A recent audit has found lapses in the health requirements for fire-fighters, saying better systems should be in place to protect them and the public.

The New South Wales Auditor-General says Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) should more often assess the health and fitness of fire-fighters, even suggesting the dismissal of those who do not make the grade.

NSW Auditor-General Grant Hehir says Fire and Rescue NSW has virtually no idea about the ability of fire-fighters to perform their duties.

His audit report, Fitness of Fire-fighters, says there are still no formal checks on health and fitness after the initial fitness tests required for recruitment.

It says that while a health standard for fire-fighters has been developed, it has not been agreed upon or implemented.

A compulsory health and fitness program was created at the request of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Fire-fighting Staff Death and Disability) Award 2012, but the Fire Brigade Employees' Union is yet to agree.

FRNSW already has the authority to sack fire-fighters who cannot carry out their roles, but it is an ability the agency should be willing to exercise, the report recommends.

The audit report did suggest support systems be created for those who fail their assessment, so that they can regain the required fitness standard.

FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins has given a nod of support to the recommendations, backing the compulsory and ongoing health assessments in particular.

Mullins said formal health standard have been the subject of talks with the union since 2006.

He says FRNSW is already recruiting fitter fire-fighters after the introduction in 2013 of a higher-standard physical test for recruitment, which was developed with the University of Wollongong.

FRNSW has over 6,800 paid fire-fighters on the books, around 7,200 community fire unit volunteers and approximately 72,000 volunteer members.

The Auditor’s report is available here.