How can Summit help you?

Our ergonomic experts service Spokane, Washington and the Inland Empire. We identify ergonomic risk factors in industrial settings, as well as computer workstation deficiencies in office environments. We strive to teach proper work methods for reducing workplace injuries, and optimizing individual workstation postures and positions.

After an ergonomic consultation we will provide cost effective recommendation for any necessary ergonomic equipment that will improve efficiency and reduce the risks known to cause musculo-skeletal conditions.

We can provide education in selected stretching exercise to reduce muscle fatigue and improve flexibility to increase worker productivity and decrease musculo-skeletal strain.

We can assist you with injury prevention through educational presentations that include job specific work method education and proper body mechanics.

We can develop and provide pre-employment screening tests for new employees and “fitness for duty” exams for those returning to work after injury.

Why Do You Need Assistance?

Our ergonomic experts are dedicated to reducing workplace injuries and illnesses through comprehensive ergonomic analysis. Our efforts will impact the number of lost work days, the number of restricted work days and decrease the overall costs associated with workplace disability.

Our Ergonomic Analysis will increase work productivity, efficiency and employee morale. Repeat injuries will be reduced and workers will be able to remain on the job. This will ultimately decrease associated medical expenses (both on and off the job).

Our proactive approach is designed to save you money that is associated with a variety of workplace injuries and illnesses. We are also experts in managing successful return to work through work method changes and advising on appropriate ergonomic equipment. We are aware of the ADA/EEOC compliance laws as it applies to worker injuries and illnesses.

Summit can customize our programs to meet your companies unique needs and situations.

WHAT IS A JOB ANALYSIS?

  • A job analysis is a comprehensive, structured process of identifying and evaluating the physical aspects of work.
  • The job analysis objectively quantifies, measures, and categorizes the active components of the job, including the required movements, functions, forces, actions and postures.
  • The job analysis is one of the best tools for identifying the discreet and unique duties and responsibilities of a job. The job analysis is not a form, but rather a tool to be used throughout the employment process. It is the foundation for recruitment, hiring and performance reviews.  It is also an essential tool for managing workers compensation issues.

COMPONENTS

  • Job Description Summary
  • Essential Job Duties
  • Physical Demands
    • Lifting
    • Carrying
    • Pushing/Pulling
    • Reaching
    • Climbing
  • Positional Tolerances
    • Sit
    • Stand
    • Walk
    • Bend/Stoop
    • Squat
    • Kneel
    • Crawl
  • Upper Extremity Demands
    • Grasping/Handling
    • Repetitive Hand Use
  • Environmental/ Atmospheric Conditions
  • Equipment Used

PROCESS

  • Analysis and determination of essential job task functions.
  • Measurements of weights, distances, heights, frequencies and positions.
  • Evaluation of equipment, machines and tools used.
  • Compilation of job task categories

REPORTING

  • Readable format that accurately details the essential job functions.
  • Digital photos of job tasks.
  • Easily updateable electronic format.

WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?

Ergonomics is the practice of “fitting the work to the worker.” This includes the evaluation of tools, machines, systems, and work methods with the goal of increasing worker productivity, safety and comfort.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Summit Rehabilitation’s therapists have extensive experience in providing ergonomic consulting services. Our therapists have established themselves as community leaders in the field. The diverse background of our staff allows for expertise across the vast spectrum of ergonomics.
We provide result oriented, cost effective solutions to meet a variety of ergonomic needs. Our approach is client oriented and individualized. We rely on state of the art principles and research to guide our evidence-based approach. Each of our staff routinely attends continuing education courses and conferences to ensure that our interventions reflect recent research practices and product knowledge.

INDIVIDUAL JOBSITE ASSESSMENTS
Appropriate for:
• Workers who recently returned to work following an injury or want to return to work
• Workers currently performing modified duty or with medical restrictions
Goals:
• Keep worker on the job
• Reduce time off work
• Improve productivity
• Transition from modified duty to full duty work status
Process:
• Evaluate worker performing routine job tasks
• Identify and quantify physical requirements of the job
• Evaluate equipment and tools used in the job process
• Match the job demands to the workers abilities and determined restrictions
• Teach workers to work “smarter,” not “harder”
• Educate worker in alternative work methods to reduce ergonomic risk factors
• Teach worker appropriate stretching and stress relieving exercises to remain healthy
Provide:
• Written report with digital photos describing short and long term solutions
• Recommendations for work method changes to decrease ergonomic risk or accommodate injury
• Recommend ergonomic equipment and tools to reduce ergonomic risk and accommodate work restrictions
• Provide vendor contacts for appropriate cost effective equipment
• Recommendations for modified duty task that are within workers abilities and identified restrictions
• Assistance with a process for a gradual return to full duty status

