IPES Conference
The 5th International Physical Employment Standards Conference
The 5th International Physical Employment Standards Conference will be held at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Wednesday, February 19 through Friday, February 21, 2025.
Hosted by Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, the IPES 2025 conference will address specific topics including physical employment standards, implementation and review; physical conditioning, health and rehabilitation and diversity with in the workplace.
The conference content will be a blend of research and applied practice in a range of physically demanding occupations including military, law enforcement, fire and rescue and first responders.
Please send all inquiries about IPES 2025 to joebe@okstate.edu
- Conference Program
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Time Session Presenter 8:00 - 8:30 Registration 8:30 - 9:20 • Welcome to IPES
Dr Jay Dawes
Joe Bennett
• Welcome to OSU-OKC
Dr. Evan Burkala
• Great Plains Dancers
9:30 - 10:20 Keynote: Physical Employment Standards: Past, Present and Future Directions Prof Sam Blacker
Dr Gemma Milligan10:30 - 12:00 1. Oral Presentations – PES Implementation
Session Chairs – Prof Rob Lockie; Ms. Annette Zapp
1.1 The Canadian Armed Forces Physical Employment Standard: A Decade of Endurance and Progress R. Blacklock 1.2 Differences in Law Enforcement Recruit Performance on a Validated Job-Specific Physical Abilities Assessment by Duration of Academy Training J. Dulla 1.3 Development of the Royal Netherlands Army Physical Employment Standard (FIT-CLAS) E. Mol 1.4 The validity and reliability of six job-related tests for structural firefighting and the development of new performance standards and cut-scores. M. Scarlett 1.5 A review of the reliability and the validity of a treadmill testing protocol used to assess structural firefighters. M. Scarlett 1.6 Test-retest Reliability and Usefulness of a New Firefighter-simulated Task Test in Brazilian Firefighters D. Vilela 12:00 - 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 - 14:30 2. Oral Presentations – PES Implementation
Session Chairs – Dr Elise Canetti; Dr Eric Mol
2.1 Establishing a Cut-Score for a New Physical Abilities Test for Applicants to Canada Border Services Agency's Officer Induction Training Program: A Preliminary Analysis M. Poirier 2.2 Physiological Demands of the Ottawa Paramedics Physical Abilities Test (OPPAT) D. Frayne 2.3 Physical Fatigue Diminishes Performance in a Shipboard Firefighting Simulation B. Glen 2.4 Hose Drag Task Demands in Aviation Rescue Firefighters: A Descriptive Perspective J. Wills 14:30 – 15:00 Break 15:00 – 16:00 3. Oral Presentations – PES Implementation
Session Chairs – Dr Steven Fischer; Mrs Traci Tauferner
3.1 Performance determinants of Military Casualty Evacuation P. Kai 3.2 Quantifying the Physical Demands of the Aircraft Security Officer Course T. Kung 3.3 Police Officer Stress Responses While Completing a Realistic Use of Force Scenario R. Orr 3.4 Physical task analysis and measurement of physical and physiological demands of Canadian Armed Forces Reserve Medics T. Adams 3.5 Physiological Demands of Law Enforcement Officers During Active Shooter Training Scenarios M. Thompson 16:00 - 17:00 Roundtable Discussion/Scoping review – What is the current status of PES? Prof Sam Blacker
Dr Gemma Milligan
18:00 - 20:00 Conference Delegate Networking at Cattlemen's Steakhouse for those registered prior to February 12th. Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time Session Presenter 8:00 - 8:30 Registration 8:30 - 9:20 Keynote: Operational Performance: Defining Fitness Mr Mark Stephenson 9:30 - 11:15 4. Oral Presentations - Physical Conditioning, Health and Rehab
Session Chairs – Mr Pat Gagnon; Miss Megan Thompson
