1. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND THE WORKPLACE Laura Hicks B.App.Sc. (OT)

2. WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? Occupational Therapists facilitate performance of meaningful tasks with maximum: -Function -Safety -Productivity -Well-being

3. -Minimise the number of workplace injuries -Minimise cost of claims -Promote safety and productivity in the workplace -Create and maintain a healthy workforce Through… -Injury Prevention -Injury Management What can Occupational Therapists do for your workplace?

4. INJURY PREVENTION Through: - Manual Handling Training -Worksite Assessment For example

5. Manual Handling Training -Group or 1:1 training -Staff induction -Annual updates -‘Train the Trainer’ packages -DVD and Power Point Packages

6. Worksite Assessment -Assessment of worksite environment, processes and practices -Identify risks and recommend solutions -Workplace modifications -Provision of assistive aids and equipment -Education in appropriate techniques and biomechanical principles and possibly provision of stretches

7. INJURY MANAGEMENT -Time efficient -Financially viable -Outcome oriented -Safe and sustainable

8. Achieved though assessment, and liaison with: – Injured worker and their families – Employer representatives – Treating doctors – Insurance companies – Rehabilitation Consultants – Other key stakeholders eg: Allied Health Professionals

9. Assessments – Workstation Assessments – Job Analyses – Graduated Return to Work Schedule – Job Dictionaries – Functional Capacity Evaluations – Worksite Assessments – Manual Handling

10. CONCLUSION What OT’s offer the worker: -Ensure the demands of a job are realistic and within the worker’s capabilities -Liaison with key stakeholders -Facilitate sustainable return to work -Provide education and training -Promote a safe and productive work environment -Promote and foster job satisfaction

11. What OT’s offer the employer: -Identify risks and recommend solutions -Facilitate rehabilitation and return to work -Provide staff training and development A safe work environment = a productive work environment

12. Thank you for your time