Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

How to proceed with work ability assessment - tools and concepts

Ari Kaukiainen

Seminar on Work Ability 04.12.2003

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Assessment of Work Ability

• OHS personnel should– pay attention to work tasks & working

conditions– try to ensure that the employee can cope with

them– consider that the individual’s health resources

and the requirements of the work change during the career

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Assessment of Work Ability

• Assessment of work ability of employees is an essential part of– occupational health services (OHS)

– maintenance of work ability

• The assessment begins at the preplacement health examination

• Continues throughout the working career

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Assessment of the ability to work

• Assessment of work ability in regard to maintenance activities

• Assessment of work ability in regard to illness

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Definition of maintenance of work ability

• All activities, by which the employer, the employees and the co-operative organizations* at the work place try to promote every workers’s functional capacity and work ability throughout his/her work career

*includes e.g. occupational health services

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Goals of Work Ability assessment

In regard to maintenance activities

• Early detection of risk of incapacity for work• Recognition of possible risk factors in an

employee’s work, work community or work environment

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Starting points

• Systematic part of programs that promote work ability

• need arises in health examinations or sick calls

• Follow-up of absenteeism or a supervisor’s suspicion of lowered work ability

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

The following activities of the occupational health services include the maintenance of work ability:

• work place surveys

• follow-up assessment of the employees’ state of health and ability to work

• the development of work, working conditions and the work community to support the employees’ coping at work

• advice and guidance to the employees and the work community

• transferring an employee to a new job if he/she cannot cope with the present work

• participation in the prevention of special problems at work (e.g. alcohol/drug abuse)

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Examples of ways to collect information in the maintenance of work ability I

1. Work community

2. Employee environment

3. Work and work environment

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Examples of ways to collect information in the maintenance of work ability II

1. Work community• surveys of work atmosphere• occupational stress questionnaire• work place walk-throughs• information collected at other events

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Examples of ways to collect information in the maintenance of work ability III

2. Employee environment

• health examinations• assessment of work ability• medical record• follow-up on absences

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Examples of ways to collect information in the maintenance of work ability IV

3. Work and work environment

• physical strain of work• psychological strain of work• ergonomic check-up• occupational hygienic survey

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Health examinations I

Should be carried out when

1. An employee starts at a work including health hazards or special health requirements

2. Work tasks change essentially

3. After periods of illness affecting the work ability

4. Placing an employee with deficient work capacity to work

5. Other special reasons to suspect that the work involves a health hazard

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Health examinations II

Pre-employment assessments

Consider:• The risks and requirements set by the work• How the examinee has managed previous jobs• Possible previous problems• Previous occupational diseases• Leisure time exposure

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Health examinations III

Pre-employment assessments

However,• The scientific foundation of a rejection based on

medical or psychological reasons is weak • The person’s pre-employement illnesses are a poor

indicator of later illnessess or of early retirement!

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Health examinations IV

Periodical health examinations

Assess the need for:• rehabilitation• treatment• counseling• other support

• Potential health hazards due to work are assessed if the examination is carried out because of special risk of illness

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Work Ability Assessment - Things You Have to Know

• Which kind of work– stress factors– health requirements

• Which disease– limitations

• set by disease

• in work

– work performance history

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Things You Have to Know II

• Other factors– dwelling– family– availability of work– etc.

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Statements of Work Ability 1

• Basic task of the OHS• Assessment usually done during health

examination• Traditionally been assessed in terms of incapacity

for work

• Nowadays rather in terms of the remaining work ability and suggestions the necessary terms to support it

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Statements of Work Ability II

• Must be solely based on medical expertise and through knowledge of the contents of OHS

• OHS personnel are better acquainted with requirements of work compared to other health care personnel

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

OHS’s Role in Handling Work Ability I

• Work ability aspect always present• Identifying problems and development objects in

time• Solving problem in co-operation with the

enterprises• Participation in planning safe working conditions

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

OHS’s Role in Handling Work Ability 2

• Supporting workers with lowered work ability

• Rehabilitation and reassignment• Producing statistical and other information for

planning

• Health education

• OH support for work communities

• Care for substance abusers

Kaukiainen FIOH 2003

Follow-up of Work Ability

• Periodical health examinations• Work Ability Index, Occupational Stress

Questionnaire etc, muscle fitness tests, functional capacity tests, different lab tests

• doctor’s appointment• Follow-up of reasons for

– visiting OHS– sick leaves