4.1 Changes in Law Enforcement Recruit Performance on a General Physical Fitness Assessment vs. a Validated Job-Specific Physical Abilities Assessment J. Dulla 4.2 Changes in Physical Performance in Royal Navy Recruits during Initial Training and Associations with Royal Navy Task Performance. S. Powell 4.3 Movement variability during movement competency screening may be associated with movement performance during Physical Employment Standard for paramedics D. Frayne 4.4 R&D of Flywheel-Device Exercise Programming: From Ground to Micro-Gravity E. Chasse 4.5 Stimulus-Response Training Scenarios: Autonomic Nervous system responses and perceptual workload. E. Canetti 11:15 - 11:30 Break 11:30 - 12:15 Practical Movement Session: Ability Based Training Prof Rob Orr
Prof Jay Dawes12.15 - 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 - 14:50 Thematic Posters
Session Chairs – Dr Roni Jamnik; Mrs Traci Tauferner
1.1 Development of Astronaut Partial Gravity Fitness Standards as Part of the Performance Optimization for Lunar Extravehicular Activity Readiness [POLAR] Study J. Allen 1.2 Development of Two Physical Employment Standard Tests for Aviation Rescue Firefighters with Different Ecological Validity T. Doyle 1.3 Raising the Bar or Lowering the Standard? A comparison of previous and recently revised NFPA 1582 Standards Across Age and Sex P. Miller 1.4 Occupational task course performance among soldiers. Findings from the Finnish Defence Forces. O. Tommi 1.5 General and Job-Specific Fitness Test Performance of Prospective and Hiring List Firefighter Candidates T. Campana 2.1 Relationships between General and Job-Specific Fitness Test Performance in Firefighter Candidates: Implications for Candidate Screening J. Krammer 2.2 (A) Analysis of Four Different Prone Body Positions of Time to Stand and Sprint among Females
(B) Analysis of Four Different Prone Body Positions on Time to Stand and Sprint among Males
K Sanchez & C. Miller 2.3 Cardiovascular Responses of a Stimulus Response Training Scenario
Wearing body armour - thermal effects and cooling strategies: a systematic review
B. Schram 3.1 Physical Performance Differences Between an Overt and A Covert Body Armour System E. Canetti 3.2 Sympathetic Response in SWAT Personnel During Scenario-based Training D. Kidd 3.3 Exploring the Effect of Body Fat Percentage on Occupational Fitness Testing Among Law Enforcement Officers M. Stephenson 4.1 Investigating the Potential Effects of Altitude on Intermittent High K. Sanchez 4.2 Intensity Short-Duration Exercise Bouts: A Systematic Review M. Belogiorgio 4.3 Quantifying the Relationship between Testosterone and Aerobic Capacity in Career Firefighters? K. Sophonsakulrat 4.4 Heart Rate Variability Profiles of High-risk Warrant Service in Tactical Police Personnel: A Case Series C. Tomes 4.5 Heart Rate Variability Changes in Tactical Police Candidate Training: Assessment in the Nonlinear and Frequency Domain E. Canetti 15:00 - 17:00 Roundtable/ Working Groups: The Future of PES: Identifying the Gaps 18:00 - 20:00 Conference Delegate Networking Friday, February 21, 2025
Time Session Presenter 8:00 - 8:30 Registration 8:30 - 9:20 Keynote: Spaceflight Physiology: Translational Lessons to Optimizing Health on Earth Dr Michael Harrison 9:30 - 11:15 5. Oral Presentations - Physical Conditioning, Health and Rehab
Session Chairs – Mr Mark Stephenson, Mr Josh Osofa
5.1 Physical Activity, Motivation, and Self-Efficacy in Law Enforcement Officers G. Marvin 5.2 A Profile of Injuries Within an Australian State Emergency Services Agency E. Marsh 5.3 Paramedic Occupational Injuries: A scoping review G. Marvin 5.4 Self-Reported Fatigue and Injury in Paramedics 5.5 Developing a Return to Work Test for an Injured Firefighter: A Case Report T. Tauferner 5.6 A Case Report: Adapting Return-to-Work Testing for Redi Mix Drivers in the Concrete Industry T. Tauferner 5.7 Self-Efficacy Relationships with General and Job-Specific Fitness in Law Enforcement Officers R. Lockie 11:15 - 11:30 Break 11:30 - 12:30 6. Oral Presentations - Diversity in the Workplace
Session Chairs – Dr Steve Foulis, Dr Jen Burbage
6.1 Impact of Age and Gender on Pre-Basic Military Training Fitness Program E. Chasse 6.2 An Age and Gender Free Physical Employment Standard for Royal Navy
Seafarers: A Gym-Based Functional Fitness Test Simulating Emergency Tasks at Sea.
