The Fire Services (Appointments and Promotion) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1989

Promotion to, or appointment in, the rank of fireman

4.—(1) In regulation 5 of the principal Regulations, in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) the words from “or, in the case of a person” to the end of the sub-paragraph shall be omitted, and for paragraph (1)(c) to (e) there shall be substituted—

“(c) subject to paragraph (3), shall be in height—

(i) not less than 1.68 metres, and

(ii) not more than 1.93 metres;

(d) shall have satisfied a duly qualified medical practitioner selected by the fire authority maintaining the brigade that—

(i) his lung function, assessed by the measurement of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1.0) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) thereof, and

(ii) his general level of fitness, including his aerobic capacity (VO2 max), as measured by a step-test,

are such as to enable him to undertake firefighting duties; and that he has not any physical abnormality and is not suffering from any disease which, in either case, would be likely to incapacitate him temporarily or permanently for the performance of the said duties;

(e) shall have satisfied a duly qualified ophthalmologist selected by the fire authority maintaining the brigade that—

(i) he has an uncorrected distance visual acuity, measured by the method known as the Snellen test, of 6/6, 6/6, and

(ii) his unaided visual function, including his colour vision, is such as to enable him to undertake firefighting duties, and

(iii) he does not have any abnormality or suffer from any disease which, in either case, would be likely to affect such visual function, temporarily or permanently, so as to incapacitate him for the performance of those duties;

(ee) shall have taken, under the supervision of the fire authority maintaining the brigade, a test of the isometric muscle strength of his hand-grip and the combined lifting strength of his back and legs, and achieved a measurement of not less than—

(i) in relation to the dominant hand, 35kg;

(ii) in relation to the subordinate hand, 33kg;

(iii) in relation to the back and legs, as measured by the method known as the leg/back pull test, 117kg; and” .

(2) In paragraph (3) after the words “Sub-paragraphs (b)” there shall be inserted “, (c), (e)” .

(3) For paragraph (4) there shall be substituted-

“(4) (a) Subject to sub-paragraph (b) below paragraph (1)(a), (b) so far only as it relates to a minimum age of 18 years, (c), (d) and (ee) shall apply also in relation to the qualifications for appointment of a person as a retained member of a brigade.

(b) paragraph 1(c)(i) or (ii) (height limits) or, as the case may be, both the said sub-paragraphs, shall not apply in relation to such an appointment if the firemaster is satisfied that—

(i) the remoteness of the station to which the person in question will be posted, and the scarcity of people living in the area in which the station is situated, make it impracticable to apply one or, as the case may be, both of the height limits referred to therein, and

(ii) such arrangements as may be necessary to accommodate a height which does not meet such limit or limits, as the case may be, can be made without unduly impairing the operational efficiency of the brigade.

(c) for the purposes of this Regulation- “retained member of a brigade” means a person who is to serve therein as a part-time member thereof on terms under which he is or may be required to engage in firefighting in return for an annual retaining fee.” .