Project Name
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Ergonomic Solutions for Employment
Grant Number
H133E980007
Tool Type
Assessments
Tool Class
Nonengineering Tool
Disability Targeted
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Study Target
Employees with and without disabilities
Study Goal
To assess the ability of the individual to perform a set of job related tasks
Tool Admin
Medical professionals in a work setting
Ease of Use
Average
Time to Complete
Unknown
Equipment Required
Medical equipment may be required for higher level assessments.
Approvals Required
IRB
How Administered
Each of the four levels of the assessment are used with a person with a disability (back pain, upper extremity, spinal dysfunction) performing job tasks.
Scope
This tool is a hierarchy of assessments in four levels that record the job performance/ability of people with disabilities. It progresses from simple worker questionnaires, to information an allied health professional such as a plant nurse might reasonably obtain, to information obtained by a specialist with appropriate diagnostic testing, to a half-day multidisciplinary team assessment.
Development Methodology
Researchers studied and adapted four different protocols—the Spine Team Assessment (STA, referred to in the initial application as the Quantified Functional Assessment) for persons with back or neck pain disability of more than 3 months, the UPPER assessment for persons with complex arm related disability, the Quick program for persons with other severe neurologic or orthopedic disability, and the Spine Team Assessment – Senior for older persons with back pain disability. All three protocols were evaluated on injured workers and used to determine the type of ergonomic/engineering accommodations needed, as well as the timing and barriers to success. Researchers also developed schema for assessing less severe, chronic, or complex disability in order to provide scalability of assessments related to model development in the core projects and the rest of the RERC.
Outside Consultation
The assessments were analyzed by focus groups including consumers, VR specialists, medical specialists. Each assessment was modified after test implementations.
Consumer Input
Yes
Other Purposes
The assessment could be used to identify gaps and accommodations for other physical disabilities. It can also be applied to workers without disabilities to assess and analyze the ability to perform job related tasks.
Limitations
No known limitations
Findings
An extensive database of job descriptions with detailed information on the physical aspects of job performance evolved out of the data gathered and analyzed. Researchers discovered that implementation is dependent on the worker and employer.
Findings Impact
Application of this data will lead to better accommodation of employees with musculoskeletal disorders in widely varied fields. It could identify gaps and potentially open the pool of jobs available to people with physical disabilities. It could lead to reduction in development of musculoskeletal disorders.
Peer Review Status
These tools have been subject to peer review in the publication of several dissertations, journal articles, and conference presentations. Contact project staff for more information.
Who Uses Data
Employers and vocational counselors assessing the work environment and the potential for employees with physical disabilities.
Is Tool Free
No
Tool Contact
Sherry Ulin, PhD
Contact Name
Sherry Ulin, PhD
Phone
734/763-0133