PREVENTATIVE ERGONOMIC ANALYSIS
Appropriate for:
• Jobs identified as high risk for injury or worker complaints (red flag jobs)
• High incidence of similar injury reports or sprains/strains
Goals:
• Reduce ergonomic risk factors
• Reduce injuries and illnesses, which reduce workers’ compensation and medical costs
• Reduce time loss days
• Provide employees with a safe and productive work environment free from recognized hazards
• Increase worker productivity and efficiency
• Increase product output and quality
• Increase work safety
Process:
• Review OSHA 300 and injury logs
• Administer employee surveys, if appropriate
• Evaluate multiple workers performing routine job tasks
• Identify and quantify the physical requirements, repetitive requirements and postural demands of the work tasks
• Identify ergonomic risk factors including awkward postures, forces and repetition and prioritize high risk job tasks
• Evaluate tools and equipment
• Perform a systems analysis of the efficiency of work flow
Provide:
• Written report with digital photos describing short and long term solutions
• Recommendations for work method changes to decrease ergonomic risk factors
• Recommendations for modifications to make jobs easier and reduce strain
• Recommendations for ergonomic equipment and tools to reduce ergonomic risk factors
• Vendor contacts for appropriate cost effective equipment and tools
• Recommendations for internal controls such as job rotation and work rotation to reduce repetition

WHAT IS ERGONOMICS?
Ergonomics is the practice of “fitting the work to the worker”. This includes the evaluation of tools, machines, systems, and work methods with the goal of increasing worker productivity, safety and comfort.

PROGRAM SUMMARY
Summit Rehabilitation’s therapists have extensive experience in providing ergonomic consulting services. Our therapists have established themselves as community leaders in the field. The diverse background of our staff allows for expertise across the vast spectrum of ergonomics.

We provide result oriented, cost effective solutions to meet a variety of ergonomic needs. Our approach is client oriented and individualized. We rely on state of the art principles and research to guide our evidence-based approach. Each of our staff routinely attends continuing education courses and conferences to ensure that our interventions reflect recent research practices and product knowledge.

PREVENTATIVE WORKSTATION ASSESSMENTS
This assessment is designed for low-risk and symptom free employees. The evaluation includes:
• General Desk Space Layout
• Seating and Chair Adjustments
• Monitor Position
• Keyboard Position and Usage
• Mouse Input Device Position and Usage
• Telephone Usage
• Writing and Paperwork
• Lighting and Glare
• Handouts are provided for proper workstation set-up.
• Handouts and instruction of office specific preventative exercises provided.

**Equipment adjustments are completed at time of service (when possible) to promote a better fit between the worker and their workstation.

COMPREHENSIVE ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENTS
This assessment is designed for employees with reports of pain or discomfort. These evaluations are designed to decrease ergonomic risk factors, minimize current complaints and prevent future incidence. The evaluation includes:

• History and Analysis of Symptoms Experienced
• Job Task Analysis
• General Desk Space Layout
• Seating and Chair Adjustments, consideration of alternate seating methods
• Monitor Position
• Keyboard Position and Usage; consideration of alternate input devices
• Mouse Input Device Position and Usage; consideration of alternate input devices
• Computer Software adjustments or enhancements.
• Telephone Usage
• Writing and Paperwork
• Lighting and Glare
• Injury Specific Stretching and Exercise Program (as appropriate)
• Break reminders
• Proper pacing and internal controls

JOB COACHING
We can observe workers performing their job tasks and suggest healthier and easier ways to perform the job tasks to reduce your risk of injury.

SYMPTOM SCREENS
Our therapists can address early signs and symptoms of potential injuries. We can provide education on first aid to help alleviate symptoms and work method education to minimize aggravation.

Our ergonomically educated therapists can provide educational presentations for both the office environment and industrial setting. Our focus is on injury prevention, work efficiency, stretching exercises and wellness programs. All presentations can be customized and tailored for office or industry needs.

Our presentations can be provided in a power point format, with actual photos of the various jobs that can be inserted to allow the workers to actually view their work methods and job demands that is specific to their work environment. These presentations are typically one hour in duration.

We can also perform interactive presentations where we actually demonstrate proper lifting techniques and correct biomechanics in a “stand-up” format. Stretching exercises are also incorporated in this program. These presentations are typically 30 to 45 minutes in duration.

The goals of our education presentation programs are to educate the workers in staying injury free by providing them with the necessary “tools” to reduce unnecessary stress and strains to the musculo-skeletal system when they perform their job demands. Simple, but effective stretching exercises are provided to prepare them for work by improving flexibility and to assist in reducing stress and strain in the workplace.

WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY EVALUATION?

  • A systematic evaluation process designed to document a person’s current work abilities and limitations.
  • The primary purpose of this evaluation is to determine a person’s ability to safely return to work following an injury or illness.
  • A fitness for duty evaluation (Job specific functional capacity evaluation) provides employers and medical providers a clinically-based, objective assessment of the injured worker’s functional ability to perform specific work related tasks. It is recommended for a worker who is returning to work following an injury or extensive lay-off.