J. Hogan
6.3 Sex Differences in The Metabolic Cost of a Military Load Carriage Task B. Schram 6.4 The evaluation of sex differences in firefighter applicant physiological responses to standardized treadmill exercise using a combination of size- and fitness-matching. B. Schram
C. Ehnes
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch Break 13:30 - 14:50 7. Oral Presentations - Diversity in the Workplace
Session Chairs – Dr Roni Jamnik, Dr Etienne Chasse
7.1 Community Perceptions on The Clothing and Equipment Worn by Law Enforcement Officers D. Kidd 7.2 A Multi-Study Evaluation of Sports Bra Fitting, Issue, and Usage Recommendations J. Burbage 7.3 Effects of Tactical Equipment on Motor Control Among Law Enforcement Officers B. Ramaj 7.4 Profiling Duty Loads Worn by An Australian State Police Service R. Orr 7.5 An Impact Analysis for Adverse Bias in The New Royal Navy Physical Employment Standard M. Metcalfe 7.6 Identification and analysis of physical tasks and user requirements for a prospective telexistence system J. Osofa 15:00 - 16:00 Roundtable/ Working Groups: Outputs and Future directions 16:00 – 17:00 Closing address, awards and handover to the next host - Registration
Registration Options
Late Registration – Conference only
Registration has closed that included the February 19th after hours dinner social. A reduced 3-day conference rate of $400 is still available until February 18, 2025, noon.
If you have any questions or concerns about this registration please email Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu or call 405-945-9154
Refunds due to withdrawals:
- Prior to December 31, 2024 = 95% refund (administration fees to cover initial ticketing fees)
- Prior to January 15, 2025 = 50% refund
- Refunds are not available after Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
- Accommodations
Conference Accommodations
The following are links to the Oklahoma City area with hotels, restaurants, etc., that will be linked to the IPES registration site in case anyone wants a sneak peek.
- OKC Visitors Guide
- Visit OKC - The Modern Frontier
- Explore OKC
- Getting Here & Getting Around
- Restaurants in OKC
- Sustainable Restaurants, Shops & Markets in OKC
While OSU-OKC does not recommend a specific hotel, it would make transportation logistics easier if attendees chose one of the following hotels for their visit to Oklahoma City's IPES conference.
- AC Hotel Oklahoma City Bricktown
411 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - Hampton Inn & Suites Oklahoma City-Bricktown
300 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - Hilton Garden Inn Oklahoma City Bricktown
328 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown - Bricktown, an IHG Hotel
101 E Main St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - Hyatt Place Oklahoma City / Bricktown
20 Russell M. Perry Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - Renaissance Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown Hotel
100 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 - SpringHill Suites Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown
600 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
- Sponsorship Information
Sponsorship Level
Bronze Sponsorship
$1000 USD
This link is for the Bronze Sponsorship $1000 level for the International Physical Employment Standards (IPES) conference, Feb 19-21, 2025, OSU-OKC Student Center, 900 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, 3rd floor, North/South Conference room. A credit card processing fee will be charged when you use this link. If you'd like to avoid that credit card fee you can contact Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu for an invoice to be billed to you for Bronze Sponsorship level of $1000. All payments of invoices are due by Jan 1, 2025.
SPONSOR NOW 
Red, White & Blue Sponsorship
$500 USD
This link is for the Red, White & Blue $500 Sponsorship level for the International Physical Employment Standards (IPES) conference, Feb 19-21, 2025, OSU-OKC Student Center, 900 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, 3rd floor, North/South Conference room. A credit card processing fee will be charged when you use this link. If you'd like to avoid that credit card fee you can contact Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu for an invoice to be billed to you for the Red, White and Blue Sponsorship level of $500. All payments of invoices are due by Jan 2, 2025.
