| January 2014 | Past Issues | Advertise | Affiliates Search | PCOC.org |
WORK HARDENING: ANOTHER TOOL IN YOUR RETURN-TO-WORK KIT
It can take a long time for an injured worker to recover from a serious injury. During recuperation, he or she might lose strength, endurance and the ability to concentrate due to pain. And on occasion, an injury can result in a permanent partial disability, which would allow an employee to return to some sort of work, but perhaps not his or her previous schedule or occupation. When an injured worker reaches maximum medical improvement but is still unable to return to work, work hardening can help. A type of rehabilitation service, work hardening attempts to return an injured worker to gainful employment by increasing his/her strength and endurance, modifying the work environment, or modifying work tasks. The work hardening process consists of: -Referring. Typically, a treating physician will refer an injured worker to an occupational or physical therapist for work hardening. A medical exam will provide the therapist with information on the worker's medical condition and any physical restrictions. -Evaluating. The therapist will evaluate the returning worker's baseline strength and conditioning levels, using treadmills, ergometers, free weights, etc. -Analyzing. The therapist analyzes the physical demands of the job and its ergonomic environment. -Planning. Using this information, the therapist develops a comprehensive plan to return the employee to his/her former job. Specific tasks include the following: -Strengthening. The therapist develops an individualized program of real or simulated work tasks. These progressively more difficult tasks help an injured worker regain strength and retrain unused muscles. -Modifying. Where necessary, the therapist can recommend workplace modifications that can help injured workers with disabilities perform the critical tasks of the job. These might range from rearranging the workstation to specifying customized adaptive equipment. -Educating. A good work hardening program will help train an injured worker in preventive self-care. If poor body mechanics, lack of fitness or other worker characteristic led to or contributed to the injury, the therapist should provide training on proper body mechanics, such as proper lifting techniques, and other ergonomic safety suggestions. -Coping. Where necessary, a work hardening program can include measures to help a worker cope with any remaining symptoms from the injury, such as pain. -Discharging. The therapist will monitor the worker's progress, recommending return to work when he/she has reached predetermined strength and work fitness goals. Programs typically last three to four weeks. Many studies have found work hardening to be an effective method of returning injured workers to gainful employment. Although somewhat costly, when you consider the cost of lifetime benefits for an injured worker on total disability, it can save money. For more information on work hardening and other strategies to manage and reduce the cost of workers' compensation claims, for more information, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program department of Jenkins Leavitt Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378 or, email us @ProPest@Leavitt.com. |
Print this ArticlePest Control Operators of California |
 |
