Dr Alan Richardson, with support from PhD Student, Emily Watkins, and co-supervisors, Associate Professor Watt and Dr Mark Hayes, lead research into the health and exercise prescription of fire instructors, fire fighters and new recruits. This work is cited in the National Breathing Apparatus Instructors Health Management Guidelines issued by the Chief Fire Officers Association, while the team are working with national and international bodies to ensure the dissemination of this work. Further details of all this work can be found here.
On the 15th of October 2017 Dr. Alan Richardson, as the only invited physiologist, presented at the UK Home Office’s Centre of Applied Science and Technology to the heads of UK Fire, Ambulance and Police services on physiological monitoring of personnel. This was broadcast live worldwide to 16 international emergency service providers. Alan also presented at the national fire conference on the health of fire personnel and reducing thermal loading and stress in fire exposures.
Emily Watkins has presented this work at international ergonomics conferences in Portsmouth on undergarments for PPE and in Kobe, Japan on the Fire Instructor Working Practices and on a new heat tolerance test for occupational use.