Industrial Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists work in a variety of industrial and work place settings. They can either be employed by a specific company or they can be an independent consultant. The OT can be an invaluable resource for ergonomic solutions to those in the workplace, and they can provide return-to-work (RTW) strategies for previously injured employees. Ergonomics is a very important consideration of how we function in a work environment, and the OT can assess the job function, body mechanics, and the 'fit' between the worker and the equipment being used.

RTW is important as some employees may need some type of accommodation after an injury, whether work related or not. For instance, an employee who was in an auto accident and has one arm in a sling, will need to perform a modified job at the industrial plant where he is working. The OT can provide the necessary recommendations whenever an employer is willing to accommodate this temporary change in status. The ADA has guidelines for employers to follow, in order to make the workplace accessible for those with some type of disability. Employers who are unfamiliar with these laws can hire an OT to help with workplace accessibility

Many employers realize that they can keep health care costs down by doing just a little in the way of prevention, both by educating the worker and modifying the job to prevent problems down the road.

A prospective employee may be assessed for the ability to perform a specific job, and so may be given a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) by an OT. Also, if a worker had been previously injured on the job and is currently attending outpatient therapy, an FCE may be used to help determine if they are ready or able to return to the previous work environment. Education is important during the rehab phase, especially for back injuries and muscle/ligament strains; where the worker may have neglected proper body mechanics or may not have been adequately educated in the first place.

Using an ergonomic keyboard with hand/wrist supports can be beneficial to someone who has to do a lot of computer work. The wrists are in a more neutral position and there is less stress on the joints. Other tips include proper monitor height placement and an ergonomic chair.

'Ergonomics' is the art and science of looking at how effectively people interact with the equipment they use and their environment. We know that poor ergonomics can cause many problems in the workplace, and so finding a good 'fit' between man and machine is important. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive type of injury that people are very familiar with today. Many of today's jobs require repetitive hand and arm movements that can preclude some type of upper extremity overuse injury. Someone who is using the computer at home a few hours each day soon realizes the importance of proper placement of the monitor, correct chair height and position, and finding the most comfortable position for the keyboard and mouse. Even professional musicians are not immune to upper extremity overuse problems.

Case Study: An independent OT/ergonomics consultant is called into a local factory to provide the yearly mandated worker education program on proper body mechanics and lifting techniques. The therapist may review some of the OSHA 300 logs at the facility to see what some of the issues have been. They may meet with the staff nurse or others in administration to see what the specific issues are, and where education may be needed. And a brief walk through the plant may also be needed just to see what else is required before doing the in-service.

The OT notices that a few of the jobs require excessive bending and twisting and so further ergonomics consulting may be needed by the facility. After putting together the educational program and having it reviewed by the administration, the OT then provides a series of in-services for all the staff, which will include demonstrations and a question and answer period. The employees are all provided a copy of the material for future reference.

To find out a little more about Occupational Therapy please click on the various images below!