chapter 13 worker selection and training criteria

Chapter 13Chapter 13Chapter 13Chapter 13

Worker Selection Worker Selection and and

Training CriteriaTraining Criteria

Worker Selection:Worker Selection:Worker Selection:Worker Selection:

PurposePurpose : Right worker for right job: Right worker for right job

Worker Screening:Worker Screening:Worker Screening:Worker Screening:

The goal of worker screening is toThe goal of worker screening is to Identify high risk people. Identify high risk people.

– Identify previous musculoskeletal problems Identify previous musculoskeletal problems (CTS, LBP)(CTS, LBP)

– identify low fitness individualsidentify low fitness individuals


Screening should include:Screening should include: History and Physical ExaminationHistory and Physical Examination

– Identification of present health problems.Identification of present health problems.– Implementationof appropriate treatment.Implementationof appropriate treatment.


All screening devices should be evaluated for:All screening devices should be evaluated for: Accurate (validity of identification)Accurate (validity of identification) Sensitive (identifies those who will develop Sensitive (identifies those who will develop

disease or injury)disease or injury) Specific (identifies those who will not Specific (identifies those who will not

develop disease or injury)develop disease or injury) Predictive (identifies who is REALLY at Predictive (identifies who is REALLY at

risk)risk)

According to Tsai, et. al., (1992)According to Tsai, et. al., (1992)According to Tsai, et. al., (1992)According to Tsai, et. al., (1992)

Risk of Low Back Pain greater amongRisk of Low Back Pain greater among– smokers,smokers,– overweight, overweight, – those in physically demanding jobsthose in physically demanding jobs

According to Scheer et al (1997)According to Scheer et al (1997)According to Scheer et al (1997)According to Scheer et al (1997)

Inclusion of a preventive conditioning Inclusion of a preventive conditioning program at work may be useful to reduce program at work may be useful to reduce the chance of recurrent work disabilitiesthe chance of recurrent work disabilities

Companies willing to make an Companies willing to make an investmentinvestment in in worker fitness programs can generally worker fitness programs can generally recover the associated expenses by recover the associated expenses by lessening the workers’ compensation costs.lessening the workers’ compensation costs.

Reference #3940

Recommendations generated by Recommendations generated by Tai et al to reduce riskTai et al to reduce risk

Recommendations generated by Recommendations generated by Tai et al to reduce riskTai et al to reduce risk

1. Injury prevention program.1. Injury prevention program. 2. Employee education.2. Employee education. 3. Increased attention to ergonomics.3. Increased attention to ergonomics. 4. Medical counseling. 4. Medical counseling. 5. Support for personal fitness programs.5. Support for personal fitness programs. 6. Workplace smoking cessation.6. Workplace smoking cessation. 7. Weight reduction programs.7. Weight reduction programs.

Job fitness programsJob fitness programsJob fitness programsJob fitness programs

Stretching programsStretching programs Wellness educationWellness education BenefitsBenefits ExamplesExamples

Prescreening Considerations:Prescreening Considerations:Prescreening Considerations:Prescreening Considerations:

AnthropometryAnthropometry Range of motionRange of motion Muscle strengthMuscle strength General fitnessGeneral fitness

Criteria for Physical Assessment Criteria for Physical Assessment in Worker Selection:in Worker Selection:

Criteria for Physical Assessment Criteria for Physical Assessment in Worker Selection:in Worker Selection:

1. Is it safe to administer?1. Is it safe to administer? 2. Does it give reliable, quantitative values?2. Does it give reliable, quantitative values? 3. Is it related to specific job requirements?3. Is it related to specific job requirements? 4. Is it practical?4. Is it practical? 5. Does it predict risk of future injury or 5. Does it predict risk of future injury or

illness?illness?

Quantitative Testing?Quantitative Testing? Quantitative Testing?Quantitative Testing?

1. Hardware flexible for diversity.1. Hardware flexible for diversity. 2. Minimal administration time.2. Minimal administration time. 3. Minimal time for instruction and 3. Minimal time for instruction and

learning.learning. Cost-benefit analysis????Cost-benefit analysis????

