Shoulder injury reduction with post-offer testing

Abstract

Objective: This study is an interventional evaluation of a post-offer employment testing. The study is designed to determine if shoulder injury rates are lowered when employees are placed at jobs they demonstrate the physical ability to perform.

Methods: A physical capacity evaluation based testing protocol was utilized to determine if each new employee had the physical work capacity to perform the job for which they were hired. Injuries to the shoulder were specifically scrutinized. The interventional group was compared to a historical control.

Results: The incidence of shoulder injuries was 0% in the tested group and 3.8% in the untested historical control. Over a 6 year study timeframe the utilization of physical capacity testing for work placement appeared to be the major factor in decreasing work related shoulder injuries. The annual cost of administering the tests for three years was 9,543, while the net annual cost savings was124,451. This represented a 37% decrease in medical costs for shoulder and other work-related injuries. For every dollar spent on testing there was a $14 savings in medical costs secondary to injury prevention.

Conclusion: The use of post-offer physical capacity testing resulted in a substantial and noticeable decrease in shoulder related non-accidental injuries. Furthermore, it is evident that a properly conceived and implemented post-offer testing program may help in the reduction of work-related injuries.