Return To Work-Same Employer
- Plant operator remains at work
Following a lower back injury, a 32 year old plant operator from a large manufacturing company was referred to APM for injury management assistance prior to claim acceptance. Joe Worker was referred by his employer for assessment of his work duties, work environment, work techniques and for manual handling education.
A qualified APM Occupational Therapist performed the requested functions and liaised with Joe's treating Doctor regarding the results. Consultation with all parties resulted in Joe being retained at work on a return to work program of restricted duties.
For a period of 3 months, Joe was rotated through a number of productive roles at the workplace. APM was consulted in respect of these moves to ensure that Joe was working in a safe capacity within specified medical guidelines. During this period, APM worked with a local Physiotherapist to coordinate a suitable exercise program for Joe.
At the end of the third month, Joe was deemed fully fit for his full-time original duties as a plant operator by his treating doctor. Due to the employer's proactivity and support from the workers' compensation insurer for without prejudice involvement, highly cost effective results were obtained.
Return To Work-Same Employer
- Miners return to work
A remote mining site in North West Tasmania requested the services of Advanced Personnel Management (APM) to help get their injured workers back to work. Frustration had been expressed by the current employer in getting the GPs on side to approve the injured worker's return to work plans.
The employers found some of the GPs were hesitant to be involved in early intervention and management of workplace injuries because they had small practices in a small town, and understandably could not afford to challenge patient relationships.
APM suggested that the GPs may be more likely to support return to work plans if they had some objective assessment information to assure them the workers would be safe on their return to work. APM informed the GPs and the employer of the physical screen process, an assessment of injured worker's level of function which could be undertaken in the stores shed at the mine site.
A little unconventional, but as it was completed by a fully qualified Occupational Therapist trained in its administration, it was rest assured to be a success. The Occupational Therapist, whilst on site, could also do a worksite assessment looking at the transitional or original duties. A 'match' between the duties assessed with the physical screen results could then also be identified.
Matching the physical demands of the target job (such as lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling) with results of a worker's physical screen has now allowed GPs in this remote town to make great early, effective decisions on return to work with miners.
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