SPONSOR NOW Silver Sponsorship
$1500 USD
This link is for the Silver Sponsorship level $1500 for the International Physical Employment Standards (IPES) conference, Feb 19-21, 2025, OSU-OKC Student Center, 900 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, 3rd floor, North/South Conference room. A credit card processing fee will be charged when you use this link. If you'd like to avoid that credit card fee you can contact Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu for an invoice to be billed to you for the Silver Sponsorship level of $1000. All payments of invoices are due by Jan 1, 2025.
SPONSOR NOW Gold Sponsorship
$2500 USD
This link is for the Gold Sponsorship level $2500 for the International Physical Employment Standards (IPES) conference, Feb 19-21, 2025, OSU-OKC Student Center, 900 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, 3rd floor, North/South Conference room. A credit card processing fee will be charged when you use this link. If you'd like to avoid that credit card fee you can contact Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu for an invoice to be billed to you for the Gold Sponsorship level of $2500. All payments of invoices are due by Jan 1, 2025.
SPONSOR NOW Platinum Sponsorship
$5000 USD
This link is for the Platinum Sponsorship level $5000 for the International Physical Employment Standards (IPES) conference, Feb 19-21, 2025, OSU-OKC Student Center, 900 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, 3rd floor, North/South Conference room. A credit card processing fee will be charged when you use this link. If you'd like to avoid that credit card fee you can contact Janet.Stricklin@okstate.edu for an invoice to be billed to you for the Platinum Sponsorship level of $5000. All payments of invoices are due by Jan 1, 2025.
SPONSOR NOW - Our Sponsors
- Abstract Submissions
We welcome abstract submissions for presentation as:
- a free paper (15min oral presentation),
- poster presentation
While preference is given to completed research, ongoing research will be considered by the scientific reviewing committee. All abstracts will be peer reviewed and accepted abstracts published in a book of abstracts. Selected abstracts / authors will also be invited to submit a full manuscript for potential publication in a special edition in the journal ‘Work’. Please follow the below guidelines for abstract submission.
Please complete and return one copy of the abstract template provided below for each abstract that you wish to submit. Only two abstracts will be accepted per presenting author. Attach the abstract template (word file) to the conference email (ipesconference@gmail.com). Please provide only ONE abstract per email. Enter the following subject title in the email: Abstract Submission IPES 2025.
When saving your abstract, please use the following file-naming convention to ensure easy identification of your abstract:
PRESENTING AUTHOR_AUTHOR INITIALS_CONFERENCE_Abstract number
E.g. For Dr T Surname this would be: SURNAME_T_IPES2025_1.doc
Repeat this process for every abstract that you wish to submit for consideration.
Only abstracts formatted as per the guidelines and template will be considered.
Important dates
The abstract submission CLOSING DATE is 13 December 2024
- IPES Committee Members
Dr. Gemma Milligan; PhD, BASES, FHEA, CSci
Associate Professor in Occupational and Applied Physiology
School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences
University of Portsmouth
Dr Rob OrrDirector Tactical Research Unit
Professor of Physiotherapy
Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Bond UniversityJ. Jay Dawes, PhD
CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F, FNSCA
Professor - Applied Exercise Science
Co-director: Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab
School of Kinesiology, Applied Health & Recreation
Oklahoma State University
Stephen A. Foulis, Ph.D.
Research Physiologist & Civilian Deputy Division Chief
US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
Military Performance Division
Etienne Chassé
M.Sc, CEP, CSEP-High Performance SpecialistTM
Agent à la recherche en performance humaine (intérim) | Acting Human Performance Research Officer
QG PSP Direction des programmes | PSP HQ Directorate of programs
Services de bien-être et moral des Forces canadiennes | Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Service
Helen Kilding
SPRINZ Research Associate
School of Sport and Recreation
Auckland University of TechnologyTraci Tauferner, LAT, ATC, CSCS
Director of Industrial & Tactical Medicine
Licensed Athletic Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Specialist
For inquiries or more information
Joe Bennett
Director, Fire Protection
BT 301E
405-945-8672
Email: joebe@okstate.edu