Program that focuses on the restoration of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and safe work demand performance for individuals who have suffered an industrial injury. Circuit training and work simulation are included in the program.
Tag: MEDICAL
Work force
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), this means employees, volunteers, trainees, and other persons under the direct control of a covered entity, whether or not they are paid by the covered entity.
Work hardening
1. Individualized program of therapy using simulated or real job duties to build up strength and improve the worker’s endurance to be able to work up to 8 hours per day. Sometimes work site modifications are instituted to get the employee back to gainful employment. 2. In a workers’ compensation case, program that uses conditioning tasks with real or simulated work activities that are graded to progressively improve the biomechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychosocial functioning of the injured worker to maximize the ability to return to work (e.g, in vocational rehabilitation). It incorporates psychomedical counseling, ergonomics, job coaching, and transitional work development.
Work practice controls
Policies and procedures that reduce the possibility of employee exposure to hazards by changing the manner in which a task is done (e.g., to handwash after removal of gloves, to prohibit mouth pipetting for a laboratory test, to recap needles using the two-handed method).
Work rehabilitation
Structured and supervised program of physical conditioning, exercise, strengthening, and functional task performance with real and simulated job activities for workers recovering from industrial injuries. Its purpose is to return people back to work and prevent future injury risk.
Work restrictions
In a workers’ compensation case, temporary or permanent prohibitions of certain activities, body positions, motions, exposure and time limitations that have been placed on the injured worker by the treating or consulting physician to expedite recovery from the injury or on a permanent basis because of the effects of the injury. Restrictions can be actual because of inability to perform the activity or prophylactic to prevent further injury. Permanent work restrictions are rated disabilities.
Worker
See: wage earner .
workers compensation (WC) insurance
Formal legal contract that insures an employee against on-the-job injury or illness and provides death benefits to dependents. It pays for medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, permanent disability, and through temporary disability benefits covers lost wages while off the job. Federal and state regulations require that the employer have this coverage and pay the premiums for his or her employees.
workers compensation (WC) program
Federal and state government-mandated system that requires employers to furnish insurance and cash benefits for employees who suffer work-related injuries, illnesses, or death. Employers pay the insurance premiums. workers’ compensation insurance does not usually cover agricultural employees, interstate railroad employees, employees of small businesses, domestic employees, casual employees, and self-employed individuals. Also called workers’ comp .
Workers compensation agency
Federal entity that administers a federal or state workers’ compensation law such as workers’ compensation commission, industrial commissions, industrial boards, workers’ compensation insurance funds, workers’ compensation courts, and U.S. Department of Labor. Also referred to as state compensation board or commission .