Musculoskeletal Disorders: Knee

Appendix D: Physical Essential Job Functions

Physical Essential Job Functions from California POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) 40

• Running in pursuit of subjects up to 500 yards. Speed is important in up to 90% of incidents.
• Balancing and walking several yards at 6-10 feet about ground on top of walls or other surfaces which are frequently only 6 inches wide.
• Climbing 6 foot fences, 2-5 flights of stairs, 20 foot ladders, and 36 foot embankments where speed is required 33% of the time.
• Jumping/Hurdling/vaulting across 3-5 foot ditches, down from 6 foot walls and over 3 foot shrubs. Speed is required 90% of the time. One-third of these events occur from a stationary position.
• Moving incapacitated persons without assistance for distances averaging 40 feet. Speed is critical in 40% of instances.
• Pushing vehicles, dragging and pulling objects averaging 60 pounds without assistance where speed is required 50% of the time.
• Crawling/crouching/squatting.
• Subduing combative subjects (defensive tactics).

Physical Essential Job Functions from North Carolina Justice Academy41
These are job functions expressed as activities that can be objectively tested, minimizing redundancy and injury risk to testing subjects.

• Run after a fleeing subject (maximum 406 feet)
• Run up and down stairs (maximum 3 floors)
• Crawl under an obstruction
• Jump across obstacles, e.g., ditch, hole, etc. (maximum 4 feet)
• Jump down from an elevated surface (maximum 5 feet)
• Jump over obstacles, e.g., road barrier, hedge, etc. (maximum 3 feet)
• Climb or pull oneself over an obstacle, e.g., wall, fence, etc. (maximum 5 feet)
• Jump over obstacles while running
• Pull/drag a person/animal
• Drag by yourself an immobile adult
• Lift while in a stationary position a heavy object or person
• Hold a person by oneself to prevent or control his/her movements (maximum 3 minutes, 200 pounds, 72 inches)
• Physically struggle with person by oneself (maximum 3 minutes, 200 pounds, 72 inches)
• Subdue person resisting arrest
• Grip person tightly to prevent escape/control movement
• Perform strenuous physical activities in a series, e.g., sprint, run upstairs, wrestle, pull, carry, etc.
• Perform duties wearing full duty gear
• Perform duties wearing body armor for extended periods of time
• Work in a confined, closed area
• Defend oneself from a position on the ground