Matching work capacities and demands at job placement in employees with disabilities.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether employees with disabilities were initially assigned to jobs with work demands that matched their work capacities.


METHODS
Forty-six employees with various physical, mental, sensory and multiple disabilities working in a sheltered workshop.


METHODS
Physical and psychosocial work capacities were assessed post-offer and pre-placement using the Ergo-Kit and Melba. Work demands of the jobs were determined by workplace assessments with TRAC and Melba and were compared with the work capacities.


RESULTS
Of the 46 employees, 25 employees were not physically overloaded. When physical overload occurred, it was most often due to regular lifting. All employees were physically underloaded on six or more work activities, most often due to finger dexterity and manipulation. Almost all employees (n=43) showed psychosocial overload or underload on one or more psychosocial characteristics. Psychosocial overload was most often due to endurance (long-term work performance), while psychosocial underload was most often due to speaking and writing.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the assessment of work capacities at job placement, underload and overload occurred on both physical activities and psychosocial characteristics. Assessing both work capacities and work demands before job placement is recommended. At job placement more attention should be paid to overloading due to lifting and long-term work performance.
Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. i.zoer@amc.uva.nl
Ilona
I
Zoer
Lucinda
L
de Graaf
P Paul F M
PP
Kuijer
Peter
P
Prinzie
Marco J M
MJ
Hoozemans
Monique H W
MH
Frings-Dresen
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D015897:Comorbidity; D032882:Comprehension; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016832:Employment, Supported; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015279:Organizational Culture; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011361:Professional Competence; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012951:Socialization; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation