We continue to do these evaluations.

1.       All are constructed based on essential physical requirements of a specific job.  Constructed through cooperation among employer representative, physical therapist, and occupational health.

2.       Job observation and physical measurements done when appropriate.

3.       Purpose is to objectively assess required physical strength and mobility.

4.       If there are any deficiencies, a follow-up conversation with employer is carried out related to potential  accommodations.

5.       Under no circumstances do we ask a person to exert more than 75lb of force.

During the past 19 years we have had only one injury and this was due to equipment failure of standard physical therapy equipment.  I don’t believe that any type of waiver would have changed the liability.  This is probably a state by state legal issue, but I believe that it was determined (Minnesota) to be under workers compensation because it was part of a required “Post-offer Evaluation”.

We have had no EEOC complaints.

Doug

Douglas M Wendland, MD, MPH

St. Luke's Occupational Medicine

We have been moving away from in office lifting testing despite marketing and client desire due to multiple issues.

1.      Lack of any standardaization of this process.

2.      No supporting clinical or research based evidence that this makes any difference in outcomes?

3.      Potential injury to staff and patient.

4.      Potential for emlpyer misuse of information and libility of incuring ADA claim wihtout standarization and documentaion of necessity of job fitness

William Scott, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOEM

Clinical Associate Professor, Carle Illinois College of Medicine,

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign

Head, Occupational & Environmental Medicine & Employee Health

Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Physician Group.

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All, if anyone does lift testing in their offices, do you have the post-offer employee sign a release of liability in the event of an injury while testing?  If so, would you be willing to share such document?

This is a new service for our office.  Any other issues I should consider before implementing?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Ken

Kenneth Subin, MD, MPH, DipABLM

Chief Medical Officer, Cayuga Medical Associates, PC

Occupational Medicine, Cayuga Medical Associates, PC

16 Brentwood Drive

Ithaca, NY 14850

P (607) 339 - 0680

F (607) 319 - 5532