Affiliations: Salina Sports Medicine Clinic, Salina, KS, USA | University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City,
KS, USA | University of Kansas School of Business, Lawrence, KS,
USA | Wichita Public Schools, Wichita, KS, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Gary Harbin, 523 S Santa Fe, Salina,
KS 67401, USA. Tel.: +1 785 823 7213; Fax: +1 785 823 6887; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Objective: This study is an interventional evaluation of a
post-offer employment testing. The study is designed to determine if shoulder
injury rates are lowered when employees are placed at jobs they demonstrate the
physical ability to perform. Methods: A physical capacity evaluation
based testing protocol was utilized to determine if each new employee had the
physical work capacity to perform the job for which they were hired. Injuries
to the shoulder were specifically scrutinized. The interventional group was
compared to a historical control. Results: The incidence of shoulder
injuries was 0% in the tested group and 3.8% in the untested historical
control. Over a 6 year study timeframe the utilization of physical capacity
testing for work placement appeared to be the major factor in decreasing work
related shoulder injuries. The annual cost of administering the tests for three
years was $9,543, while the net annual cost savings was $124,451. This
represented a 37% decrease in medical costs for shoulder and other
work-related injuries. For every dollar spent on testing there was a $14
savings in medical costs secondary to injury prevention. Conclusion: The use of post-offer physical capacity testing resulted in a substantial and
noticeable decrease in shoulder related non-accidental injuries. Furthermore,
it is evident that a properly conceived and implemented post-offer testing
program may help in the reduction of work-related injuries.
Keywords: Occupational accidents, work capacity evaluation, workload, fitness to work
