We know the unexpected cost of workplace injuries on a business and an employee and because of this we see the importance on prevention measures over reactive.

 

One control that can be implemented is to effectively match workers to a job role and job roles to a worker, by aligning physical demands of a job role to the capacity of a worker. 

 

Research has shown that employers who implement pre-employment functional screenings in their recruitment processes had a reduction of 41% in workplace injuries, compared to employers who don’t. 

Most importantly, these same workplaces saw a 21% higher retention rate. 

 

A decrease in workplace injuries allows for a happier and healthier workforce, that can lead to increased employee satisfaction, culture and productivity. 

 

 

 

Types of Functional Capacity Evaluation

 

Pre-employment Functional Capacity Evaluation

 

Pre-screening of employees to ensure they can be matched to a job role in the workplace that matches their current physical capabilities. 

 

Return To Work Functional Capacity Evaluation

 

Due to some injuries, workers may require extended periods of time off, they may also lose a significant proportion of their physical capacity. Rushing them back to their pre-injury duties may expose them to increased risk of aggravation or new injury, therefore, functional assessments are best to ensure a safe return to work. 

 

An employer may request a Functional Assessment for an employee when returning to work from a work-related and non-work related injury. 

 

Ongoing Functional Capacity Evaluation

 

Functional Assessments are commonly completed over time to assess changes to aging workforce. It can also be used to ensure an employee transitioning to a new role, within the same workplace, with different physical requirements can meet that new role, safely. 

 

 

 

What Does a Functional Assessment Involve?

 

An assessment involves screening current or potential workers via a series of objective measures. You can expect to receive a report on the employee’s current range of motion and physical strength of the body, to better understand the current/potential employees match to the job role. 

 

• Grip Strength

• Ground to Floor Lift Capacity and Technique

• Above Shoulder Lifting Capacity

• Core Strength

• Lower Limb Strength

• Postural Tolerances

• Cardiovascular Fitness Levels

• Carrying 

• Job Specific Testing ** testing can be developed upon review of your company’s existing job dictionaries.​