Fit for Duty: Injury Prevention and Management

The Functional Job Description and its Role in Injury Prevention Chantel Frappier, PT, DPT Rehab and Injury Prevention Supervisor

Overview Physical Demands of the Job Description Where does this information come from? What is useful information? How do we obtain useful information? Benefits and Uses

Common Terms 1) Physical Demands 2) Essential Functions Sit Stand Lift Carry Push Pull Climb Kneel Reach Walk Ascend/Decend Task that the employee will be expected to perform regularly in their work environment Necessary to complete the job they perform

Physical Demands Physical demands are not legally required, however: Protect the Worker/Employee: Assist with reasonable accommodations Aid in job matching Protect the Company/Employer: Minimize risk of employment litigation Quantitative and specific Measurable and Repeatable Not one size fits all

Physical Demand Information Do these sound familiar? Lift 20 lbs. (frequently) Push/Pull Climb stairs Sit Stand Walk Crawl Kneel Crouch What’s Missing?: Where? How Often? How Much? How Far? How Many? With What?

Job Function Description Job Function Test/Match How Does It Work? Job Function Analysis can lead to Job Function Description Job Function Test/Match

Job Function Analysis (JFA) Best practice to determine physical demands Produces objective data for the job description Determines essential job functions - specific Quantifies what the worker does Identifies ergonomic risks/opportunities – injury prevention!

Job Function Analysis (JFA) Performed onsite Average 1-2 hours per job Partner with employees who perform the job

Physical Demands Lift 20lbs from pallet, carry 20 feet and place on shelf at 35” height Climb 25 steps, reach to close valve at 72” height Perform lower level work in preferred position x 2 minutes Push cart at 36” with 50 force lbs. for 35 feet What are force lbs?

Job Function Description (JFD) Written functional description of information from JFA Validates essential functions of the job Documented functional requirements Used to develop Job Function Tests

Job Function Test/Match Developed from the functional job description Job specific Determines workers capability to safely perform each job task Multiple uses: Job Match Restrictions Modifications Return to Work

How is the information used? Hiring practices Post-Offer Testing (new hires) Transfers Post-Injury Restrictions and Modifications Return-to-Work Ergonomic Opportunities

Ergonomic Opportunities Devices that decrease the physical load or effort of the operator Change the environment or set up Change the process/policy

Ergonomic Opportunities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dpvpKPcXIQ

Validation Employee will come in to the OccMed clinic and read through the JD and perform the JFT Make any modifications necessary Final sign off by employee

Why Fit for Duty? Reduce workplace injuries Universal language Benefits Company Medical Employees

Company Benefits Decreased worker’s compensation costs 50% Decrease in restricted days 80% Decrease in lost time days 50% Significant reduction in medical costs within work comp Worker/Supervisor morale improved Decreased Litigation **Above statistics from www.dsiworksolutions.com, summary of published outcomes

Company Benefits – Sanford Fit for Duty Decreased claims 20% Decreased lost days 66% Decreased indemnity 86% Decreased medical costs 25%

Results – Sanford Fit for Duty

Results – Sanford Fit for Duty

Results – Sanford Fit for Duty Strains ONLY

Results – Sanford Fit for Duty Strains ONLY

Medical Benefits Eliminates guess work Provides objective data Safer return-to-work process Also more specific and guided process Creates a blueprint for any therapeutic intervention

Employee Benefits Prevents needless injuries Higher risk to the employee themselves and their co-workers when they can’t perform job Ensures employees can perform job properly May help to determine a better fitting job in the company Assists with safe return from injury Fewer injuries = less financial risk and emotional effects on employee and company Facilitates better communication with injured employee

Legal perspective EEOC and ADA promote job function descriptions as an active way an employer can identify job functions for use in matching workers to jobs Provides job modification information for a person with a disability Facilitates mandatory compliance with non-discrimination and job relatedness

Overall Benefits Better qualified employees Increased workplace safety Reduction in workplace injuries Saves (everyone) time, energy, and financial stress U.S. Department of Labor says “most useful tool for predicting success in jobs and training”

“Injury Prevention is a Shared Responsibility”

Questions?