PHYSICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERS
It is the
policy of the State Board that any individual under 16 years
of age is not eligible for coverage. In all other cases,
membership eligibility is a matter determined at the local
level by each individual department. The State Board does make
some recommendations regarding the physical ability of a
person to perform the work required of a firefighter or
reserve officer.
Physical
Examinations for New Members
The State Board
recommends that each department require a physical examination
for prospective members in order to determine if they are
physically fit for the job. The State Board will pay a portion
of the cost of each such physical examination. To claim that
portion, it is necessary to submit to the State Board an
invoice voucher payable to the doctor who performed the
examination, with the doctor’s tax identification number in
the payee box, and approved by the Local Board of Trustees.
This voucher may be signed by the doctor or have the original
bill attached. If the department prefers to pay the doctor
directly and then request reimbursement from the State Board,
the voucher should be made payable to the municipality or
department, signed by the secretary of the Local Board of
Trustees as the payee, approved by the Local Board of
Trustees, and sent to the State Board with proof of payment
and a copy of the doctor’s bill attached.
Physical
Agility Tests
The State Board also
recommends that departments require that prospective members
pass some form of physical agility test to be sure that they
are capable of the type of hard work required of them. The
State Board has compiled a set of physical agility tests that
have been used in various fire departments in the state and
makes them available to interested fire departments upon
request.
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