POET TESTING: ARE YOU HIRING YOUR NEXT INJURY?

Sacred Heart Occupational Health

DID YOUR LAST HIRE JOIN THE TEAM WITH UNDISCLOSED LIMITATIONS?

ARE YOU HIRING YOUR NEXT INJURY?

Across all industries, 30% of all musculoskeletal disorder related injuries involving days away from work each year occur in employees who have 0-12 months of

tenure

US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?

WHO CAN SAFELY LIFT 50, 75, or 100 POUNDS?

POETPost Offer Employment Test

Essentially testing a prospective employee with a valid test of their physical capabilities against the essential functions of the job you are potentially hiring them for. ADA and EOCC compliant, it gives valid objective prospective employee physical abilities that can be compared to valid objective job analysis physical demands data on the job description therefore making it defensible

In essence, does the potential employee really have the physical abilities to perform the job you have offered them in a safe manner therefore reducing the potential for injury?

Objective Functional Testing Technology

BTE EvalTech System

Objective Functional Testing Technology

BTE EvalTech System

BTE Integrated Software

Column/Platform

Functional Range of Motion (F.R.O.M.)

Job Simulation/Dynamic Lifting/Isometric Strength Testing

Fine Motor and Dexterity Tests

Cardiac Measurement (real time)

Calibration/Verification Process

GOALS OF FUNCTIONAL TESTING

Improved Employee Selection (Pre-Injury)• Injury Prevention• Reduce W.C. and disability claims expense• Increase productivity• Reduce turnover

Injury & Claims Management (Post-Injury)• Functional assessment of worker capabilities versus

job requirements to assure safe RTW• FCE or FFD Testing

• Periodic snapshot evaluation to determine progress towards MMI

• Use of pre-hire baseline data for apportionment in final impairment ratings

Employment Screening compliance involves multiple regulations/acts: EEOC, enforcement agency for:

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and ADAAA covering disability discrimination

Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964 covering discrimination based on Gender, Race/Color, National Origin, or Religious Beliefs

ADEA – Age Discrimination in Employment Act PDA- Pregnancy Discrimination Act GINA- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Additional Regulations FEHA- Fair Employment and Housing Act (state and federal) USERRA- Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights

Act OFCCP- Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (Affirmative

Action) Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures

Guidelines adopted by EEOC, Civil Service, DOL, DOJ that apply to employment testing

Requires validity studies on any test that may have adverse impact in hiring

Legal Compliance

COST SAVINGS

Workforce Solutions Cost Savings Summary - Key Results

- 92% improvement in incurred cost: POET tested vs. non-POET tested

- 74% lower average cost per claim: POET tested vs. non-POET tested

- 20% improvement in case closure rate: POET tested vs. non-POET tested

- Reduced incidence rate on POET tested candidates: 2.8% vs. 15% national average

First Year Savings Direct savings from reduced claims expense exceeded all

program development and testing costs by 59%. Including claims avoidance, the savings are $3.82 for every dollar spent

34-Month Results (March ’09 – Dec ’11)

● Implemented BTE POET program in March, 2009● 492 new hires and 112 incumbent employees passed POET● 10% total failure rate (CV screen and POET)● Existing workforce: 3.7% MSD injury rate in 2009-11, $18,219 per MSD

claim

POET TESTED EMPLOYEES● Eight workers’ comp MSD injuries in POET-tested employees (1.6%)● Ave cost/impact claim of POET-tested employees: $3,958● 34-month savings + costs avoided: $684,349

Net ROI: 291%...For every dollar invested in the program, $3.91 was saved.

FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY

12-Month Results (Jan ’11 – Dec ’11)

● 318 new hire candidates tested● 12.3% fail rate ● 279 POET-tested new hires● Existing workforce: 6.5% MSD injury rate

$7,479 per MSD claim● 5 MSD injuries in POET-tested employees: 1.8% injury rate● Ave cost/impact claim of POET-tested employees: $661 ● Total Savings (claims costs, costs avoided, turnover reduction) : $249,175

Net ROI: 205%...For every dollar invested in the program, $3.05 was saved

KOCH FOODS – GADSDEN PLANT

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Many job descriptions give vague information in terms of physical demands

Examples: The employee must be able to lift 75 lbsThe employee must be able to stoopRepetitive grasping is required of this positionEmployee is required to negotiate stairsEmployee must demonstrate reaching ability

OBJECTIVE PHYSICAL DEMANDS

What is missing is definitive objective dataExamples: The employee must be able to lift 75 lbs - how often per day/ hour? how high or

low?

The employee must be able to stoop – how many times; how long for?

Repetitive grasping is required of this position – how much force? One hand or 2? Are gloves involved?

The employee is required to negotiate stairs - how many? How often? Is the employee carrying anything?

Employee must demonstrate reaching ability – how many times? Is this sustained or brief? How far? How high/low? One hand or both?

JOB ANALYSIS

Having a job analysis performed by a trained analyst is key to developing not only an accurate and valid job description but also the test protocol that is defensible in a court of law.

It should define all of the USDOL standards whether they are present or not present and be classified accordingly with weight, distances, frequency, range of motion, and any time frames according to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

In addition, specific work postures and grasp positions are key to duplicating exact demands of the job.

BTE Evaluator System (Jobsite Kit)

Objective Functional Testing Technology

WORK ACTIVITIES

Lift, carry, push, pull, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, walk, sit, stand, reach, repetitive hand/arm motions, repetitive foot motions.

In turn these demands are classified into weights/forces, frequency and/or time parameters per the United States Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Activities may also need to be classified in terms of distances (reaching, walking, carrying, pushing, pulling), ranges (lifting, reaching).

In addition basic requirements such as visual needs, hearing, talking, smelling, tasting, reading, and writing/communication should be addressed

PARAMETERS

JOB ANALYSIS

Based on the Job Analysis the evaluator can then determine the Essential Functions and parameters of these to be tested objectively in the clinical setting thus giving the test validity.

If the same evaluator performs the test each time there is also greater test reliability.

Validity + Reliability = Defensibility

Task Performed Task Measured Task Simulated

Post Offer Employment Testing

Clinical Test

Objective, Measurable Data

SAMPLESAMPLE

Post Offer of Employment Testing

RESULTS

Upon completion of the test, the evaluator can see immediately from the report if the client passed the essential critical demands based on the job analysis

A single re-test option is available to give the prospective employee a second chance to meet a missed critical demand after the test is completed

The results are then peer reviewed via a secure web platform for QA with BTE

BTE POET/EVAL TECH

The Essential Functions parameters can be uploaded directly into the EvalTech for each individual job position/title.

Each applicant would be given the exact same test in the exact same order.

Heart rate is measured throughout. Blood pressure is monitored pre-test and post-test

Improved Hiring Reduction in Injury incidence Reduction in Early Turnover

Lower Claims Costs Reduction in Claim Severity Reduction in Lost Work Days

Baseline Data Claims Apportionment Targeted Treatment Goals

Indirect Savings Reduction in Overtime Improved Productivity/Presenteeism Reduced Training Costs Business Continuity Reduced Healthcare and Disability

POET

ImprovedHiring

Lower ClaimsCosts

Baseline Data

Indirect Savings

Measuring Success

POET program pays for itself in year one

Over a 3-year period the program will return $3-5 for each dollar spent

SACRED HEART OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Lee Irving MS, CEES

Masters Degree in Exercise Science; University of West Florida

Certified Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist since 2004 (Roy Matheson and Associates)

Performed return to work testing since 1997 Performed on-site job analysis since 2004