Research

The aims of this study is to investigate the impact of performing occupational tasks during an active structural fire on firefighter’s hydration status. In doing so the present study will provide evidence for the development and refinement of firefighter hydration protocols and health and safety guidelines to minimise adverse health effects and improve work performance.

To mitigate the impact of heavy loads, like that imparted by a ballistic shield, on Specialist Tactical Response Police mobility and lethality, a proposed load offset system, the Reaper, is being trialed.

Load carriage is known to impact on the mobility and lethality of the carrier. The aims of this program of research is to investigate the impacts of occupational loads carried by Specialist Tactical Response Police officers on their mobility (tactical move, victim drag, 10m sprint) and lethality (primary and secondary weapons)

Load bearing Vests (LBV) / Body armour worn by law enforcement can have have a variety of impacts on the officer. This program of research includes studies comparing different systems, obtaining subjective comfort feedback from officers, impacts of the systems on mobility, lethality and physical performance in order to inform task performance and injury risk outcomes.

Drawing on international experts, the aim of this project is to establish optimal injury mitigation, physical conditioning and rehabilitation protocols for soldier load carriage.

Collaborating Countries: USA, UK, Germany, Spain and Brazil

The aim of this program of research is to develop and validate an occupationally-relevant fitness assessment framework for Specialist Tactical Response police officers. Current assessments under review include the anaerobic, repeated-effort, Urban Rush and longer distance pack marches, all with full occupational and role-relevant loads.

This aim of this study is to gain insights into both public and police officer perception on the aesthetics of various body armour and equipment configurations

Collaborating Countries: USA

Uniform configurations: Australian Defence Apparel

This program of research spans initial training for Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) Cadets as well as Custodial Assistants. Investigations span fitness and performance on the mandated Work Sample Battery Test, loss of fitness during custodial duties, impacts of fitness on physical training session success, and several other associated fields of interest to the LASD.

Collaborators: USA

This program of research is investigating differences in injuries (rates, bodily sites, natures and mechanisms) between full time and part time Army personnel as well as between male and female soldiers 

This program of research is looking at means of predicting future load carriage performance as well as injury risk. Combining elements of load carriage performance prediction (i.e. a modified Pandolf equation) together with risk factors known to impact on load carriage performance (e.g. previous injury, most recent load carriage training session, etc), a level of risk is established. This level of risk aligns with the Military and International risk Management Frameworks and can be used to predict military and law enforcement load carriage performance.

This program of research is investigating the impacts of different types of station wear and turnout / bunker gear on firefighter movement patterns as a risk factors for slips, trips and falls and fire ground injury

Active shooter scenarios require specialist tactical response officers to move rapidly, under heavy operational loads of around 22 kg, and yet remain operationally effective. This research is bench marking the physiological responses of specialist tactical response officers when responding to simulated active shooter scenarios

This multifactorial program of research will investigate the physiological responses to simulation and virtual reality (VR) training. One study will focus on physiological differences between trained and untrained tactical personnel completing a VR event. Another study will have Physiotherapy students compete both a VR event and a patient simulation event early in their training. Physical and biochemical markers of stress will be recorded.

NSW Mounted Police

This project is profiling the job tasks (inc types, movement profile and physiological cost), injuries and fitness standards of mounted police officers to inform risk mitigation strategies and fitness requirements.

The TRU are working with Australian Defence Apparel as part of their ongoing R&D to investigate the thermal burden imparted on wearers and the associated impacts on performance and heat illness risk.