NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments

NFPA^® 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, 2022 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Implementation.

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.
2.2 NFPA Publications.
2.3 Other Publications.
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

Chapter 3 Definitions

3.1 General.
3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
3.3 General Definitions.

Chapter 4 Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Fire Department Responsibilities.
4.2 Fire Department Physician Responsibilities.
4.3 Candidate and Member Responsibilities.
4.4 Confidentiality of Medical Information.

Chapter 5 Essential Job Tasks

5.1 Essential Job Tasks and Descriptions.
5.2 Essential Job Tasks for Specialized Teams.

Chapter 6 Medical Evaluations of Candidates

6.1 Medical Evaluation.
6.2 Medical Conditions Affecting Ability to Perform Essential Job Tasks.
6.3 Head and Neck.
6.4 Lungs and Chest Wall.
6.5 Heart and Vascular System.
6.6 Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders.
6.7 Abdominal Organs and Gastrointestinal System.
6.8 Spine and Axial Skeleton.
6.9 Extremities.
6.10 Neurological Disorders.
6.11 Chemicals, Drugs, and Medications.
6.12 Reproductive System.
6.13 Systemic Diseases and Miscellaneous Conditions.
6.14 Urinary System.
6.15 Infectious Diseases.
6.16 Skin.
6.17 Blood and Blood-Forming Organs.
6.18 Heat Stress and Illness.
6.19 Tumors and Malignant Diseases.
6.20 Psychiatric Conditions and Psychological Disorders.

Chapter 7 Occupational Medical Evaluation of Members

7.1 General.
7.2 Member Education Regarding Occupational Medical Evaluation Program.
7.3 Timing of the Annual Occupational Medical Evaluation of Members.
7.4 Components of the Annual Occupational Medical Evaluation of Members.
7.5 Medical History.
7.6 Physical Examination.
7.7 Ancillary Tests.

Chapter 8 Annual Occupational Fitness Evaluation of Members

8.1 Weight and Body Composition.
8.2 Annual Fitness Evaluation.

Chapter 9 Essential Job Tasks — Specific Evaluation of Medical Conditions in Members

9.1 Essential Job Tasks.
9.2 Fire Department Physician Roles.
9.3 Medical Conditions Involving Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Neck, or Throat.
9.4 Lung, Chest Wall, and Respiratory Disorders.
9.5 Cardiovascular Disorders.
9.6 Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders.
9.7 Disorders Involving the Gastrointestinal Tract and Abdominal Viscera.
9.8 Spine Disorders.
9.9 Orthopedic Disorders.
9.10 Neurologic Disorders.
9.11 Medications.
9.12 Pregnancy and Reproductive Health.
9.13 Chronic Systemic Diseases and Miscellaneous Conditions.
9.14 Urinary Disease. (Reserved)
9.15 Infectious Diseases.
9.16 Chronic Skin Conditions.
9.17 Hematologic Disorders.
9.18 Heat and Stress Illness.
9.19 Tumors — Malignant or Benign.
9.20 Psychiatric Conditions and Psychological Disorders.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Guide for Fire Department Administrators
Annex C Maternal and Child Health Considerations
Annex D Sample Physician Evaluation Form for Firefighters with Diabetes
Annex E Behavioral Health
Annex F Informational References

2018 Edition

Make sure fire fighters are up to the task and keep them safe on the job with the 2018 edition of NFPA 1582.

NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments incorporates current research and knowledge to present the latest provisions for a comprehensive occupational medical program. To help fire departments ensure that personnel are medically capable of performing their required duties, this critical Standard provides separate chapters for the medical evaluation of candidates/prospective employees and for the occupational medical and fitness evaluations for fire department members.

Requirements are equated against the essential job tasks based on several NFPA® Professional Qualification Standards and apply to career, volunteer, private, industrial, governmental, and military fire departments.

Changes keep pace with recent developments in medical technologies and treatments.

Task groups and experts in medical conditions contributed to this edition of the Standard, which includes:

• Updated medical requirements reflecting current practices surrounding lung function, spinal injuries and conditions, and seizure disorders
• A new section in the annual fitness evaluation covering lung function and performance
• Annex material featuring updated guidance and references for physicians and fire department officials

Fire fighting is a challenging profession. Increase job performance and reduce occupational injuries and illnesses using NFPA 1582.

The new 2018 edition NFPA 1582 is an essential working tool for fire departments and fire department physicians, or those medical professionals that are providing physicals to fire department candidates and members. (Print, 106 pp., 2018)

2013 Edition

Fire fighting is a challenging profession. Make sure your team is up to the task and keep them safe on the job with the 2013 NFPA 1582.

To help fire departments ensure that personnel are medically capable of performing their required duties, the 2013 NFPA 1582 incorporates current research and knowledge to present the latest provisions for a comprehensive occupational medical program. The Standard provides separate chapters for the medical evaluation of candidates/prospective employees and for the occupational medical and fitness evaluations for fire department members. Requirements are equated against the essential job tasks based on several NFPA® Professional Qualification Standards and apply to career, volunteer, private, industrial, governmental, and military fire departments.

Update to the 2013 NFPA 1582: Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments to keep pace with recent developments in medical technologies and treatments.

Due to changing technologies to treat many of the medical conditions that people are being treated for today, what was once a condition that would preclude people from joining a fire department or being forced to retire due to a specific medical condition, might not be the case today. Accordingly, some of the most important changes to 2013 NFPA 1582 are addressed in both the chapter for candidates, Chapter 6, and the chapter for members, Chapter 9, as well as an updating of Annex C.2 which is the Annual Fitness Evaluation from the Fire Service Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative. The significant changes involve prosthetics, diabetes, and reproductive health.

Increase job performance and reduce occupational injuries and illnesses.

The new 2013 NFPA 1582 is an essential working tool for fire departments and fire department physicians, or those medical professionals that are providing physicals to fire department candidates and members. (Softbound, 92 pp., 2013)

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