WORKSITE ASSESSMENTS/JOB ANALYSIS/RETURN TO WORK PROGRAMS 

A comprehensive review of an employee's job on site including;

• Job Title
• Days and hours worked
• Position requirements/qualifications
• Duties performed
• Physical demands required to perform the job
• Recommendations are individualised to an employee and their injury to assist them to return to work or be maintained at work
• Highlights Occupational Health and Safety and/or industrial factors which may need addressing

DUTIES MANUALS

Is an extension of the above service but used by corporate clients as a tool for:

• Pre-employment matching of an employees physical capabilities against the job applied
• Rehabilitation as to return an employee to appropriate duties within the job, given their injury and physical restrictions
• Redeployment

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EARLY INTERVENTION / RETURN TO WORK ASSESSMENTS

Legislation under the new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act states all employees off work for longer than 4 weeks will need to be assessed as to their injury management.

Occupational Fitness Solutions can assist in this process by creating a snap shot of why an employee is facing difficulty at work or returning to work.

This tool uses a holistic view including an employees:

• Injury, medical status and interventions
• Functional capabilities and inabilities
• Vocational situation and career goals
• Educational and employment background
• Social and psychosocial roles and influences

Recommendations can assist as a pre-claim tool, early intervention model (for claims who are pre or at four weeks off work), and determine which factors may be effecting a return to work.

This service can extend to include a musculo skeletal Physiotherapy assessment and Psychological profile.

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ERGONOMICS

Are your employees/patients suffering from aches and pains, tension headaches, migraines, lower back ache, tendonitis, varicose veins, carpal tunnel or other ailments associated with overuse type injuries?

Often the workplace ergonomics need to be addressed in terms of fitting the equipment, tools and tasks to the individual as well as training staff on how to adjust their work station and change their work habits.

Often employers spend thousand of dollars on new office fit outs and furniture without consulting an Occupational Therapist or Ergonomist regarding the human factor and suitability of their choice. Piloting or trialing an idea may often save time, money and potential Workers Compensation claims through the engagement of ergonomic services.

Occupational Fitness Solutions can help with:

• Educating staff and training programs
• Office/workstation design and re-design
• Workstation set up
• Equipment recommendation

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MANUAL HANDLING

Educating employees on safe ways to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise hold restrain or move an object can often take more than watching a video.

Our Therapy staff employ education and real life practice scenarios to have employees learn the concepts behind why we need to move more efficiently, how to problem solve certain work situations to do this, and understand the principals behind risk identification, assessment and control to minimise their risk of injury from manual handling.

Employees are assessed on their ability to understand key concepts behind effective injury prevention as well as moving objects they use within their workplace.

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INJURY MANAGEMENT TRAINING

New Legislation effective 1 July 2005 requires all employers to have Injury Management Policies and Procedures including an understanding of how to put together Return to Work Programs.

Occupational Fitness Solutions can assist with this and has interactive, practical training programs which people of all backgrounds can attend to improve their skill and competence in this complex topic.

At the end of the training, attendees will have a greater understanding of their:

• Obligations as an Employer and Employee pertaining to OSH and Workers Compensation
• The Workers Compensation and Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Best practice for Injury Management in the workplace
• How to interpret medical certificates and provide alternate duties
• How to develop a Return to Work program
• How to ensure effective communication in the injury management process.

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ACTIVITY OF DAILY LIVING ADVICE

Often individuals, who experience a temporary or permanent impairment or disability, become frustrated at their inability to perform every day tasks which usually they could perform independently, safely, without pain or discomfort.

A typical example is an individual who has sustained a low back injury. They now find it uncomfortable to sit for prolonged periods effecting their ability to (i) drive (ii) work (iii) interact with the family i.e. watch a DVD or go out for dinner.

Our Occupational Therapists can provide recommendations on:

• Car and office seating
• Vehicle modifications
• Computer hardware and
• Household tasks

- in order to assist an individual to return to their regular activities independently, safely, efficiently and quickly.

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VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

As an approved vocational rehabilitation provider, we can assist with workers injured through the Western Australian workers compensation system.

Injured workers will return to work quicker through an individualized service aimed at:

• Optimizing their function as quickly as possible so they can get on with life and;
• Providing assistance to take the hassle out of Workers Compensation.

By referring to Occupational Fitness Solutions, our team of experienced and industry recognized Health Professionals will assist in the injury management process.

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