Introduction:
Job Function Matching (JFM) is an invaluable resource for safety leaders seeking solutions that reduce MSK injuries, and expedite return-to-work. It provides a consistent framework for assessing, documenting, and communicating essential physical demands. This addresses numerous challenges safety leaders face, and helps create a safer more efficient work environment.
Enhancing Communication:
Clear communication is critical when supervising an employee’s return to work. Properly formated Job Function Descriptions create a standardized language for easily understood among physicians, rehabilitation professionals, safety, and employees. This ensures everyone is on the same page regarding physical expectation of the work, helping to streamline the return-to-work process. Physicians can make more informative decisions based on the documentation when considering work restrictions. The rehabilitation providers have a clear overview of the job requirements when creating therapy plans and post-treatment recommendations. Supervisors can more easily interprate healthcare recomendations in relationship to the work when an employee returns from injury.
Identifying Modified Duties or Accommodation:
Job Function Matching assists safety managers in identifying appropriate modifications that accommodate an employee’s current physical capabilities. For example, if a worker is cleared to return under a 20 lb lifting restriction, it may be unclear what/any job tasks can be safely performed. However, with properly analyzed and documented job descriptions, safety leaders can quickly identify which functions do not require the physical demand of lifting more than 20lbs. This approach focuses on a worker’s “abilities” and what tasks the worker can safely perform. It also provides clarity for accomodations or modification if needed. This leads to the worker returning higher productivity, which reduces cost associated with coverage.
Monitoring Employee Progress:
Maintaining engagement with the employee during time off of work is crucial. After 12 weeks time off of work, the likelihood of a successful return is reduced by 50%. Return-to-Work Testing offers a benchmark for evaluating an employee’s progress during their recovery. By implementing a testing protocol directly related to the essential job function demands, the opportunity for expedited return to work is substantially increased. Furthermore, the risk of returning a worker to full duty prematurely and risking re-injury is reduced. Safety leaders can use this information to monitor the employee’s ongoing recovery and increase work activity as appropriate. This opens the opportunity to re-integrate the worker in a productive capacity much sooner, and ensures a safe and productive return to full duty.
Boosting Employee Morale:
Employee morale is crucial for a successful return to work. Job Function Descriptions help improve morale by providing a clear understanding of job requirements and expectations, ensuring that the returning employee and their coworkers are confident in the employee’s ability to safely perform their job tasks. This reduces anxiety and fosters a supportive work environment. With the implementation of physical testing this provides even more reassurance to the employee that they are fit for duty and safe to return to the job.
Reducing Costs from MSK Injury and Mis-managed Return-To-Work:
The Job Function Matching System has significantly reduced MSK related costs for employers. Mature programs have achieved an 80% reduction in lost days, 50% reduction in MSK injury rates, 50% reduction in workers compensation claims, 25% less days to close open claims. When combined with onsite early intervention and prevention services, the results are improved.
Conclusion:
The Job Function Matching System is a powerful tool for safety managers seeking to enhance workplace safety and productivity. By using job function analysis and job function descriptions to assess, document, and communicate job requirements, safety managers can better manage employee injuries, accurately evaluate an employee’s readiness to return to work, identify appropriate modified duties, and comply with legal requirements. The system also helps to improve employee morale by providing a clear understanding of job expectations and facilitating targeted return to work testing and work conditioning programs for returning employees. Overall, the Job Function Matching System is an essential resource for safety managers seeking to create a safer, more efficient workplace.
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