Physical Demands Analyses

A physical demands analysis (PDA) or job-site analysis (JSA) is conducted on-site to assess the essential duties and corresponding physical demands of an individual's occupation. The analysis includes a comprehensive interview with the supervisor and a scientific assessment of the worker’s required activities.

Performed by ergonomically trained Certified Kinesiologists, on-site Work Site Assessments provide comprehensive, detailed review of an individual's work environment. The analysis documents the physical demands and requirements that individual must meet and the essential tasks that must be performed with respect to the applied work station(s).

The analysis includes but is not limited to:

• The individual's pre-accident schedule of employment

• Environmental conditions

• Postural tolerance requirements

• Strength requirements

• Work site organization

• Detailed interviews with the employee (if present) and supervisors

• Digital photographs of the worksite

Following a workplace visit, a Certified Kinesiologist will provide a comprehensive analysis and detailed report. This involves a quantitative and qualitative approach to analyzing an individual's essential tasks and overall job functions.

The data listed in the analysis represents the normal day to day tasks of the individual, the average work frequencies and includes the maximal physical demand requirements. The report results in a combination of input from the employer and employee, observations of the job tasks and written information related to the type of position gathered from the National Occupation Classifications (NOC) and/or the Canadian Classification and Dictionary of Occupations (CCDO).

The assessment report incorporates:

• Physical/strength demands
  
• Postural dynamics
  
• Weight/height lifted & carried
  
• Frequency of each movement/task
  
• Risk factors

The final stage of this analysis involves determining ways to eliminate or control any risks that may have been identified. Engineering, maintenance and production workers familiar with the job should be tasked with developing and implementing solutions.

Once completed, a PDA or JSA can help to integrate health and safety principles into everyday job performance. It can serve as a teaching aid for initial job training and as a briefing guide for infrequently performed jobs. It may also be used as a standard for health and safety inspections and can assist in completing accident investigations.