FDNY drops physical test requirement amid low female hiring rate

[lostinblue 1,989]

FDNY drops physical test requirement amid low female hiring rate

By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short

The Fire Department has stopped requiring probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-skills test before getting hired — a move that critics derided as a lowering of standards.

The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, which allows probies to fail components of the Functional Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low hiring rate of women.

“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.

“What needs to matter is how well you perform the tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and someone comes through that window — can they pick you up and drag you out or not?”

The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet, raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling — while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount of air.

Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-member force including just 44 women.

Department officials insisted the two issues were unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.

After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.

“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not automatically failed from the program,” he said.

Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in recent years.

“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.

http://nypost.com/2014/12/11/fdny-drops-physical-test-requirement-amid-low-female-hiring-rate/

[VOL 425]

Why in the world would a female want to be a FireMan, We really need to keep some jobs broken up by gender.

Male Jobs: Firefighter, Plumber, etc

Female Jobs: Nurse, Flight Attendant, etc

[Jacque67 7,328]

Nah! Man provider, woman housekeeper.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah with that post women's rights were set back by 60 years. Sad.

[unsmiley 111]

I just pray that if I ever have a fire in my apartment, it won't be one of those physically weak, completely unqualified, politically correct woman firefighters that respond.

[lostinblue 1,989]

I just pray that if I ever have a fire in my apartment, it won't be one of those physically weak, completely unqualified, politically correct woman firefighters that respond.

I am sure we could import a few women that could qualify

[Karee 4,190]

I just pray that if I ever have a fire in my apartment, it won't be one of those physically weak, completely unqualified, politically correct woman firefighters that respond.

Yeah it's all about not hurting anyone's feelings these days. Next thing you know they'll be hiring airline pilots based on gender and race, rather than qualifications. Hopefully they'll pass out parachutes with the peanuts.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

FDNY drops physical test requirement amid low female hiring rate

By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short

The Fire Department has stopped requiring probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-skills test before getting hired — a move that critics derided as a lowering of standards.

The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, which allows probies to fail components of the Functional Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low hiring rate of women.

“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.

“What needs to matter is how well you perform the tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and someone comes through that window — can they pick you up and drag you out or not?”

The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet, raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling — while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount of air.

Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-member force including just 44 women.

Department officials insisted the two issues were unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.

After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.

“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not automatically failed from the program,” he said.

Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in recent years.

“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.

http://nypost.com/2014/12/11/fdny-drops-physical-test-requirement-amid-low-female-hiring-rate/

Good for them. Diversity is much more important than saving lives.

[TBoneTX 45,551]

One post was removed from the thread for a TOS issue and is returned, edited as below:

Next year they will wonder why there are so few handicapped firefighters. The year after that they will be hiring (edited out by VJ Moderation) as firefighters. No need to worry abut ability.

Edited December 15, 2014 by TBoneTX