Law enforcement officers are required to carry and wear loads as part of their occupational duties. While military and firefighter personnel can carry loads of over 45 kg and around 22 kg respectively, law enforcement officers assigned to general patrol duties carry and wear loads of around 10–12 kg.

When considered against an officer’s build, this load equates to about 12–14 percent of his or her body weight. However, while the loads worn by military and firefighter personnel are heavier, they are worn intermittently. Conversely, the loads worn by law enforcement officers, although lighter, have a more chronic exposure—they are worn more frequently and for longer periods over an officer’s career.