescue services.”

With agreement from fitness advisors, occupational health doctors, operational trainers and firefighters from services across the UK, Liam created the Fit for Duty screening tool which will begin with an aerobic fitness test.

The Fit for Duty screening tool can help in assessing a firefighter’s readiness to return to operational duties following musculoskeletal injury.

A firefighter is required to achieve a VO2 max level of 42.3ml/kg/min or higher before returning to operational duties, in accordance with national guidance for firefighter fitness.

The Fit for Duty screening tool tasks include:

• putting on and removing a Breathing Apparatus set
• a ladder lift simulation
• a ladder carry simulation (using a dumbbell)
• a light portable pump carry simulation (using a barbell or dumbbells)
• a hose run and carry
• a casualty evacuation with a 55kg dummy
• a ladder climb with leg lock

Tasks can be completed in any order and will be carried out under the supervision of a Fitness Advisor. It is suggested that firefighters pass all tasks before being permitted to return to operational duties.

This is just the beginning of Liam’s journey toward making a substantial impact on UK fire services. Liam is poised to continue driving positive change and enhancing support structures for firefighters returning to work after injury.

Through Liam’s research, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is the first fire service in the UK to start using the Fit for Duty screening tool. Liam has been asked to present at the Fire Chiefs Council’s FireFit conference in November to show how his policy could benefit fire services nationally.

His dedication and contributions are sure to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless firefighters and their communities.

Liam said: “Throughout my time doing my PhD, I was supported by all members of staff at ECFRS and that really helped to motivate me throughout my research journey over the last four years.

“If anyone is thinking about doing any CPD and doing extra learning, I think it’s really beneficial. I had a goal in mind to help provide a change within the Service and if anyone has any ideas like that and can do some studying alongside that. It’s not easy to do it alongside a full time job but I would definitely recommend it.”

Liam’s research papers have been published by the MDPI, which publishes medical and scientific journals across the world, and Physical Therapy in Sport journal.

Liam, who joined our Service in 2013, presented his research at the National Fire Chiefs Council’s FireFit conference in 2022 and is due to present how the policy is being implemented at the FireFit conference in November 2024.

He was named Support Colleague of the Year at ECFRS’ People Awards in March. He was also shortlisted for the Training Provider of the Year for his firefighter return to work project at the Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards 2023.