ERGONOMICS & Disability management: A natural fit

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1 ERGONOMICS & Disability management: A natural fit Jennifer McGillis, M.Sc., CPE info@proergonomics.ca

2 Mission Statement "To consistently provide our clients with professional, proactive and productive solutions to advance ergonomic strategies within their organization to reduce injury risk and improve workplace design."

3 Consulting services Our consulting services include: Office Ergonomic Assessments Ergonomic Risk Assessments Physical/Cognitive Demands Assessments (PDAs/CDAs) RTW Assessments (Job Match, Job Compatibility) Ergonomic Training (1hr to multi-day) Health and Safety Services

4 AGENDA 1. Injury Statistics 2. Disability Management Program Overview 3. RTW Plans/Employee Abilities 4. Impact on Workplace 5. Role of Ergonomics

5 Schedule 2 Injury Statistics $254 million spent on injuries in 2012 Loss of Earnings is the biggest expense to employers (35%) 2012 Leading cause of injury was Sprains and Strains (50%)

6 Disability management Disability management focuses on absence from work due to illness, injury or disability Goal should always be prevention 3 Components: Prevention Support during recovery Accommodation

7 Disability management Prevention Prevention Employee Assistance Program (EAP) OHS Standards and legislation Special working arrangements Proactive ergonomic initiatives

8 Disability management Support for recovery Support for Recovery Sick leave Disability benefits Worker s compensation Early intervention Return to work planning

9 Goal of rtw 1. Pre-injury job 2. Modified (accommodated) pre-injury job 3. Alternate position in the workplace 4. Alternate modified (accommodated) position 5. Other Be Consistent

10 Disability management Accommodation Accommodation Modify work to make the job/task suitable Modifications might include: Modified work hours Modified/eliminated job tasks Colleague assistance Assistive devices

11 Return to work?

12 The Role of Ergonomics Keep Data Objective Help ensure that employees are able to work within their abilities by determining if a job is suitable Assist with describing potential accommodations Ergonomic improvements help everyone!

13 THE ROLE OF ERGONOMICS PHYSICAL & COGNITIVE DEMANDS ASSESSMENTS These assessments objectively describe the essential duties or a job/task Physical Demands Assessments: Mobility, strength, dexterity, range of motion (including working heights, reaches, etc.) Cognitive Demands Language, math, patterns, problem solving, multitasking, etc.

14 THE ROLE OF ERGONOMICS JOB MATCH ASSESSMENT An assessment designed to evaluate a job to determine if there is a match between employee s abilities and the job demands

15 Job Matching Steps: 1. Physical/Cognitive Demands Analysis 2. Compare Physical/Cognitive Demands to the Employee s abilities from the FAF 3. Accommodate as necessary

16 Worker is injured Worker Functional Abilities REVIEW & Physical &/or Cognitive Demands Analysis COMPARE Is the Worker s function able to meet the Essential Duties of the PDA YES Worker Returns to Job NO Accommodation / Modification is Required DEVELOP Return to Work Plan

17 Rtw plans Tool to aid employers in proactively returning employees to work in a timely and safe manner

18 RTW PLANS A contract between the employee and employer Employer s Role Employee s Role Often includes: Modified work hours Modified tasks Eliminated tasks Be Realistic

19 Co-worker s role Co-workers are key stakeholders in employee s RTW Take on tasks that are outside the returning employee s restrictions Provide emotional and social support Manage changes to their work routine RTW after injury can affect an injured employee s social capital

20 Co-Worker s Role Employers need to make every effort to help this transition go smoothly Communicate effectively with all employees affected by the RTW (when, how long, expectations, etc.) Acknowledge and recognize co-workers that are involved in assisting with RTW Hire replacement staff if necessary to lighten load Conduct ergonomic assessments and make improvements to minimize the physical demands on co-workers Ensure good organization/planning of RTW on all levels Attempt to keep accommodations relatively short-term by adhering to a RTW Plan

21 Summary Returning employees to work is not easy Objective data is the key to success Ergonomics can help! Conduct an objective PDA/CDA Compare essential job duties to employee s abilities Assist with accommodation Be aware of (and help mitigate) the affect the RTW has on co-workers Keep Data Objective

22 Contact us Sarah Snable, CCPE Jennifer McGillis, M.S., CPE Alex Stinson, CCPE