by Lynneth Wolski, Ph.D.

Many companies have embraced the concept of workplace health and have added health perks such as fitness programs, stress management and wholesome snack choices in the lunchroom. Some even offer fitness testing and access to personal trainers to help their employees meet their fitness goals. But what is the role of fitness testing in the corporate setting and how can it benefit both the employees and the employer? Does a company have a right to require employees to undergo fitness testing? What is the relationship between fitness level and the level of productivity and, even more importantly, safety on the job? Does physical fitness have enough of an impact on health, that employers should encourage all of their employees to undergo fitness testing?

In physically demanding occupations such as firefighting, police work and mill work, it has become common to require applicants and incumbent workers to undergo fitness testing to ensure the workers have the physical ability to perform the job tasks safely and effectively. This has occurred for three reasons. First, equal employment opportunity legislation resulted in greater numbers of females and disabled individuals seeking employment in occupations requiring high levels of physical ability. Second, there is evidence suggesting that physically unfit workers had higher incidences of lower back injuries. Lastly, pre-employment medical evaluations used alone are inadequate for personnel selection for a physically demanding job. However, before a physical ability assessment can be used as an applicant screening procedure, it must be properly validated by what is known as a Bona Fide Occupational Requirement (BFOR) with due consideration to the obligations of BC Human Rights or Canada's Human Rights Act. A BFOR is a condition of employment imposed in the sincere belief that it is necessary for safe, efficient and reliable performance of the job, and has objectively been shown to be necessary for such performance. When developing a BFOR for a job, three criteria must be met according to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. There must be:

1. Identification of essential job components (task analysis)
2. Determination of the capacities required for safe, efficient and reliable performance of the essential job components.
3. Assessment of whether the individual has the appropriate capacities necessary for safe, efficient and reliable performance (fitness tests)

Even if an employer does not legally require an individual to have physical fitness in order to perform the required duties, an employee can still benefit from fitness testing. North Americans (yes, this includes Canadians) have the dubious distinction of being the fattest population in the world with all the health problems that go along with it such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer. Physical inactivity is as dangerous to our health as smoking! The benefits of regular physical activity are widely known to include: reduced stress, improved concentration, weight control, reduced illness, better self esteem and stronger muscles and bones - all things that lead to a healthier lifestyle.

The role of physical fitness on the economics of the workplace cannot be overlooked. Some time-loss accidents can be minimized or prevented when a worker has adequate physical fitness. For example, the British Columbia Forest Service Protection Branch implemented fitness testing in the early 1990s after a BC coroner determined that a lack of fitness was a critical factor in the death of a wildland firefighter. When two equally busy fire seasons in British Columbia, 1985 and 1998, were compared to determine the effect of physical fitness on the number of accident and the costs, the results were staggering. In 1985, prior to a required fitness standard for wildland firefighters, there were 893 accidents, costing the province roughly $1,345,795. In 1998, after five years of a mandatory fitness requirement, there were only 131 injuries on the fireline, with a cost of less than $150,000.

Almost all people realize that they need to have a minimal level of fitness to be healthy and perhaps even to perform their jobs well, but most do not know what that level is and where they are in relation. It has also been shown that an individual is much more likely to continue with a physical activity program when they are given attainable fitness goals and a personal fitness program based upon their current level of fitness. Encouraging physical activity and helping employees meet and achieve fitness goals can improve both the personal health of the worker as well as safety and productivity within the workplace.

Lynneth Wolski has her PhD in exercise and occupational physiology. She has a consulting company that specializes in workplace fitness testing, task analysis and in the development of Bona Fide Occupational Fitness Requirements. For more information please call Lynneth Wolski Consulting at (250) 478-3165 or contact Lynneth via email at lwolski@uvic.ca.