Investigating Training as a Source of Injury within Specialist Tactical Law Enforcement Personnel

Abstract

Specialist police are required to perform high risk and dangerous tasks that are physically demanding. While these groups are required to maintain an exceptional level of physical capability, this demand is thought to contribute to injury risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which maintaining operational fitness through occupational tasks and physical fitness regimes exposes specialist police officers to injury risk. An online survey was used to elicit responses from members of operational units of the Australian and New Zealand Police Tactical Groups (PTG). A total of nine (100%) PTG units participated, with 132 operational members (31% of the total population) completing the survey. All officers reported that they undertook regular physical training in the workplace. Among the 132 officers, 105 recalled experiencing at least one injury during their PTG career, giving a PTG-career-long cumulative injury incidence of 80%, with those injured experiencing an average of 1.6 injuries each. Of those reporting an injury, 70% (n=74) reported sustaining an injury due to physical training in the workplace, 50% (n=53) whilst on an operational activity, and 40% (n=42) while completing skills training. During operations and skills training, occupational load was reported to have been worn at time of injury by 87% (n=46/53) and 79% (n=33/42) of respondents injured in those activities, respectively.  Physical training is a leading source of injuries in specialist police while occupational load carriage was frequently associated with injuries sustained during operational and skills training.