One control that can be implemented is to effectively match workers to jobs and jobs to workers, by aligning the physical demands of the jobs with the capacity of the worker. Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) are being increasingly utilised by businesses as a proactive tool to minimise injury risk. Studies have shown that the use of FCEs can be effective in predicting injury risk, and thus can be used to assist in reducing the costs associated with workplace injuries.

What Is Functional Capacity Evaluation?

The Physical Work Capacity Screen (PWCA) service provided by Employ Health is our version of the Functional Capacity Evaluation tool. This service is used to assist with the decision making processes of workplaces to ensure that workers returning from injury or starting employment with the company are placed into roles that suit their current physical capacity thereby decreasing the risk of injury occurring in the future.

Benefits For Your Business & Team

Identify Risk

Employing the PWCA, employers are able to proactively predict and identify injury risk, and effectively reduce workplace injuries occurring.

Research & Evidence

The use of these tools is evidence based. Research has shown that employers who implemented pre-employment functional screenings in their recruitment processes reported a 41% reduction in work injuries for those screened versus those who were not, and importantly a 21% higher retention rate.

Baseline Health

A happier, stronger workforce can limit worker injuries and highlight that the Employee values their health and wellbeing highly. This can lead to an improved site culture and production within the workplace.

Reduce Injuries

A decreased number of injuries on the worksite results in less LTI’s and workcover claims improving a company's insurance premium costs.

What Does A Functional Capacity Evaluation Involve?

A FCE, involves screening current or potential workers via a series of objective physical assessments. These assessments will include an assessment to determine the current ranges of motion of the spine, upper and lower extremities.

The assessment will also include determining the candidates current physical capacity for the musculoskeletal system by assessing the strength of their back, upper body and legs. This can include assessing:

  • Grip strength
  • Ground to floor lift capacity and technique
  • Above shoulder lifting capacity
  • Core strength
  • Lower Limb strength

Types Of Functional Capacity Evaluation

Pre-Employment Functional Capacity Evaluation

During an Employ Health Pre-Employment screensure ening, a FCE or PWCA will form an important aspect of the assessment. The results will be used to that any successful candidates can be matched to a job in the workplace that matches their current physical capabilities.

Return To Work Functional Capacity Evaluation

Due to some injuries requiring extended periods of time for workers on LD or inability to work they may lose a significant portion of their physical capacity and rushing them back to their pre-injury duties may expose them to increased risk of aggravation or new injury. A PWCA may be requested by an employer when an employee is returning to work from a work-related or non-work related injury. The assessment results can ensure that the worker is ready to return to their previous level of work without being exposed to an increased risk of injury aggravation.

Ongoing Functional Capacity Evaluation

FCEs or PWCAs are commonly completed to assess change over time which is important in an aging workforce. It can also be used to ensure that an employee transitioning to a new role in the workplace meets the physical requirements of that new role.

Why Employ Health?

Our physiotherapists are human movement and clinical reasoning experts. Following thorough assessment, our physiotherapists provide detailed and specific reporting, allowing employers to make informed decisions regarding the suitability of candidates for proposed positions. 

For FCEs to be reliable predictive tools, it is essential that the appropriate examiner performs this testing. Employ Health has a team of experienced workplace physiotherapists who have undergone extensive training to deliver in-depth FCEs. By having consistent contact with partner sites, our physiotherapists understand the physical demands of the roles within the workplace, and are able to tailor assessments to ensure specificity. 

Musculoskeletal Specialists

Assessing the human body requires extensive musculoskeletal training which our team of physiotherapists have acquired. The processes used by Employ Health is system based and standardised across our entire workforce with every team member receiving the same training to deliver this product to multiple clients across ANZ.

Data Informed Decisions

Our physiotherapists are human movement and clinical reasoning experts. Following thorough assessment, our physiotherapists provide detailed and specific reporting, allowing employers to make informed decisions regarding the suitability of candidates for proposed positions.

Other Workplace Screening Tests

Frequently Asked Questions

At the completion of a capacity assessment, the physiotherapist completing the assessment will generate a report. The candidate/worker’s physical capacity will be rated as Sedentary, Low, Medium, Heavy or Very Heavy. The workplace can then ensure that they are employed to a position in the company that matches that capacity.

There is no ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ in a capacity assessment. The worker receives a capacity rating and is employed to a position that matches their current capacity

The physiotherapists employed by Employ Health are trained to conduct the capacity assessments in line with the process developed by Employ Health.

Employ Health physiotherapists complete capacity assessments in the designated ‘Health Hub’ clinics located on site at the workplaces for their clients. 

Following a capacity assessment, a report is generated (ensuring consent and privacy forms have been signed) and sent to the appropriate partner contact. This information is used as a risk assessment tool to assist in making an informed decision from the employers’ perspective. It can be normal to feel some ‘post-exercise’ soreness following a capacity assessment, and this usually settles within 1-2 days.