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| Office and Industrial Ergonomics
An ergonomic assessment identifies conditions in the workplace that pose a risk for injury and provides specific recommendations to mitigate these risks. An ergonomic assessment can also provide accommodation solutions for a worker experiencing a medical condition such as vision or hearing loss, or MSI injury. At Work-Able Solutions, our evidence-based approach combined with our extensive knowledge base around ergonomic solutions and products, human anatomy and function, yield practical and effective solutions with a positive return on investment. Our experienced therapists offer a range of ergonomic services from office to industrial environments.
Our industrial ergonomic risk assessments utilize valid and reliable measurement tools to determine the level of risk of a particular task or job, and then offers practical prioritized solutions to control the risk. We have assessed hundreds of industrial workplaces across a variety of sectors. Our team can also assist your organization, health and safety, or ergonomics working groups to develop in-house risk assessment strategies and ergonomics programs.
Our office ergonomics services are compliant with the CSA office ergonomic standard, and our team has completed thousands of office ergonomic assessments. We currently provide these services to individuals and organizations across Canada, as well as the federal and provincial governments. We have been the exclusive ergonomics provider and accommodation consultant for employees of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba since 2006. Our office ergonomics services range from individualized workstation assessments to group training, unbiased guidance to help you avoid costly mistakes when making decisions on new equipment purchases, and recommendations to ensure ergonomics standards are met in the design of your new office or renovation.
Office Ergonomic Services:
Office Ergonomic Assessment Click here for more information
Ergonomic Accommodation Assessment
Ergonomic Office Design Consultation
Office Furniture and Equipment Purchase Consultation
Ergonomics Program Development Consultation
Ergo-Blitz Mini Assessment Click here for more information
Industrial Ergonomics Services:
Industrial Ergonomic Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Program Development Consultation
Employee Training:
Office Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Click here for more information
Safe and Effective Use of the Sit-Stand Workstation Click here for more information
Ergonomics for the Home Office
10 Computer Posture Issues and How to Fix Them
10 Best Prevention Exercises for Office Workers
Industrial Ergonomics & Injury Risk Prevention
Safe Body Mechanics for Materials Handling
Safe Body Mechanics for Patient Handling
Management/HR/Health & Safety Training:
Office Ergonomics - Risk Assessment Skills
Industrial Ergonomics - Risk Assessment Skills
How to Complete a Physical Demands Analysis
How to Complete a Cognitive Demands Analysis
Integrating Cognitive Demands Information in Stay at Work and Return to Work
Workplace Accommodation Strategies and Tools
Please contact us for more information.
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Physical and Cognitive Job Demands Analysis
A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) is a systematic and objective (quantified) evaluation of the physical tasks involved in performing the essential and non-essential components of a job. The frequency, duration and intensity of various work demands are measured. Demands such as sitting, standing, walking, climbing, balancing, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, gripping, dexterity, tool use, vision and perception, and environmental conditions are assessed. This information can be used to classify the job into an occupational category or level of work, determine if an injured worker is able to perform the job when it is carried out prior to a Functional Capacity Evaluation, and is instrumental in injury prevention programs.
A Cognitive Demands Analysis (CDA) is a systematic and objective (quantified) assessment of the cognitive, emotional, and psychological demands required to perform the essential and non-essential components of a job. The degree and frequency of demands such as concentration, multi-tasking, supervisory responsibility, social and emotional processes, decision making, cognitive processing, planning, organization, memory, and communication are measured. A CDA may be carried out prior to a Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluation and can also be used to facilitate communication with health care providers, plan a return to work, and develop optimal workplace accommodation strategies.
Please contact us for more information.
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Workplace Accommodation Services
Work-Able Solutions offers a full spectrum of workplace accommodation services. Our workplace accommodation assessments, aim to identify reasonable environmental or task modifications that are required to accommodate an individual's temporary or permanent limitations so that the work demands can be met safely and dependably. We also provide consultation and support to develop and enhance workplace accommodation policies, and we will work with you to create customized forms and tools which can be used to document accommodation information and facilitate communication with health care providers. Our consultants can review medical accommodation requests and work with your Human Resources team to determine next steps and provide recommendations for appropriate workplace modifications where applicable. These services support leading-edge workplace disability management and ensure your organization is meeting current accommodation legislation requirements.
