| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Workers' Compensation | Workers' compensation laws are designed to eliminate the need for litigation in cases of work-related injury or death. A "no-fault" law –employers can't hold a worker accountable for the injury and vice versa. Injured workers receive medical treatment for their injury and an adjusted income if they are not able to work while they recover. In most cases, the employer has the right to choose the treating physician. The dependents of a worker who dies receive fixed monetary awards. Monetary awards vary from state to state. In Kansas, a worker can receive no more than 2/3 of his or her average weekly wage. |
| Common Work-related musculoskeletal injuries: | Back injuries, UE tendinitis, Muscle Strains, Rotator Cuff Tears, Medial/Lateral Epicondylitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Knee injuries, Ankle sprains, Fractures. |
| Physical Risk Factors for back Injury: | Physically heavy work, Large physical loads, Frequent bending and/or twisting, Whole body vibration. |
| Physical Risk Factors for UE Disorders: | Repetition, Force, Vibration. |
| Psychological Risk Factors For Injury: | Low job satisfaction, Monotonous Work, Low decision latitude/ perceived control, Job stress, Rapid work pace, Poor work relations. |
| Job analysis: Purpose | Determine ways to increase productivity, Determine ways to help prevent injury, Measure/monitor Environmental safety (air quality or sound levels) Develop a job description-includes essential and nonessential job functions. |
| Job Description: Purpose | For hiring, Pre-work screening, functional therapy for injured works, injured workers can return. |
| Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) | An objective (relatively-speaking) test to determine if the injured employee is ready to go back to work. Can help to determine any job modifications or additional therapy that may be needed. Is sometimes used to "Catch the malingerer". |
| Work Hardening Vs. Work Conditioning | Both involve multi-hour treatment sessions, usually daily. Both require a good understanding of the pt's job requirements. Work conditioning is more of a single-discipline model that focuses on the pt's physical condition. Work Hardening is a multi-discipline approach that also addresses psychology and behavior. |
| Ergonomics | Definition=Fitting the job to the person, not the person to the job. More practically speaking, a job can be designed to make it easier for the "average person" or can be made adjustable for people of different sizes. The key is the reduction of risk factors. Other ways to reduce injury include: employee educational programs, employee exercise programs, and efforts to reduce the psychological risk factors. Job rotation. |
| Benefits of Prevention | Increased employee job satisfaction and morale, reduced employee fatigue and injury, reduced abscentism, increased production, decreased cost of replacing workers, decreased workers' compensation costs, decreased litigation costs. |
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