Match the person to the job:Match the person to the job:Match the person to the job:Match the person to the job:

Administrative controlsAdministrative controls– Worker rotationWorker rotation– Work-rest cyclingWork-rest cycling

Safety training programsSafety training programsSafety training programsSafety training programs

Job specificJob specific Follow throughFollow through

– IncentivesIncentives

– Feed-backFeed-back

Adjunct toolsAdjunct tools– Back beltsBack belts

– Back alertsBack alerts

Preemployment Training Preemployment Training Preemployment Training Preemployment Training

Minimizing riskMinimizing risk– Use of toolsUse of tools

Preemployment Training Preemployment Training Preemployment Training Preemployment Training

Minimizing riskMinimizing risk– Use of tools Use of tools – Safety in liftingSafety in lifting

» risks of unskilled lifting.risks of unskilled lifting.

» basic biomechanics of lifting.basic biomechanics of lifting.

» effects of lifting on the body.effects of lifting on the body.

» awareness of body’s strengths and weaknesses.awareness of body’s strengths and weaknesses.

» avoiding the unexpected.avoiding the unexpected.

Implementing an Ergonomics Implementing an Ergonomics ProgramProgram


1. Management responsibility:1. Management responsibility: Overall coordinationOverall coordination Program executionProgram execution



2. Written policy and plan: 2. Written policy and plan: Identify organizational structureIdentify organizational structure Outline program goalsOutline program goals Provide a timetable for achieving them.Provide a timetable for achieving them.



3. Ergonomics team:3. Ergonomics team: Safety/medicalSafety/medical EngineeringEngineering Operations managementOperations management Union representativesUnion representatives Other (maintenance, production Other (maintenance, production

employees, purchasing, etc.)employees, purchasing, etc.)



4. Employee involvement:4. Employee involvement: Suggestion/complaint systemsSuggestion/complaint systems Interviews with individuals when job Interviews with individuals when job

evaluations are madeevaluations are made Employee surveysEmployee surveys Department-level ergonomics teamsDepartment-level ergonomics teams Small group discussions when certain jobs are Small group discussions when certain jobs are

being addressedbeing addressed

TrainingTrainingTrainingTraining

1. Principles of ergonomics and cumulative 1. Principles of ergonomics and cumulative trauma.trauma.

2. Employee work methods.2. Employee work methods. 3. Employee information on cumulative 3. Employee information on cumulative

trauma (specific).trauma (specific).

CommunicationsCommunicationsCommunicationsCommunications

1. With employees.1. With employees. 2. Within a facility.2. Within a facility. 3. Between company facilities.3. Between company facilities.

Identifying Jobs at RiskIdentifying Jobs at RiskIdentifying Jobs at RiskIdentifying Jobs at Risk

1. Job evaluations.1. Job evaluations. Visual walk-throughsVisual walk-throughs Job-by-job checklistsJob-by-job checklists Video analysis of selected jobsVideo analysis of selected jobs Formal job analysisFormal job analysis

– methods analysismethods analysis– measurement of risk factorsmeasurement of risk factors– detailed ergonomics evaluationsdetailed ergonomics evaluations


2. Questionnaires and surveys. 2. Questionnaires and surveys. Experience with problems.Experience with problems. Where they feel improvement is needed.Where they feel improvement is needed.


3. Personnel data analysis.3. Personnel data analysis. High turnover.High turnover. Entry level.Entry level.

Making Job ImprovementsMaking Job ImprovementsMaking Job ImprovementsMaking Job Improvements

1. Short range1. Short range 2. Long range2. Long range 3. Brainstorming3. Brainstorming 4. Tracking system4. Tracking system

Medical ManagementMedical ManagementMedical ManagementMedical Management

1. Early recognition.1. Early recognition. 2. Systematic evaluation and referral2. Systematic evaluation and referral 3. Conservative treatment and follow-up.3. Conservative treatment and follow-up.

Monitoring ProgressMonitoring ProgressMonitoring ProgressMonitoring Progress

1. Injury illness trends1. Injury illness trends 2. Ergonomics log2. Ergonomics log


3. Special studies3. Special studies Pre and post job analysisPre and post job analysis Employee survey resultsEmployee survey results Worker compensation costsWorker compensation costs Turnover and absenteeismTurnover and absenteeism Quality and productivityQuality and productivity


4. Management review4. Management review

chapter 13 worker selection and training criteria

Documents

ergonomics program2

principles of ergonomics

ergonomics program1

ergonomics program3

ergonomics program4

goal of worker screening

worker fitness programs

right worker