Please contact us for more information.
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Functional Capacity Evaluation
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a comprehensive and objective assessment of an individual's work and functional abilities. Standardized, valid, and reliable test measures are used to assess factors such as walking, climbing, muscle strength, hand grip and coordination, balance, position tolerance, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, cognitive ability, work behaviours, and psychosocial behaviours. The FCE provides objective data regarding an individual's abilities and limitations and how these may impact on work. The FCE can determine the ability to perform general work or a specific job, outline any immediate or long-term risks from resuming normal work demands, determine if modifications or restrictions are required to prevent future injury, and can be instrumental in vocational or rehabilitation planning.
Work-Able Solutions offers a range of FCE services in Winnipeg and Selkirk Manitoba.
Please contact us if you would like more information about the following FCE's:
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Return to Work and Stay at Work Services
Our Return-to-Work Services are customized and goal-oriented based on a thorough assessment of the employee's functional abilities and limitations, job responsibilities, and workplace environment. We will collaborate with your HR and management and the worker's health care provider, provide assessments to clarify physical or cognitive work restrictions as needed, and make recommendations for any workplace adjustments or accommodations that may be required for both temporary and permanent solutions. We provide structured and time-limited return to work plans that gradually build the worker's tolerance for work demands and their confidence in work skills and relationships after an extended absence. Our consultants provide onsite support to ensure a coordinated approach and safe return to work.
Our Stay-at-Work Services are designed to help workers remain at work during recovery from illness, injury, or a mental health concern, and to manage symptoms that are impacting their ability to be productive. These services are intended to be short-term, and are evidence-based and solution focused. Worksite assessments can be included to determine accommodation solutions required to keep a worker productive during recovery. Our stay-at-work services emphasize the development of coping skills, strategies to promote personal well-being, and enhance work abilities such as task focus, meeting deadlines, communication, and stress management.
Please contact us for more information.
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Mental Health Services
ERA Mental Health Services
Work-Able Solutions offers a continuum of mental health services in the community and workplace aimed at supporting personal recovery, return to work, and mental health wellness. These services are provided by an occupational therapist specializing in mental health. A variety of evidence-based approaches may be utilized such as CBT, work-focused CBT, DBT, behavioural activation, motivational interviewing, exposure therapy, and mindfulness.
Our guiding philosophy, that people are healthiest when they are doing the things that are meaningful in their daily lives, is captured in our program name: ERA (Enabling Recovery through Action) Mental Health Services. We strive to look beyond illness to see individual resilience and capacity for recovery, and to help people to develop skills that promote optimal well-being.
Individualized Rehabilitation and Activation
These recovery-oriented services begin with a mental health assessment to determine current function and to guide rehabilitation plans. All occupational therapy services are inherently goal-driven, client centered and collaborative, while being focused on supporting resiliency, motivation, empowerment, health promotion, and a wellness lifestyle. Our occupational therapists in mental health work to:
• Establish and implement healthy self-care habits and routines to support long term well-being
• Teach and support the active use of coping strategies to help manage the effect of symptoms
• Address barriers and build on existing abilities to activate and reintegrate into daily life activities and roles
• Support the identification of personal values, needs, and goals to enable informed, realistic decision making
Early Intervention Stay at Work
Our Stay-at-Work Services are designed to help workers remain at work during recovery from a mental health condition, and to manage symptoms or issues that are impacting their ability to be productive. These services are intended to be short-term and solution focused. We use an evidence-based approach, and our interventions focus on developing skills to promote mental health resiliency and personal recovery, implementing healthy self-care habits and routines to support long term well-being, developing strategies to effectively cope with stress, and enhancing work abilities such as concentration, organization, meeting deadlines, and communication skills.
Return to Work
Our return-to-work services are tailored for workers who have been away from work for an extended absence due to a mental health concern. The assessment process will identify work strengths and limitations and may also occur in collaboration with the employee's health care provider to establish clear medical restrictions. Return to work plans are structured and goal-oriented, with gradual integration of hours and duties to build mental, emotional, and physical endurance. Our therapists provide regular on-site coaching to develop skills and strategies that ensure a sustainable return-to-work.
