Work and Industry

Occupational therapists are involved in work and industrial settings. Industrial rehabilitation can be conducted in the context of the employee's place of work. Work site therapy programs are designed to address an employee's therapy needs related to work injury. The injured worker receives intervention to foster the occupational performance necessary in the work place, which may include work hardening (use of real or simulated work tasks and exercises based on a persons tolerance in an effort to improve the functioning of the worker), ergonomics, back safety, energy conservation, and work simplification techniques. This approach places the client back into the work role. Prevention of further injury occurs in a more natural contexts when employees are treated at the work site.

Providing occupational therapy services to individuals at their place of work helps them make the transition from the patient role to the role of worker. In this setting, the therapist interacts not only with the client, but also the employer and often the insurance company. By encouraging the injured employee to communicate his or her needs for work modification and how productivity might be maintained, the therapist will pave the way for a successful transition to work. The therapist strives to balance the needs of both the employee and employer while promoting resolution of work-related issues that would interfere with a smooth transition to productive work. Sometime work modifications will be necessary. Consideration is taken of the impact of modifications on other co-workers who use the same equipment.

Overall, occupational therapists foster an environment and work to increase the client's ability to participate in the occupations necessary for successful work performance. 

Information on this page retrieved from Pedretti's Occupational Therapy Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction, 6th Edition.