WORK: A Journal of Prevention,Assessment & Rehabilitation

Effective and cost efficient work injury prevention and disability management requires an integrated process that involves a number of components. Each component needs to be linked into a continuum or system. Components by themselves will not provide satisfactory solutions. This article addresses some of the key components that need to be included in an effective work injury management system. The goals of a management system are discussed and how each component plays a part in achieving these goals.

Workplace wellness as a concept has been used extensively in recent years by management in business and industry, health professionals, fitness experts, and others. Interest continues to grow, and the value of wellness programs is increasingly being discussed and debated. Most will agree that well-designed and administered programs deliver positive outcomes for employers as well as employees. This chapter will assist occupational health professionals interested in overall wellness programming, to distinguish wellness from other related concepts that have added confusion to the overall discussion. A growing number of external forces that are providing added encouragement for wellness programming in the workplace are also discussed.

A comparison was made between individuals employed as Nursing Assistants (NA) and Certified Evaluated Nursing Assistants (CENA) at Lakeland Regional Health System for one year prior to the implementation of a prework screen and for one year following the implementation of the prework screen. The goal was to determine the effectiveness of the prework screen on reducing injury rates and Workers' Compensation costs as well as the turnover rate for Nursing Assistants at Lakeland Regional Health System.

Worker safety and health, and productivity and efficiency on the job can be greatly impacted by the application of ergonomics. This article outlines the decision making process for implementing ergonomic change in the workplace. Ergonomic principles, as well as risk factors for the upper extremity and low back are identified. Three ergonomic measurement methods are presented including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1991 Revised Lifting Guidelines, Rodgers's Functional Job Analysis Technique, and the Moore and Garg Strain Index. Ergonomic solutions are discussed and additional factors to consider when designing ergonomic changes are identified.

The Ergonomics Affinity Design System (EADS) is a systematic problem-solving tool used to analyze and solve ergonomics issues. The basis of EADS is the identification and ranking of affinities or relationships that exist among the factors that influence job performance in the workplace. The five-step system can be applied to the workplace at varying levels of complexity based on need. It can be used at the design phase or in a redesign/modification application. Applicable for use in any work environment, the system can be an important part of the overall ergonomics process.

The benefits of matching the work to the worker include injury prevention, decreased re-injury rates, decreased turnover, and improved production. This article will discuss three components of an employer safety and health program that allows employers to realize these goals. The program involves partnering with trained health professionals who provide Functional Capacity Evaluation, Functional Job Analysis, and Prework Screening services onsite as means to achieving appropriate matches of the workers to the work.

Medical case management of musculoskeletal injuries can be facilitated when objective testing of the physical demands of the job can be compared to the functional capabilities of the individual. When the job analysis is appropriately sectioned into the separate physical demands, the physician can use information about specific job demands to maximize the likelihood of a safe return to regular duties. The response in the physical abilities in the worker can then be again functionally evaluated, leading to increased confidence in the process.