Firefighter ELPAT 2012



Job Details

Firefighter ELPAT 2012
Employer

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Location

Hudson MA, MA

Job Type

Exam Request

Department

Open Competitive

Opening Date

11/02/2011

Closing Date

Continuous

Description & Eligibility Information

    Entry-Level Physical Abilities Test (ELPAT):           February 2012-August 2012

            ELPAT Announcement Number:       5013

            Application Deadline:             June 30, 2012**

            Physical Abilities Test Fee:     $100

            Location:         Hudson National Guard Armory

 

**There is an additional $50 processing fee for application received after this date.  Applications for the ELPAT exam will not be accepted after July 16, 2012.


The ELPAT will continue to be administered through September 2012 at the Hudson National Guard Armory.


Please e-mail PAT.Administrator@massmail.state.ma.us with any questions or concerns about the ELPAT component.



Please be aware that the ELPAT component is 50% of your final examination score, if you have not signed up for the Entry-Level Physical Abilities Test (ELPAT), one of the two components of the 2012 Firefighter Examination Process you need to do so right away.



You must take and pass both the Written & the ELPAT components in order to be placed on the resulting 2012 eligible list for Firefighter. The Written exam component scores will not be released before the ELPAT testing ends.



Please note that there is only one site available for the ELPAT. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Failure to complete the ELPAT will result in failure of the examination and your name will not be placed on the eligible list. HRD strongly encourages candidates to sign up for and take the ELPAT as soon as possible.


2012 ELPAT NOTICE TO APPEAR

A notice to appear informing you of where and when to report to take the ENTRY LEVEL PAT EXAM (the time and location of your exam) will be e-mailed to you approximately 2-7 days after your approved application has been received. If you do not receive your PAT site assignment electronically within one week of your on-line submission, please e-mail us at PAT.Administrator@hrd.state.ma.us


Why should I take the ELPAT before taking the written exam?

There is only one site for the ELPAT and to ensure you receive a space it is recommended that you take the ELPAT, as soon as possible, even before taking the written exam.



I filed an application for the ELPAT and my ELPAT was scheduled for a week later, why so soon?

Resources, time and space are limited to conduct the ELPAT which will be running from February 2012 through September 2012. When you apply for the ELPAT you will be AUTO-SCHEDULED for the FIRST available slot in the ELPAT schedule which begins in February 2012. All ELPAT's will be held at the Hudson Amory.

Duties & Examination Subjects

 


Stair Climb


This event simulates continuous stair climbing, an activity that firefighters may perform when getting to a fire at an incident scene. For this event, you will be required to step on a rotating staircase (also known as a stepmill) at a pre-determined stepping pace for a specific period of time. You will get a 5-minute rest period after this event. The required time to remain on the stepmill is 200 seconds.


Ladder Event


This event simulates various activities related to using ladders. You will be required to remove a ladder from a rack, carry it some distance, raise a weight of approximately 45 lbs. attached to a rope that simulates the raising of an extension ladder, lower that weight and return the ladder to the rack from which it was taken. The event ends when the ladder is back in the rack. The time limit is 35.56 seconds.


Hose Advance


This event simulates the actions necessary to manipulate a fully charged fire hose. You will be required to pull 50 feet of hose through a U-shaped course with several turns. There will be a ceiling on the U-shaped course to prevent you from standing upright. The time limit is 20.00 seconds.


Forcible Entry


This event simulates breaking down a door to gain entry to a burning structure or an incident scene. For this event you will be required to strike a rubber pad mounted on a moveable post. You will use a 12 lb. sledge hammer to move the post a set distance. The post and structure are weighted to simulate the force you would need to exert on a door in order to gain entrance. The time limit is 13.91 seconds.


Search


This event simulates the actions necessary to enter and search a smoke-filled structure. You will be required to crawl through a dark wooden tunnel with obstructions and turns. The tunnel is approximately 65 feet long. The tunnel is 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. At one location in the tunnel there is an obstacle on the floor and at one location there is an obstacle from the ceiling. In addition, at two locations, the tunnel is reduced from 4 to 3 feet in width. The time limit is 39.00 seconds.


Rescue Through a Doorway


This event simulates the actions necessary to drag an unconscious victim out through a doorway to get the victim to safety. You will be required to drag a 125 pound dummy approximately 30 feet, along a zigzag course to a designated area at the end of the course. In this event, there is a low ceiling over the course to prevent you from standing upright. The time limit is 36.00 seconds.


Ceiling Hook (Pike Pole)


This event simulates the use of a pike pole or ceiling hook. A pike pole or ceiling hook is a fire fighting tool used to tear down ceilings or open walls while looking for hidden fires. This event will require you to take a pike pole, tipped with an industrial hammer head, and thrust it upward at a metal plate in an 8 foot ceiling. The metal plate weighs approximately 60 lbs. And must be lifted six inches in order for the strike to count. You will then step over to the next part of the event, where a pike pole handle is suspended from a ceiling height. The pole is attached to a counter balance that weighs approximately 80 lbs. You must pull the pole down six inches in order for the pull to count. You will be required to perform one push and five pulls in a sequence. The event will require you to perform four one-minute periods of work, in which you will try to do as many push-pull sequences as possible. Each work period will be followed by a 30 second rest period. You must complete 25 full repetitions.


Firefighter Duties: Firefighters often perform risky and physically demanding duties under emergency conditions. Firefighters work under supervision, often as a member of a team, to respond to fire and other emergencies. Firefighter duties may include, for example: connecting, pulling and operating hose lines; operating a pump; positioning and climbing ladders; emergency rescue and lifesaving; ventilating smoke-filled areas; using and maintaining tools and equipment; training; and fire station activities. For a more detailed listing of duties, see the essential functions of a Massachusetts Firefighter.


 


Information

AGE REQUIREMENT: As of the posting of this notice, applicants must be 19 years of age on or before the date of examination for all vivil service firefighter jurisdictions.  It is your responsibility to review any additional age requirements for each fire department covered by civil service on our website under Guides & Publications, Fire Information Civil SErvice, Fire Departmetns covered by Civil Service.

 

   Physical Abilities Test: The Entry-Level Physical Ability Test (ELPAT) is designed to assess a candidate's capacity to perform the tasks ordinarily performed by a firefighter while on the job. This is accomplished by requiring the candidate to perform a series of events that both simulate firefighting activities and depend on the physical abilities required to perform the firefighter’s job. These abilities include cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. The exercise training program presented in the Physical Ability Test Preparation Guide http://www.mass.gov/Eoaf/docs/hrd/cs/publications/fire_pat_prep_guide.doc provides candidates with the information they need to improve their level of physical fitness by conditioning the individual muscles and muscle groups involved in the tasks performed by a firefighter. You may also view a video of the PAT exercises on our website.


Supplemental Information

Applicants receiving conditional offers of employment in the future will be required to take the PAT a second time. The ELPAT and the initial hire PAT are not interchangeable.

 

Please click here for information on preference claims.

 

Please click here to apply.

 

Additional information including special accomodation, fee waivers and other exam and job related criteria can be found at www.mass.gov.civilservice or by contacting our office at:

 

Human Resources Division

Civil Service Unit

One Ashburton Place, Room 301

Boston, MA 02108

 

www.mass.gov/hrd

civilservice@massmail.state.ma.us

(617) 878-9895 Exam Hotline

Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday 8:45am - 5:00pm


Please contact the local Appointing Authority for benefit and salary information

Employer
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Address
One Ashburton Place
Room 301
Boston, Massachusetts, 02108
Phone
(617) 727-3777
(800) 392-6178

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