Which practice reduces the physical strain of ascent in a high-rise operation by handling tools differently?

• A. Assign several companies to share the workload
• B. Hoist, rather than carry, tools and equipment
• C. Do not require PPE for personnel working in smoke-proof stairwells
• D. Enforce a 1:1 work time/rehabilitation time rule

Answer: (B)

Moving tools by hoist rather than carrying them reduces the physical load firefighters must haul up stairs, which directly lowers exertion, heart rate, and fatigue during ascent. When PPE and SCBA already weigh heavily, adding hand-carried tools compounds the strain and increases the risk of musculoskeletal strain, heat stress, and slower mobility. Hoisting tools keeps the load off the body, frees the hands for balance and safety, and lets crews reach higher floors more efficiently without being weighed down by gear.

Sharing workload across multiple companies doesn’t change the fact that each individual still has to ascend with gear or address how tools are carried. Not requiring PPE is unsafe and illegal in fire operations. A 1:1 work/rest rule relates to pacing recovery rather than altering how tools are moved during ascent. The key improvement here is handling tools differently to reduce the physical burden on the climber.