What is the Job Demands Process?

One of the main questions we get from companies that are wanting a Job Demands Analysis done is “what does it involve?”.

At WorkSafe Physical Therapy we walk you through the whole process and include you every step of the way. However, for an overview of what our physical demands process is, keep reading!

Why do you need a Job Demands Analysis (JDA)?

A JDA provides an objective, quantifiable analysis of each job, and it allows companies to understand the specific, straightforward requirements of their jobs.

A Job Demands Analysis is the analysis of a particular job, on-site, to determine the exact physical and positional demands of the job.

What a physical demands analysis is and all the reasons you need one can be found in our blog post What is a Job Demands Analysis.

1. Interview

The first step in the physical demands analysis (PDA or JDA) is to interview a knowledgeable employee about the specific position being analyzed. This could be the safety manager, production manager, or a combination of the above with an employee that performs the actual job.

The goal of the interview is to get a general idea about the requirements of the job that we will be analyzing. It is also to determine if this position will be a good fit for a physical ability test as well.

Some of the questions that we might ask during the interview are:

-What are the primary job duties?

-What is a typical day like?

-Are there multiple sub-jobs in the job description that have different tasks?

2. Job Demands Worksheet

During or after the interview, we will distribute a job demands questionnaire to be filled out about the specific job. This worksheet needs to be filled out in as much detail as possible, and

includes things such as weights lifted, positions held, and other activities that occur in a typical day with this specific position.

The information from the questionnaire will be used as a starting point for what we need to video record, photograph, observe, measure, and further verify when we do a site visit.

3. Site Visit

After we have received the information from the questionnaire, we will schedule a site visit (or 2-3 if needed) for observation of employees performing the specific work.

During the site visit, our goal is to quantify and verify the information that was provided on the worksheet.

The physical therapist performing the JDA will:

o  take photos and videos to analyze positional requirements

o  weigh and measure specific objects being lifted or carried

o  measure forces required for pushing/pulling certain objects

It is best to schedule the site visit on a typical work day for your employees, so the physical therapist can observe as many job tasks as possible. We understand that tasks can vary from one day to the next and this is why we might need to schedule more than one site visit. A site visit will typically take 2-3 hours to get all the needed measurements and data.

4. Analyze

After the site visit, the physical therapist will return to the office and analyze all the data that has been gathered. This will include:

• Reviewing and cross-examining photos, videos, notes, and functional job demands from the site visit and the questionnaire filled out by the employer.
• Identify job code or codes in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles related to the specific job
• Use the job code to identify the physical demands in “The Transitional Classification of Jobs” thesaurus and compare the physical demands to those identified during the site visit and on the job demands questionnaire in order to best determine the appropriate testing parameters.

At this point, you would have a legally defensible, quantified job description for the positions you hire for. There are many benefits to having a Job Demands Analysis done and this is just one of them!

5. Design a Physical Ability Test

If the goal of the JDA is to implement physical abilities testing (PAT) for each job position, then this would be the final step. During this process, we will design a test based on the information collected to specifically match the test to the minimum job requirements.

Once the PAT is complete we will schedule a demo and review of the test with the employer representative to double-check that the test accurately represents the minimum job requirements.

How Long Does the Job Demands Analysis Take?

This will vary a large amount. It depends on several factors such as how many positions we are analyzing, how long it takes to get the questionnaire back from the employer, as well as how long it takes to get the site visit(s) scheduled.

Throughout the process, we will be in contact with the employer to provide updates and estimates on how long until you have the final job demands and physical abilities test.

Job Demands Analysis at WorkSafe Physical Therapy

A job demands analysis is a process used to identify and quantify the physical demands of specific jobs. This information can be used to create a physical ability test that accurately depicts the minimum job requirements.

At Worksafe Physical Therapy we work with you throughout the entire process to ensure you have a legally defensible, quantifiable job description for the positions you hire for.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how we can help you!

Contact WorkSafe to find out how we can help your company today!

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