1. Cheryl Swanson
Disability Management Consultant
Safety Services Manitoba
Disability Management: Aligning with Workplace Psychological Health and Safety

2. Today… Disability management life cycle
Psychologically safe system of work
Take Action

3. Prevention: Reducing risks or threats to health
Primary
Prevent disease or injury before it occurs
Preventing exposure to hazards, education
Secondary
Reduce the impact of a disease or injury
Modified work so injured or ill workers can return safely
Tertiary
Soften the impact of an ongoing illness or injury
Vocational rehab programs to retrain workers for new jobs

4. Communication Collaboration
Comprehensive
Disability Management
Program
Communication Collaboration
Stay at Work
Away from work
Return to Work
Primary and Secondary prevention
Secondary and Tertiary prevention
Secondary and Tertiary prevention

5. Measuring Results

6. Jamie‘s Story
Physical injury
Psychological reaction

7. Roles and
Expectations
Stay at Work
Away from work
Return to Work

8. Explaining mental health
Optimal Mental Health
Poor Mental Health
Serious
Mental
Illness
No Symptoms
of Mental
Does the workplace have an impact on mental health?

9. People are more creative and are able to achieve better job performance when they are in a
healthy psychosocial
work environment.
Lowe, G., The Wellness Dividend: How Employers Can Improve
Employee Health and Productivity. The Graham Lowe Group. Report-April2014.pdf

10. Psychologically Safe System of Work
Be aware
Be just
Be careful
Be vigilant

11. Don’t pay attention
Treat people unfairly
Be careless
Be rude

12. Psychological hazards
Lack of control
Lack of support
Unclear or changing expectations
Physical safety risk

13. The Impact of
Psychological
Hazards

14. Lack of support, Unclear expectations, Uncertainty
Psychological
Hazards
At each
stage
Lack of support, Unclear expectations, Uncertainty
Stay at Work
Away from work
Return to Work

15. Consistent Practice Psychological and Social Support
Clear Leadership & Expectations
Civility & Respect

16. Communication- ABC’s Acknowledge Be Available Collaborative Solutions
Be aware
Be just
Be careful
Be vigilant

18. Into Practice Review Questionnaire Interview Employee Interview
Policies and procedures, metrics
Tools and material
Review
Leadership perspective
Questionnaire
More detailed information and intention
Interview
Employee perspective
Employee Interview

19. Into Practice Prevention actions at each DM stage
Communication strategy
Clear roles and expectations
Measurement and evaluation
Consistent practice
Alignment with psychologically safe system of work