Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay?

Riley Webb

English 301

May 10, 2017

Annotated Bibliography APA: REVISED

Working Title:

Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay?

Research Question:

Is it ethical to decide a firefighters salary and/or pay incentive according to his or her health and
fitness?

Working Thesis:

Salary and pay incentives should increase for firefighters due to the immense workloads,

dangerous hazards that they encounter and for the rigorous training they do on and off the job.

Introduction:

As noted by the National Fire Protection Agency Standard 1583, firefighters are held to a

standard fitness, often dictated by their department (Squeglia, 2012). In order to obtain a

firefighter position, individuals must master and demonstrate specific physical demands, such as

the Biddle and CPAT, physical ability tests designed to simulate many of the strains of

firefighting. Each department requires mastery of one or the other prior to other levels of

employment testing. Currently, firefighters have a designated time within the day for working

out. This allows them to maintain stamina, as well as to minimize the physical demands of the

job. There is talk amongst other departments about the possibility of introducing a new policy,

both foreign and domestic, that would allow pay incentives for firefighters health and fitness

(Blacksell, 2015). Considering the health and fitness of many firefighters today, it would be

justifiable to include a pay incentive for maintenance of health and fitness. Not only does this
 Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay? 2

make for positive future health benefits, but it also encourages a healthy lifestyle for firefighters.

Throughout the year, firefighters undergo rigorous testing to determine their level of fitness has

either been maintained or improved. They also undergo testing each and every year to determine

their level of fitness (Bodle, 2009).

Studies show the economic effect of the unions and negative impact it has on the

community it surrounds (Ichniowski, 1980). People reject these incentives and feel them as a

negative impact due to the lack of physical fitness or the self-doubt that one might have. We must

also factor in the many firefighters who wish not to participate in the extra physical fitness or

health that is already mandatory; therefore, many reject the new proposal for pay incentives.

Firefighters have to satisfy many physical and professional exams; however, there is pressure to

maintain their health in the coming years for job security (Egherman, 2013). The majority of

their workouts consist of aerobic and HIIT training (High Intensity Interval Training). This

allows them to work their cardiac muscles harder and put stress in a place that requires the most

of their energy. Overall, for what firefighters have to endure, and the training that takes place, it

would be a necessity for firefighters to have a salary and pay incentive. Wouldnt you want

someone who has training, endurance, and stamina to save you and your home?
 Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay? 3

Annotations:

Bodle, C. (2009). Firefighter Health and Fitness (Master's thesis). Retrieved from

http://ceas.uc.edu/content/dam/aero/docs/fire/Papers/FST385_Term_Paper.pdf

This article makes the connection between firefighter deaths with and without an incentive

program to determine their overall success.

I am able to use this articles findings to justify the importance of firefighters health and fitness.

Without an incentive program in place, there are more line of duty deaths, due to the lack of

stamina and endurance. This goes to show that without an incentive in place, firefighters are only

doing the bare minimum. With the incentive program, they are able to accrue more time off,

higher pay each paycheck, and an overall higher salary with more time for physical fitness and

health. It is essential that an incentive program be put in place and adhered to by all departments.

Egherman, M. (2013, August 30). Firefighter Fitness Programs & Fitness Accountability. Fire

Rescue. Retrieved from http://www.firerescuemagazine.com/articles/print/volume-

8/issue-11/firefighter-fitness-and-health/firefighter-fitness-programs-fitness-

accountability.html

The article presents the different programs that firefighters can use to increase their workload

capacity, fitness, and overall health in the department.

This article allows me to express my concern for fitness in the fire department, while examining

the different schedules and workouts that are available to firefighters. This also allows me to

piggyback off my main topic, that if firefighters are going to be held accountable for their fitness,

then they need a professional teaching how they can obtain it without it coming out of pocket, or
 Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay? 4

it being expected without any previous knowledge. Without the knowledge and proper training,

firefighters are at more risk and can no longer be held accountable for themselves or others.

Ichniowski, C. (1980, January 1). Economic Effects of the Firefighters' Union. ILR Review.

Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/001979398003300205?

journalCode=ilra

This article talks about the negative effects of firefighter pay incentives in the economy and

unions for firefighters.

With this article, I am able to have my counter argument and show the negative aspect of the

firefighter pay incentive. It allows me to use the firefighter pay incentive to my advantage,

allowing me to describe why it is a good thing and how it can have a positive effect/ outcome

versus a negative. I am able to further express my passion towards a healthier and more

physically fit lifestyle set for the community.

Squeglia, G. (2012, November 12). Implementing NFPA 1583: Standard on Health-Related

Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members. EMS News. Retrieved from

http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2012/11/implementing-nfpa-1583-standard-for-

health-related-fitness-programs-for-fire-department-members.html

This article introduces the NFPA 1583, the standard regulation and guidelines that are set for

firefighters fitness and health.

With this article, I am able to address and support my claim by backing it with the NFPA 1583. It

allows me to use the guidelines that are set in place for firefighters. However, this is the

minimum requirement for all departments to meet. It is a set or bar for all departments to exceed
 Does Your Fitness Define Your Pay? 5

these and go above and beyond. With a pay incentive for all individuals in a department, it

allows them to have more commitment to be healthy and physically fit, as well as maintain

motivation for fitness.

The First Twenty. (2015, August 26). Should we link Firefighter fitness to pay, appraisals and

continued employment?. In Fire Engineering. Retrieved from

http://community.fireengineering.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1219672%3ABlogPost

%3A620745

This article discusses the passing of a new standard for physical fitness for firefighters that will

affect their pay, whether they pass or fail.

In many ways this article will be an effective resource for information. I will be able to transmit

the newly-designed standard for firefighters and link it to how it will affect their pay. With the

passing of the test, we are able to see that the pay incentive increases over time and every time

you pass as you get older. When failing the test, it is evident that there is no pay incentive for not

being physically fit enough. Overall, I am able to support my question in regards to the increase

in pay with growth in fitness and health.