OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOLOGY IN ACTION

Abstract

Past occupational physiology programs have dissected the process of workplace intervention into job analyses, development of physical abilities tests, determination of cut scores and analysis of gender fairness. Few presentations have provided start to finish examples of an intervention and analyzed outcome variables. This program will provide concrete examples of occupational interventions to reduce injuries and share lessons learned from these interventions. Three experienced practitioners will describe a recent workplace intervention and provide an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the approach taken. Speakers will outline the problem, the intervention, the cost/benefits and any difficulties encountered. The first speaker will discuss the effectiveness of a physical abilities test in reducing injuries over a five-year period, involving 12,000 newly hired railroad workers. The second speaker will discuss an intervention involving changes to the physical training program in U.S. Army Basic Combat Training. The modified program was designed to reduce injuries and improve physical capacity for performing soldiering tasks. The third speaker will discuss a multi-disciplined intervention for a large electronics manufacturer, in which managers and employees were trained to recognize and prevent musculoskeletal injury risk factors. Time will be left at the end of the session for a general discussion period.