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Work-Safe Industrial Services

1. Functional Capacity Assessments

Definition:

• A Functional Capacity Assessment is a scientifically developed objective process of evaluating injured/disabled individuals to determine their physical capabilities and tolerances in a work environment.
• The assessment process measures whole body movements and body responses to activity. How has an injury to a specific area affected the person's ability to perform functionally related work tasks as a whole entity?
• Impairment vs. Disability Example:
  A bus driver missing three digits on his right hand would be impaired, but not disabled, because he can still drive the bus. In comparison, a concert pianist missing three digits on his right hand would be impaired and disabled because he could not play the piano as a concert pianist.
• Most FCA's utilize one or both of two approaches:
  • Kinesio-Physiological - involves cueing/direction from assessment specialist
  • Psycho-Physiological - client driven, end points set by client.

What specific components can an FCA measure?

• Depending on the protocol most FCA's are able to assess the following capabilities and tolerances:
  • work day tolerance
  • standing tolerance
  • sitting tolerance
  • walking tolerance
  • tool manipulation
  • pushing/pulling
  • carrying
  • grip strength
  • climbing stairs
  • range of motion
  • pinch strength
  • hand tolerances
  • keyboard tolerances
  • upper extremity tolerances
  • lifting
  • endurance
  • strength
  • balance
  • bending/stooping
  • kneeling
  • repetitive hand movements
  • repetitive foot movements

When should an FCA be utilized?

• to determine treatment direction (i.e. secondary/tertiary assessments).
• to determine a client's ability to safely return to work.
• to provide objective data to physicians regarding the client's physical capabilities.
• to determine a client's level of functioning to perform alternate work.
• to determine a client's physical capacity to perform activities of daily living.

2. Ergonomic Site Assessments

Work-Safe offers both a comprehensive and a basic ergonomic assessment. In each case Work-Safe uses only experienced ergonomists. In the case of a comprehensive assessment, Work-Safe draws on associates with a minimum of four years professional experience in ergonomic evaluation, program development, and research and training within various work environments including manufacturing, production and assembly, transportation, telecommunications, steel-making, forestry, pulp and paper, retail and warehousing settings.

Basic Ergonomic Assessment:

• This service provides a mechanism for identifying physical risks factors of a specific job and provides recommendations for eliminating or reducing these risk factors. This may include recommendations for alterations to a work station and recommendations for how a particular person or group of individuals can safely carry out specific tasks of a job. In order to complete this evaluation, a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for the job is highly recommended. If one does not exist, a detailed description of the job tasks and the physical requirements of these tasks must be provided.
• Workers are observed at their workstation(s) performing all the tasks of their job to determine workplace conditions which pose a risk of physical injury. The ergonomics of a work station, the process used to carry out a job, and the body mechanics used by individual workers to complete a job are all considered in this assessment.
• The assessor utilizes the Work-Safe Risk Factor Checklist to record all the physical requirements for each body part. The Risk Factor Checklist provides a quick overview on where physical risks exist and where priorities should be given for altering ergonomics.
• The Work-Safe Ergonomic Assessment Summary Form is used to record all findings and recommendations of the ergonomic assessment. Work-Safe reviews all reports for accuracy and to ensure any specific questions posed by the referrer are properly addressed. The final report may contain a diagram illustrating the recommended work station set-up. The report is forwarded to the client within five business days of completion of the work site observation.

Comprehensive Ergonomic Assessment:

Depending on the job, the Work-Safe ergonomist may have a background in engineering or health care. A psychologist may also be involved to deal with the cognitive aspects of ergonomics.

• This service provides the employer with a full understanding of the degree of ergonomic risk in their work environment. It will provide information on how to decrease risk levels in order to minimize injuries, illness and accidents. It will also address how to improve productivity, product quality, and customer service through the design/re-design of a work area, workstations, tools, equipment, or work processes.
• Before this service can be provided, an information gathering meeting and a tour of the work-site must take place. Following this, a proposal and price quotation will be submitted for the client’s review. The client incurs no charges until they have agreed to purchase the proposed service.

The service is offered in modules. It can be priced to include any of the following components:

1. Needs Assessment and Plan. This is conducted via:
   • individual interviews with key stakeholders.
   • group interviews with key stakeholders.
   • questionnaires and employee surveys.
   • a review of existing manuals, paperwork, cost data, outcome measures and process documentation.
2. Formation of Joint Management and Union Ergonomic Committees and Teams:
   • The consultant will guide the client in the development of joint committees. These committees will help in the development of some aspects of the program. The committees will meet on a regular basis to review results of ergonomic assessments. The ergonomic teams are usually made up of two to four employees/managers who receive specialized training in ergonomic identification techniques.
3. Ergonomic Risk Identification, Assessment And Control:
   • This involves an in-depth assessment of jobs and tasks in order to quantify the degree of ergonomic risk. This process results in reports which allow the client to understand how to control and limit risk levels in compliance with legislation and business goals.
4. Development of Ergonomic Policy and Procedure Manual:
   • The consulting team will assist the client in the development of written policies and procedure which support the ergonomic program. This includes roles and responsibilities, goals and outcome measurement.