Workplace Health

Ergonomic assessments determine injury risk factors that may result from high repetition, awkward postures, high forces and a number of other workplace factors that affect how tasks are conducted. These assessments can be tailored to a specific worker’s health concerns or provided on a preventative basis to address potential risk factors for a group of employees. An evaluation of a work station and typical duties is conducted and recommendations are made to reduce the impact of risk factors. Recommendations may include improved worker positioning, modified work style, new tools and equipment, new furniture and/or adjustments to the work space. Our ergonomic assessments are not limited to office workers and are provided for a range of jobs including labour, production and skilled trade positions.

On site education sessions are tailored for each organization based on the nature of the most frequent injuries, typical symptoms reported, and the employee’s unique job requirements. Educational content promotes employee responsibility in avoiding injury as well as movement patterns and postures that contribute to pain. The employee role in improving workplace safety is also emphasized. Sessions include Safe Lifting & Material Handling and Office Ergonomics.

A job demands analysis quantifies the physical, cognitive, and interpersonal requirements associated with a job and identifies critical demands. Supported by a detailed and easy-to-read report, the JDA provides work disability stakeholders with an objective record of worker requirements and can inform potential job accommodations. By circulating these reports early in the recovery process, healthcare professionals can identify return to work readiness in a timelier manner.

Where it has been determined that a return to pre-disability employment is not realistic, many employers seek to accommodate workers by modifying the previous job or providing an alternate job to enable the worker to meet productivity demands safely and dependably. In this context, the Workplace Accommodation Assessment provides employers with a number of recommendations to facilitate durable employment and meet their Duty to Accommodate. Depending on the complexity of recommendations made and safety considerations, subsequent occupational therapy intervention beyond the assessment may be required.

Disability case management describes the process by which we assist employees who have difficulty returning to or staying at work to achieve a durable return to work outcome or achieve case resolution or readiness for return to work programming through participation in appropriate treatment or evaluations. Each engagement includes early and consistent communication with the client, their healthcare team, insurer, and employer representatives. Through client interview, a review of available medical and rehabilitation records and a sound understanding of the client's job and the treatment options available to them, OTs develop and implement plans to set the worker on a path toward optimal productivity in the workplace. Plans may include optimizing ergonomics, symptom/disease management strategies, GRTW and referral to specific healthcare services.

Functional Capacity Evaluations and Functional Driving Evaluations are also available. Where disability management or other case specific services are provided to the employer, independent disability evaluations can be sourced from other providers to mitigate potential conflict of interest.