Physical Abilities Testing (PAT)

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their workers from occupational risks. In addition to identifying, eliminating, or mitigating risks in the workplace, employers should ensure their worker’s fitness or medical suitability to perform job-related tasks. The objective of Physical Abilities Testing (Fitness to Work Test) is to recreate the essential physical requirements of the job known as bona fide occupational requirements (BFOR) and objectively assess the worker against these. To ensure defensibility, PAT protocols must be job-specific and the components, are essential.

• Step 1:  A thorough Physical Demands Analysis (PDA), also referred to as Job Demands Analysis or Physical Demand Profile, is required to establish the testing criteria or protocol. A PDA is a comprehensive assessment of the job position including essential functions, physical demands (i.e., lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling), positional tolerance (stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, walking, sitting, standing, balance), force requirements and task frequencies.

• Step 2: The PDA is reviewed by a kinesiologist to ensure all pertinent details have been captured. If any gaps in information are identified, they are shared with the employer for feedback.

• Step 3: Once the contents of the PDA is determined to be sufficient, the kinesiologist drafts the Physical Abilities Testing protocol.

• Step 4: The draft Physical Abilities Testing protocol is shared with the employer for review and approval. The employer verifies that the testing protocol accurately reflects the job requirements.

• Step 5: With employer approval, the Physical Abilities Testing protocol is implemented. Testing can now be facilitated across our clinic network.

While Physical Abilities testing is most often administered post-offer/pre-placement, it can also be performed when a worker returns to work after recovering from an injury, or if a worker is transitioning into another role, within the same company, which has different essential duties.

Articles of Interest:

• Why Organizations Should Utilize Physical Abilities Testing