Work-specific physical assessment of minimum physical fitness requirements for workers of an electricity supply company

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and design a battery of work-specific tests for the “blue collar workers” (physical workers) within one of the departments of a South African Electricity Supply Company (SA ELEC), and to establish work-specific minimum physical requirements (MPR) for them. The study focussed on only one of the 7 regions that make up SA ELEC, namely the northern region (which is situated in the whole of the Limpopo Province, as well as a part of the North West Province of South Africa). The idea was to establish one powerful and complete measuring tool, which would enable the relevant company to measure the physical work capacities of the relevant workers. The target population consisted of 550 possible participants of which 356 were tested and 344 were used for the calculation of the MPR. In conclusion, a battery of work specific tests were identified and designed for the “blue-collar workers” within one of the departments in SA ELEC`s northern region for the establishment of a work specific MPR. Thus, one powerful and complete measuring tool was established which consists of a MPR for the factor tests (already in use in SA ELEC), and a MPR for the work specific tests (the result of this study.

Key Words: minimum physical requirements (MPR), work-specific physical tests, physical factor tests, physical work capacity, blue-collar workers, job requirements.

AJPHERD Vol.10(4) 2004: 281-294