PROTECTING YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES By using: POST-OFFER,PRE-PLACEMENT SCREENINGS Bruce A. Jacobsen PT, M.Ed. Coordinator of Industrial Rehabilitation Services Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 16/18/2013

Also know as… Pre-work Screening, PWS Return to Work Screenings, RTWS Physical Demand Screenings, PDS Functional Capacity Evaluations, FCEs Limited functional Capacity Evaluations Ability Screenings 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 2

A Post-offer, Pre-placement screening is a screening that tests an applicants ability to perform the physical demands of a specific job. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 3

Purpose: Job Matching Definition: Matching an applicants and/or employees physical abilities to a jobs essential physical demand requirements. An objective measure to help hire the right people for a specific job. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 4

Job Match Grid Essential Job Task, Physical Demand Requirement Applicants AbilitiesJob Match: Yes or No Floor to waist lift, 50-pounds25, poundsNo Floor to waist lift, 50-pounds50-poundsYes Floor to waist lift, 50-pounds100-poundsYes 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 5

Post-offer, Pre-employment Screening Derived from a Functional Job Description. Specifically, the physical demands of the job. Department of Labor Physical Demands: – Lifts, push & pull forces, carries, crawling, kneeling, crouching, climbing, hand grip forces, hand coordination activities (gross and fine motor). 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 6

Additional Considerations Positive culture of safety. Ergonomic applications. Employee and Employer safety ownership. PDS are only a part of work safety programs. A snapshot of a persons abilities 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 7

Benefits of PDS Establishes a baseline level of physical abilities at time of hire. Reduction in first 90-day injuries (WorkWell Systems, Inc.). More realistic return to work options if injured later on. Introduction to safe material handling; coaching. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 8

Benefits continued… Can identify if a screening failure is due to conditioning vs. pathologic vs. poor body mechanic issues. Considered non-discriminatory if based on the essential job functions. Helps to assure an injured employee is physically ready to return to work. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 9

Cost Considerations Adds to hiring cost, as an additional service. Based on the PDS pass rate of a specific job, more applicants may need to be screened. (examples: CANs and EMTs). – HR vs. safety/risk view points Again, helps identify if applicants have the essential physical abilities to perform the job. The idea is to help reduce WC costs. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 10

Legislation American Disability Act (ADA) – 3 situations for testing Pre-employment Job Transfers Return to work clearance – Work and non-work related injuries Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) looks at non-discriminatory application of the screenings. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 11

Physical Limiting Factors. Muscle weakness. – Weak quadriceps Pathologies. – osteoarthritis Poor body mechanics: – bad habits – Weakness – pathologies 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 12

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) A standardized test of about 21 to 25 physical testing components. A physical exam is done prior to an FCE to help correlate findings for consistency of effort purposes. Range form 3 to 5 hours over 1 to 2 days. Looking to determine the employees maximum abilities. Observational criteria to help determine estimated work categories, i.e. frequent, occasional and rare work levels. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 13

FCE vs. PDS 3 to 5 hours Tests to maximal abilities More costly Done if no PDS is set up, mostly for RTW reasons. Often done at MMI to help quantify any permanent restrictions minutes average Only as required within a work cycle Less costly Done for PWS, RTW and job transfers Not done for MMI restrictions 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 14

Functional Job Descriptions (FJD) Required by both FCEs and PDSs Quantifies the physical demands of a job. A job analysis needs to be conducted to determine the physical demands of the essential functions. Strongly recommend employee and employer involvement during the development. 6/18/2013 Occupational Health Plus/Worker Health Solutions 15