Pre-employment assessments have become an essential practice to mitigate the risk of injury to new hires or employees returning from injury.
These assessments, also known as Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE), provide a comprehensive overview of a potential employee's physical capabilities, including strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. Essentially, they help in determining whether an employee poses a high or low risk of work-related injury. Additionally, these assessments are beneficial for employees to gauge whether they can adequately perform the tasks required in a specific job role. For employers, this information can be invaluable in aligning workers with tasks or roles that are most suitable for their physical abilities within the company. The benefits of Pre-Employment Functional Assessment
Hire the right candidate: Pre-employment assessments significantly enhance the ability to determine whether a potential or existing employee possesses the functional capacity to meet the key critical demands of their proposed role. This evaluation ensures that individuals are well-suited to the physical requirements of their job, thereby promoting workplace safety and efficiency.
Meet OHS Legislative Requirements: Our assessment approach places a greater emphasis on evaluating an individual's specific ability to safely execute the inherent requirements of their designated role. This method transcends beyond a 'general' screening of movement and subjective factors, focusing instead on the precise demands and responsibilities associated with the job.
Identify Risk: Our functional assessments are instrumental in accurately identifying any functional deficits in potential employees. These assessments are essential for implementing effective risk management strategies, should you decide to proceed with employment. They play a crucial role in ascertaining whether a candidate is physically capable of performing the assigned role. Additionally, these evaluations reveal any underlying musculoskeletal injuries or restrictions, providing vital information to the potential employer prior to finalizing an employment offer.
Reduce Injuries: Injuries or diminished productivity can have a substantial financial and operational impact on a business. Implementing pre-employment screening is a vital step in ensuring the hiring of healthy and physically capable employees. This process is not just a precautionary measure but a critical component of risk management for any business, aiding in the maintenance of workplace efficiency and safety.
A pre-employment functional assessment, conducted in tandem with a medical assessment by a physiotherapist, offers a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate's suitability for a specific role. At Life Physio, we tailor our pre-employment assessments to meet your unique requirements, offering both generic and specific evaluations based on your needs.
Typically, a work fitness assessment includes an examination of:
provides an evaluation of the condition and function of a worker’s musculoskeletal health, and any injuries that may impact on their ability to safely perform the inherent requirements of their job.
Overall posture & postural fatigue
Range of joint movement and muscle flexibility
Strength and endurance
Movement technique & quality:
Bending
Lifting
Reaching
Squatting
Stairs and ladders
Manual handling
Cardiovascular fitness test
Why is Physiotherapist the best provider to assess pre-employment capacity evaluation?
Physiotherapists are highly qualified health professionals who work in partnership with their patients to help people get better and stay well.
Physiotherapists also work closely with GPs and other health clinicians to plan and manage treatment. GPs refer more patients to physiotherapists than any other healthcare profession.
Using advanced techniques and evidence-based care, physiotherapists assess, diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. Physiotherapy helps repair damage, reduce stiffness and pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life.
Physiotherapy extends from health promotion to injury prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, maintenance of functional mobility, chronic disease management, patient and carer education and occupational health.
Physiotherapist is trained to specified on how muscle and body structure work in-relation to perform the physical demands of specific duties as well as making recommendation about interventions such as safe manual handling.
Occupational health – supports the health and wellbeing of workers, reduces safety risks in the workplace, prevents and manages injuries and diseases, and support workers in returning to work.
How it works
1. Applicant arrives 15 minutes early to fill out Physiotherapy questionnaire and the ‘Personal Details’ . Physiotherapist/ receptionist MUST sight photographic identification .
2. Physiotherapist reviews task analysis provided by the HR Department to ensure understanding of the physical requirements of the job the applicant is applying for.
3. Physiotherapist reviews the completed questionnaire and ensures any YES answers are documented in detail. The Physiotherapist must ensure any current or pre-existing injuries are assessed thoroughly.
4. Physiotherapist will complete the Assessment and report
5. The Physiotherapist then sends a photocopy/fax of Assessment report to the employer/ referrer within 24 hours of completion. 6. The Physiotherapist then files assessment report at their premises and bills to the appropriate employer/referrer.
Pricing Assessment at the Clinic: $150 +GST per assessment Assessment at the employer's affiliate office (only available if there are from 6- 10 assessments per call out)
