Category: Employer Services

Why WorkSTEPS and the West Texas Rehab Center?

Are your injuries and medical costs increasing?

Do you have an aging workforce who may not be able to safely perform their job?
Do your injured employees have to wait a couple of days to see a doctor?
Is your lost time cost increasing because you don’t have a modified duty program?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can help!

The West Texas Rehab Center staff has 32 years experience helping employers solve problems related to
hiring, handling work injuries and compliance with DOT and OSHA regulations. This is the ONLY place in
town with this much experience. We are focused on customer service and are the only WorkSTEPS provider in the area.
WorkSTEPS is a standardized and ADA compliance employment test that was developed in 1986 and is designed
to assist employers in policy and procedure development for managing employee testing pre and post injury.
Did you know that 7% of all applicants cannot safely perform the essential functions of the job they are
trying to get? This test is designed to help weed out those 7% that are going to increase your medical and
lost time costs. Employers who implement WorkSTEPS save at least 50% on their medical costs in the first year.
WorkSTEPS is the largest employment testing database in the world. There have been over 1,000,000 tests
completed and that number is growing everyday. There is a national network of providers that numbers over 640 and is in 48 states with more added monthly.

Also, WorkSTEPS is the only test that is legally defensible and has been tested in court. Jackson Lewis
Employment Law Firm (one of the largest in the nation) wrote the white paper supporting WorkSTEPS policies and procedures.
Through our Employer Services Department at West Texas Rehab, we can get you more information on WorkSTEPS if you’re interested in learning more.

Call us to set up a time to come into the office and see a test in action. We would love to help you save money.

Abilene- 325-793-3400

San Angelo- 325-223-6300

Ozona-325-392-9872

KARIL REIBOLD

JUN 27, 2023 11:00:00 AM

As I tour a manufacturing facility, I am in awe at the care taken in the design of the production process flow.    Resin stored outside is piped into each machine through an elaborate web of piping, the machines have varied degrees of automation, and the floor plan is strategically designed for optimal productivity and efficiency.  My tour guide shows pride in the design and care taken, the automation, and the complexity of the manufacturing workflow.  The final steps in the manufacturing process involve humans … aka employees.  They are in repetitive motion jobs with physically demanding work and long shifts (10 -12 hours) on their feet.

After the tour, the team gathers at a board to review each machine’s current “uptime” and availability to meet today’s production needs.  The fear of lost productivity is real.  Each year in the US, manufacturers lose an estimated $50B in lost productivity due to unplanned downtime.  A team of machine maintenance employees is focused on uptime and break fixes because it is so critical to keep the machines running.  These employees are essential in the manufacturing process yet are an often-overlooked component of the “uptime” discussion.

According to Harvard Business Review (HBR), employee “downtime” due to lost productivity is estimated at $150B with presenteeism and absenteeism combined.  And the Institute of Medicine reports that workers’ compensation claims for MSK -related work injuries are between $45B -$55B annually.  Abrupt changes in available staffing in labor-intensive industries create bottlenecks, lost productivity, and an internal scrambling to juggle resources and meet deadlines.  This scenario may mean longer shifts for some employees, increasing the risk of injuries.

The key component for a strong foundation is prevention.  Creating a “well-oiled” manufacturing or distribution environment starts with ensuring production uptime of all process components- both people and machines.  
Some foundational components to address the human element are:

• Understanding the physical demands of the job.  Performing functional job analysis (FJA) and creating Functional Job Descriptions (FJD)
• Implement a Post Offer Employment Test (POET) utilizing FJDs to ensure the candidate is physically able to do the job.
• Invest in a Managed MSK onsite clinic to design, deliver and manage to create a solid foundation of employee health.   Staffed with a highly trained provider (PT, OT, ATC) and managed by a team of experts, some aspects include:
  o    Catching aches and pains before they turn into injuries 
  o    Onboarding and conditioning new hires 
  o    Job coaching and workplace modifications 
  o    Trusted resource to employees on MSK and wellness 
  o    Proactive programs, warm-ups, micro-breaking, and toolbox talks that have lasting results due to the onsite presence.
  o    Small footprint and investment with a significant impact

Yes, it requires spending a little time and money but think about the long term in effectively, safely, and efficiently keeping people healthy and on the job. Investing in machines and people builds a solid foundation for a productive and safe work environment.

If you’d like more information on our WorkSteps programs, please contact our Employer Services departments in Abilene at 325.793.3443, San Angelo at 325.223.6370, or Ozona at 325.392.9872 or go to https://westtexasrehab.org/services/