Cognitive Work Hardening
Our cognitive work hardening program prepares individuals to return to work through the reestablishment of work behaviours, use of work simulations to build tolerance, use of work-focused CBT, and training in cognitive compensatory strategies and coping skills.
Workplace Wellness Training
Training is provided by an occupational therapist and includes engaging and evidence-based information to empower employees to better manage their own health and wellness, improve mental health resiliency, and confidently take action to make healthy lifestyle change. We offer a variety of training sessions on mental health awareness and wellness topics such as mindfulness, self-care, coping skills, sleep, communication skills, life balance, time management, and much more.
• NEW: COVID-19 and the Return to the Workplace - Tools to Manage Stress and Anxiety
• Boost Wellness - 10 Science-Based Strategies to Improve Your Sleep
• Boost Wellness - Five Key Factors for Mind-Body Health
• Boost Your Resilience - Cope with Change and Uncertainty
• Boost Your Resilience - Skills for Managing Stress
• Boost Your Resilience - Mindfulness 101
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Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
We provide an evidence-based approach to concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) rehabilitation, guiding injured individuals to safely return to daily activities and promoting full recovery. Our team provides a continuum of care from acute intervention and education, assessment, symptom management, structured and graded activity plans, and return to work or school recommendations. Our treatment protocols address symptoms such as headache, fatigue, cognitive and thinking difficulties, sleep disturbance, psychological and emotional changes, environmental sensitivities, and physical difficulties. We work collaboratively with other health care providers and can provide interdisciplinary care for complex cases with prolonged symptoms through our network of health professionals.
Acute Early Intervention
Designed for individuals in the acute injury phase up to approximately 1 month post injury. Interventions at this stage have been shown to promote full recovery and prevent prolonged symptoms. The primary emphasis at this stage is to provide patient education and reassurance to normalize symptoms, provide guidance for appropriate and gradual activity resumption, and to address factors which may prolong recovery.
Rehabilitation for Prolonged Symptoms
Designed for individuals experiencing prolonged symptoms occurring more than 1-3 months post injury. Detailed assessment of cognitive and psychosocial factors and the patient's symptom presentation is completed and considered in the rehabilitation strategies. Interventions address factors which may be prolonging recovery and emphasize patient education along with the use of a structured activity planning system to gradually increase the type and duration of daily activities while managing symptoms. The aim of this activation process is to gradually increase the symptom threshold. The addition of physical reconditioning may also be added through our physiotherapy affiliates located in Winnipeg and Selkirk. Progression into cognitive work hardening or a gradual return to work may occur depending on the rehabilitation goals.
Cognitive Work Hardening
Our cognitive work hardening prepares individuals for a gradual return to work through the reestablishment of work behaviours, use of work simulations to build cognitive and physical tolerance, use of work-focused CBT, and training in cognitive compensatory strategies and coping skills.
Return to Work and Return to School
Return to work or school plans are structured and goal-oriented, with gradual integration of hours and tasks. Each plan is tailored based on the job demand requirements and the individual's functional level to gradually build cognitive and physical endurance. A collaborative approach along with regular onsite monitoring and coaching is provided to keep the worker motivated, develop adaptations to the work environment that may be required for specific symptoms, and to develop cognitive compensatory strategies that ensure a sustainable return-to-work.
Please contact us for more information.
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Cognitive Assessment
Our cognitive assessment utilizes standardized assessment tools and may also include observation of the individual performing functional tasks to determine areas of cognitive deficits. A cognitive assessment may be used to plan a rehabilitation program that aims to remediate or compensate for deficits, identify support needs in the home, or to plan a successful return to work or a workplace accommodation. A cognitive assessment may be suitable for any person experiencing a diagnosed health condition such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, long-COVID, stroke and other neurological conditions, chronic pain, and cancer.
Please contact us for more information on any of the following cognitive assessments:
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Assessment
• In-Home Functional Cognitive Assessment
• Return to Work Cognitive Assessment
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