scope:

This standard contains descriptive requirements for a comprehensive occupational medical program for fire departments.

The medical requirements in this standard are applicable to fire department candidates and members whose job descriptions as defined by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) are outlined in NFPA1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1003, Standard for Airport Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1006, Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications; and NFPA 1051, Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.

This standard provides information for physicians and other health care providers responsible for fire department occupational medical programs.

These requirements are applicable to public, governmental, military, private, and industrial fire department organizations providing rescue, fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials mitigation, special operations, and other emergency services.

This standard shall not apply to industrial fire brigades that also can be known as emergency brigades, emergency response teams, fire teams, plant emergency organizations, or mine emergency response teams.

Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to outline an occupational medical program that, when implemented in a fire department, will reduce the risk and burden of fire service occupational morbidity and mortality while improving the health, and thus the safety and effectiveness, of fire fighters operating to protect civilian life and property.

Accordingly, the standard specifies the following information:

(1) Minimal medical requirements for candidates as delineated in Chapter 6

(2) Occupational medical and fitness evaluations for members as delineated in Chapters 7 and 8

(3) Information regarding fire department activities and essential job tasks that assist the department physician in providing proper medical support for members

(4) Methods and types of data that must be collected to sustain comprehensive occupational medical programs for fire departments

The implementation of the medical requirements outlined in this standard ensures that candidates and current members are medically capable of performing their required duties and will reduce the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses.

Nothing herein is intended to restrict any jurisdiction from exceeding these minimum requirements.