Onsite Services
Onsite Physiotherapy services are not just reactive treatments but also include numerous pro-active actions.
At Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy we offer a range of beneficial services, activities & programs including:
Physiotherapy Treatments
A key role of onsite physiotherapy is the provision of accurate assessments and treatments to coincide with a beneficial exercise regime for each injured worker.
Onsite Physiotherapy treatment aims to providing specific, accurate and immediate education, deep tissue massage, exercise prescription and mobilisation techniques for the employees.
At Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy we liaise and communicate closely with all treating Doctors and other health care practitioners to align and carefully treat injured employees, collectively striving for optimum recovery and outcomes.
Onsite Treatment:
Onsite Physiotherapy treatment is undertaken by an organisation both reactively and proactively.
Reactively, treatment is used to treat injuries sustained in the workplace. It is used to hasten the healing of injured muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones in their most acute phase of injury.
Proactively, it is used to encourage early reporting of injuries and the potential of aggravation of injuries, as well as the prevention of future injuries. It is used to limit chronic injuries progressing. It is used to encourage job rotation early return to work, prevent lost time through injury, ensure early return to work and improve worker rapport and confidence of employee health & safety within the workplace.
Assessments
Workplace Assessments are designed to aid in the implementation of a healthy & safe work environment.
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy assessments are undertaken one-on-one. Specific, tailored healthcare advice, including educational brochures, are provided to each individual to enhance workplace education, assist in promoting heathy lifestyle choices & help prevent lost work time due to injury and/or absenteeism. Specific exercise prescriptions are demonstrated & recommended.
The following assessments can be undertaken:
- Heart Rate & Blood Pressure Monitor
- Strength & Endurance Tests
- Flexibility Assessments
- Drug & Alcohol Testing
Pre-Employment Assessments:
Pre-Employment Assessments are used to help determine if an individual is “best/correct fit” for the workplace, and for specific potential tasks within that workplace.
It is important that the examiner understands the current workplace, including the psychological & physical environment, that each worker will be exposed to. For all Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy pre-employment assessments, signed consent of the prospective employee is taken, and all information is private & confidential.
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy conduct tests to assess each individual, with an in-depth interview undertaken regarding previous jobs, specific injuries & rehabilitation. Further tests are used to calculate the individual’s physical attributes. These tests may take into taking into account lifting postures & core strength, overall muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, fitness level, heart rate, blood pressure & bodily drug & alcohol measures.
Manual Handling – Risk Assessment:
Manual Handling Risk Assessments help to provide a safer workplace environment for the employee.
Manual Handling Risk Assessment reports are used to aid in recommendations for realistic modifications to the workstations, if necessary. Individual workstation assessment & ongoing monitoring aims to ensure a more realistic job modification, if needed, for the injured individual without impacting productivity. This also involves close consultation with supervisors & management.
The reports take into account detailed analysis of each task assessed & budget constraints. The reports are often used in compliance reporting & communication with Worksafe.
A typical worksite/risk assessment report would take into consideration:
- Hazard Identification
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Control
Ergonomic Assessments
An Ergonomic Assessment is used to assess the individual’s posture, reach distance, grip & overall movement techniques.
Ergonomic Assessments conducted by Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy take place in various workstation areas within the workplace environment, such as in the plant, the office, the car/vehicle & the forklift.
Plant Ergonomic Assessments consider the work process & systems of work in the plant. Assessment should also make specific reference to the design of the workstation, including working heights & various postures adopted (i.e in sitting, slouching, kneeling or standing). Bench heights, reach distances, lighting, noise, vibration, lifting techniques, human-machine interaction, mental activity, fatigue & rest breaks, stress & boredom are also recorded, noting worker productivity & efficiency.
Car/Vehicle Driver Assessments will assess the driver in the seated driving position. Specific recommendations are made to ensure a comfortable & safe seated position is adopted, with adequate elbow & knee bend, while maintaining correct mirror positioning to enhance a clear field of view. Emphasis is placed on correct head rest positioning & back rest angle.
Forklift Ergonomic Assessments adopts a similar approach to the vehicle assessments. Correct seating height position & back rest angle are assessed to ensure elbow & knee bend is comfortable without over-reaching, while maintaining an upright head posture without compromise to field of view.
