Every year, too many workers become injured or face work-related stresses. This inevitably results in pain, frustration or stress for the worker, and lost productivity for the employer. In some cases, it can even result in serious injury or legal action.

An objective functional assessment of a worker before starting a job will ensure that person's capabilities match the demands of the job. Such testing will establish a baseline understanding of that person's functional abilities prior to their being hired. This will ensure any new hire will be able to meet all essential job demands, and that anyone unable to do so will not be hired. Doing this before rather than after hiring can subsequently reduce injuries and minimize the costs that can result from mismatches between worker capabilities and job demands.

For workers who have already been injured on the job, these assessments can minimize lost time from work and help them safely return to the workplace. Knowing an employee's objective abilities and limitations can help prevent their being assigned tasks that might cause further injury. It can also help guide workplace conditioning and rehabilitation programs, which in the long term will reduce costs associated with the return-to-work process.

IOHS's client assessment services can address clients with both physical and mental health conditions. We can also help identify suitable other occupations or accommodations — whether short-term or long-term — when returning to a job held before an injury or disability is not a realistic goal.

IOHS's full range of client assessment services includes:

This is an assessment of an individual’s general work tolerances. It provides clear information about the client’s maximum functional abilities (e.g., lifting, carrying, sitting, standing) and level of employability in a specific job or in general. This type of assessment is beneficial for an individual who has reached maximum medical recovery and does not appear to need further rehabilitation.

Additional features:

This assessment determines the match between a person’s physical tolerances and the bona fide occupational requirements of the job. It is designed to ensure a suitable job-person match, and to reduce the risk of future musculoskeletal injuries in a pre-employment phase.

Additional features:

This is a directed screening of a client’s activity tolerance for job-specific demands based upon the nature of their injury. This assessment is more appropriate than a functional capacity evaluation in the earlier stages of the rehabilitation process. We recommend it prior to a client’s return to work, or if the client is already working and difficulties are evident.

Additional features:

This service can be customized to the individual needs of the referral agent and the client and can include a variety of services. Client assessment, communication with relevant stakeholders e.g., employers, physicians, treating health professionals and coordination of referral to relevant services can be provided. It can include return to work monitoring and coordination. The overall goal of this service is to facilitate and promote quality and cost-effective outcomes for both the client and referring agent.

Additional features:

This assesses the match between the client’s abilities and the demands of a specific job. An objective analysis of the job and an evaluation of the client are compared to establish a client’s ability to return to a specific position.