Abstract
Aim:
To profile the occupational tasks performed by traffic and highway patrol officers
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Method:
A total of 23 THP officers from a state police force were provided written surveys which enquired about the most common general duties tasks, most and least common highway patrol tasks, and most physically demanding highway patrol tasks. Ethics approval was provided by the Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee #BS02126.
Results:
The most common tasks which were reported as being similar to general duties tasks were patrolling (16%), paperwork (14%) and attending domestic violence disputes (11%). The most common reported highway patrol specific tasks were reported as conducting random breath tests (28%), speed enforcement (10%) and paperwork (9%). Least common tasks were reported as foot pursuits (10%), medical escorts (6%) and responding to routine jobs (6%), while the most physically demanding tasks were conducting stationary randomised breath testing (14%), physical arrest of suspects (13%) and high-speed driving/pursuits (11%).
Conclusion:
Police drivers have unique job tasks, dissimilar to general duties police which appear to be more sedentary in nature. Optimising physical conditioning and reduction of injury programs need to therefore differ as well.
Key Practice Points:
•Police driver job tasks differ to general duties officers.
•Return to work and health promotion programs need to be individualised to this population.
To profile the occupational tasks performed by traffic and highway patrol officers
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Method:
A total of 23 THP officers from a state police force were provided written surveys which enquired about the most common general duties tasks, most and least common highway patrol tasks, and most physically demanding highway patrol tasks. Ethics approval was provided by the Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee #BS02126.
Results:
The most common tasks which were reported as being similar to general duties tasks were patrolling (16%), paperwork (14%) and attending domestic violence disputes (11%). The most common reported highway patrol specific tasks were reported as conducting random breath tests (28%), speed enforcement (10%) and paperwork (9%). Least common tasks were reported as foot pursuits (10%), medical escorts (6%) and responding to routine jobs (6%), while the most physically demanding tasks were conducting stationary randomised breath testing (14%), physical arrest of suspects (13%) and high-speed driving/pursuits (11%).
Conclusion:
Police drivers have unique job tasks, dissimilar to general duties police which appear to be more sedentary in nature. Optimising physical conditioning and reduction of injury programs need to therefore differ as well.
Key Practice Points:
•Police driver job tasks differ to general duties officers.
•Return to work and health promotion programs need to be individualised to this population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 488-488 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Oct 2023 |
| Event | Australian Physiotherapy Association: INGNITE Physiotherapy Conference 2023 - Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia Duration: 5 Oct 2023 → 7 Oct 2023 https://ignite2023.physio/ |
Conference
| Conference | Australian Physiotherapy Association |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | INGNITE 2023 |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Brisbane |
| Period | 5/10/23 → 7/10/23 |
| Other | We have the chance to take physiotherapy to new levels and ignite the future of the profession through innovation and collaboration. Barriers can be broken down and communities connected. Physiotherapists can look to the future and commit to excellence and equality, for themselves and the profession. Challenges can be made and met, passions ignited for what is possible. We can evolve and explore the possibilities and make sure that physiotherapy comes out better than ever before. By igniting your imagination, great things can be achieved! |
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