Industrial, carpentry, construction work What do these industries share in common? They require physical work by trained workers. Not only that, but these industries are also among the most prone to accidents.
Tests for fitness for duty are standard in these industries, or ought to be. They test the worker’s mental and physical capabilities to determine whether they are able to safely complete the task at the site. These tests are more important when you consider the fact that they could speed up a workers’ compensation claim’s resolution.
The Need for Fitness-For-Duty Tests
If a worker is able to return to work after recuperating from an injury, a fitness-for-duty test is conducted to determine whether the worker is fit for duty. The physical and mental health of workers is crucial in all jobs for a variety of reasons, including safety.
Physical fitness is essential to ensure that employees are capable of completing the tasks they are given. In addition, mental fitness assures that they’re fully present and are not distracted. According to research conducted by Udemy Research, 70% of workers confess to being distracted at work which can be risky depending on the job you are in.
Tests for Fit-For-Duty AndWorkers’ Compensation Claim
As the risk of harming oneself is very high in certain sectors, fitness-for-duty tests ensure that employees return to work following an injury only after they are completely recovered. This prevents the premature return of employees which could result in further injuries and eventually, more expensive costs for the business.
As an employer, you’d like to limit claims to the minimum while protecting your employees. Fit-for-duty examinations can be conducted frequently or every so often when a worker exhibits symptoms of stress and help ensure that your team members are healthy and well-maintained.
Are Your Employees Fit and Safe For Their Jobs?
This article focuses on four kinds of employees that are part of your workplace: 1) the new employees you hire and) your current employees assigned to new jobs and 3) workers who have been observed to exhibit behavior or psychosocial changes and four) employees who return back to work following impairment through an injury or illness.
The injury rate was higher among new employees in the past. More than 40 % of all work-related injuries each year come from employees who work less than a year in the estimation of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A few new employees are injured at an early age due to the fact that they are new, inexperienced, and not have worked before, so they aren’t aware of the hazards in their work environment. According to a study conducted by NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employees younger than 24 are twice as likely to suffer injuries in the workplace than those older than 25.
There are also your employees assigned to new roles. They’ve got the knowledge, but does it add value when they transition to new duties? Are they ready to face new challenges in safety?
How are your employees coping with returning to work after recovering from an illness or injury? Are they physically and mentally prepared to return to work? Some employers eager to remove employees off of workers’ accident or injury/illness logs could speed up the process too fast.
What happens if a supervisor is concerned about an employee following a sudden and quite drastic change in their behavior and work routines, maybe even their look or manner? How can you tell whether the employee is suitable to perform their duties?
Find Out More Details about Fitness For Duty Tests, And Where You Can Take Them
PCP Works provides complete information regarding fit for duty and also provides a service for test for fit for duty to ensure you ensure the safety of your employees as well as the compensation. Contact us now!