Office Ergonomics assesses the posture in both sitting & standing at the desk. Correct joint angles about the elbows, neck, back, knees & hips are encouraged by adjusting the chair with relation to the desk. Reach distances are measured, as are seat & desk heights, backrest angles and monitor/screen height. Correct chair choice & use are recommended. Correct flexibility & postural exercises during the day are highlighted & demonstrated..
Task Analysis
A Task Analysis is a study of the tasks undertaken within the workplace. They are specific to each workplace environment.
At Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy each task analysis involves an in-depth investigation of the task assessing:
- Worker Postures
- Reach Distance
- Bench Heights
- Lighting
- Noise
- Temperature of the Workstation
- Frequency of Grip
- Lifting Techniques & Distances
- Weights Lifted
- Rest Breaks
- Job Rotation
- Exposure to Stressors in the Environment.
Task Analysis information must be accurate, succinct and easy to read.
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy use photographic analysis to aid in the description each task.
This photographic information is vital in the communication & education of employees where language maybe a barrier, and in clearly communicating issues to any treating external offsite health professionals. It aids these professionals to understand the workplace environment & each workstation, assisting in their confidence to recommend specific tasks in early return to work & limiting unnecessary lost time for both the employee & employer.
Job Dictionary
Job Dictionary is the compilation of all task analysis documents devised for the workplace.
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy recommends Job Dictionaries should be kept as records for the workplace. Many organisations use them for compliance reporting purposes.
It is essential tool in maintaining a record of the current workplace environment each worker is exposed to across the period of their employment at the organisation. Thus, a Job Dictionary should be monitored & modified accordingly when changes to the workstations occurs, with dates of the changes noted.
Both Task Analysis & Job Dictionary have an integral role in creating a healthy, safe and compliant workplace environment. Both form the basis for the development of tailored return-to-work programs for individuals, manual handling training & education programs, and manual handling risk assessments.
Programs & Training
Return To Work Programs:
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy develop & design tailored Return to Work (RTW) Programs for workplace environments.
The aim of a RTW program is to encourage the injured employee to continue to work, following the recommendations of their treating Doctor. Close monitoring & ongoing reporting is essential to avoid any aggravation of their injury until the employee is fully cleared to return to normal duties. A graded return to normal duties, without injury aggravation, is the ultimate goal.
Early RTW are designed to keep the injured employee working, without any aggravation of pain. To ensure this occurs effectively, it is essential that there is constant, ongoing and aligned communication between the managers, supervisors, injured workers & health professional carers/treaters.
Task Analysis is a valuable method used to educate offsite carers/treaters unfamiliar with the specific tasks in the working environment, to assist their recommendations. It is used to reassure treaters & supervisors that all environmental stressors have been accounted for when assigning particular tasks for the injured worker to return to work.
Manual Handling Training:
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy conducts Manual Handling Training education to numerous organisations across a number of industry verticals
Manual Handling Training is undertaken to enhance worker understanding of the impact of poor manual handling techniques has on their body while performing physical tasks. It demonstrates & encourages the application of correct manual handling skills & techniques in undertaking physical tasks both at the workplace & on the home front. The overall goal is to reduce the incidence of manual handling injuries both at work & home.
The main causes of Manual Handling injuries presenting to Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy include:
- Repetitive or sustained movements
- Lifting of moving heavy loads
- Poor manual handling techniques
- Slouching or awkward postures
- Poor muscle strength
- Poor muscle and joint flexibility
- Lack of mobility
- Poor physical fitness
- Sudden or unexpected movements
- Unsafe, slippery or uneven ground
- Negotiating a cluttered environment
- Poor scapular and core stability
- Non-compliance of systems of work in the workplace
Melbourne Workplace Physiotherapy develop Manual Handling Training programs specifically designed for each plant location, taking into the account the physical & psychological characteristics of each environment.
A program is tailor made for the individuals working in the specific workplace. The program design may involve photography analysis to identify specific issues experienced & identified in the workplace. A brief outline of anatomy of the body is also used to aid in education. Key components of the training include a strong emphasis relating to the duty of care to perform the tasks correctly, to abide by rules & regulations in the workplace and the importance & process in early reporting of injuries by both employees & the employer.