This is the second in a series of courses on Occupational Health. When the words functional assessment and workers are used in the same sentence, most physical therapists think of the traditional 3 to 4-hour Functional Capacity Evaluation along with the negative associations with a lengthy exam and the issues of cooperation that sometimes accompany that assessment. The role of functional assessment for workers, however, can and should be much more than the traditional FCE. Starting with pre-hire, job applicants for physically demanding jobs should have a post-offer/pre-hire functional screen to make sure they have the physical ability to perform the job in the first place. As they remain employed, they need periodic fitness for duty functional assessments to determine if their physical abilities to perform the job have changed. If they transfer to a more physically demanding job, a functional screen can ensure they have the abilities for their new position. If an injury occurs, then a post-injury return-to-work functional screen is essential to make sure they are not thrown back into work for which they don’t have the physical abilities. All of these functional screens can be brief yet effective tools for making sure the workers’ abilities match job requirements throughout their lifecycle of employment. In addition, this webinar will discuss the EEOC, ADA and OFCCP compliance issues to be considered as these tests are administered.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the various points at which functional assessment is used to match the worker with their work in the worker’s lifecycle of employment.
2. Describe a process for developing and administering functional testing throughout the worker lifecycle.
3. Identify the ADA, EEOC and OFCCP rules and regulations that must be considered as these tests are developed and implemented.

Review the other courses in the series:

• The Role of the Physical Therapist in Treatment and Prevention of Workers' Compensation Injuries
• Job Analysis, Ergonomics and Worksite Early Intervention

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
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