WHY FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES TESTING?

  • Reduce injuries and associated losses
  • Increase productivity
  • Decrease staff turnover
  • Determine a worker’s ability to safely return to their job.
  • Match a worker’s abilities with the physical requirements of their job.

THE KINESIOPHYSICAL APPROACH
This biomechanical approach allows a therapist skilled in musculoskeletal evaluation and function to indicate when an individual has reached his or her safe maximum work capacity. The therapist carefully observes muscle function, movement patterns, physiological changes and worker behavior to determine accurate work levels. A physical examination is correlated with the functional findings and observations to provide rationale for limitations. The kinesiophysical approach stresses safety, as clients will not be allowed to perform any activity in a way that would put them at risk for injury.

EVALUATION COMPONENTS

  • Musculoskeletal examination (strength, range of motion, etc.)
  • Evaluation of positional tolerances (sitting, standing, and walking)
  • Gait assessment
  • Repetitive movement tests
  • Whole body static strength
  • Material handling: (lift, carry, push/pull)
  • Non-material handling: (bend/stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, reach, climb, balance and use of arm/leg controls
  • Other job specific testing as indicated

Our Testing Program:

  • Complies with ADA, EEOC, OSHA and other government requirements
  • Deliveries measurable results with a high return on investment
  • Objective measurement based

A pre-work screen is a test of a job applicant’s ability to safely perform the physical demand requirements of a specific job.

WHY DO POST OFFER FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES TESTING?

  • Reduce injuries and associated losses
  • Establish pre-hire physical baseline
  • Increase productivity
  • Decrease staff turnover
  • Determine job match between worker’s abilities and the required physical demands of the job being considered.

Our Testing Program:

  • Complies with ADA, EEOC, OSHA and other government requirements
  • Deliveries measurable results with a high rate of return on investment
  • Objective measurement based
  • Job Specific

The evaluation includes:

  • A physical examination of functional range of motion and strength
  • Functional testing of the critical physical demands of the specific job that they are being hired for
  • Testing may include lifting, force testing, postural tolerances, grip strength, push/pull and climbing abilities

Combined Services are available through our coordinated efforts with local medical providers:

    • Medical screening
    • Hearing tests
    • Drug Testing

We can design a comprehensive program to address all of your new hire issues.

PRE-WORK SCREEN PROGRAM OVERVIEW

It is critical to quantify the physical requirements, repetitive requirements and postural demands in order to accurately define the essential functions of the jobs. Clear and accurate measures will ensure that the items tested represent the physical requirements of the jobs. Validation of the job analysis is important for accuracy and to meet all legal requirements. A clear and accurate job analysis is the cornerstone for development of the pre-work screen exams. Review of the current job analyses and additional measurements will ensure that the functional testing is validated and accurate.

In order to develop the Pre-Work Screen Exams, we will review the job analyses and identify the “critical physical demands” that need to be tested for each job. Typically, the critical demands are based on the more physical requirements such as lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, frequently assumed positions such as reaching and bending and the repetitive tasks such as grasping/handling or pinching. For each critical demand, we will identify the force, frequency and posture requirements. We then design test protocols for each critical job demand. Typically, we use standard functional capacity evaluation equipment and testing protocols so that the tests can be easily reproduced, however custom equipment and testing can be incorporated. Each test item will be correlated with a specific job task. This ensures that candidates will be tested in performance of essential job requirements only. This meets EEOC and ADA standards. We create a test protocol and results table that is pass/fail. We do not recommend hiring candidates that do not pass all components of the test.

Once we have developed the tests, we will need to validate the tests with your current work force. This is typically done by having a representative sample of workers perform the actual test. The number of current workers needed to validate the tests is dependent on the number of employees who perform the job. A 3-5% sample is typically adequate. We recommend that you choose a sample of men and women and new employees and experienced employees. Once the workers complete the test, the will be asked to provide feedback on the test as to its accuracy in representing the requirements of their jobs. In a case where current employees fail portions of the test, we will need to review and possibly modify the tests.

Once we have completed the validation, we develop an SOP and program manual that will outline all of the requirements and procedures of the pre-work screen program. We will then train the therapy providers in the procedures for specific testing for you company.

Once this is complete, we will be ready to implement the Pre-Work Screen program for your new hire candidates.
Candidates will arrive for the Pre-Work Screen and fill out a consent form for testing. They will have their blood pressure taken and a chest strap polar heart rate monitor put on. A brief physical exam will be completed to assess gross range of motion, strength, balance and few other components to ensure that they are safe to participate in the evaluation. Specific parameters will be outlined in the program manual. Once they complete the preliminary exam, they will be taken to the evaluation area and complete the functional testing portion. During the functional testing, they will have their heart rate monitored throughout the exam. Once the exam is complete the report grid and results will be completed and sent out.