Job task analysis + training
The client:
Melbourne skincare clinic
The problem:
Therapists at the clinic perform a range of treatments using machines with hand-held applicators, such as laser. Over the past year, a number of therapists had experienced musculoskeletal issues related to the manual handling involved in operating these machines. The owner wanted to reduce the risk of his therapists becoming injured and identify how to best support them, both in the short and long term.
How we helped:
In discussion with the owner, we identified an opportunity to mitigate manual handling risks in the clinic by conducting Job Task Analysis (JTA) and providing his team with injury prevention training, specific to their roles. We proposed the following action plan, in which AHP would:
Conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) of the treatments provided in the clinic. This involved observation and analysis of the therapists’ work tasks, workspace environment, work-related tools and workstation ergonomics, as well as consultation with the therapists themselves to hear their experiences.
Provide a detailed written report presenting key observations and recommendations
Deliver a customised manual handling / injury prevention training workshop, targeted specifically at the unique tasks performed in the clinic
The JTA was conducted over the course of a morning, with the assistance of two therapists who volunteered to demonstrate the treatments performed in the clinic and share their insights and experiences.
A comprehensive report was delivered within a week of the JTA. This was followed up with a video conference with the client to answer any questions he had and to discuss the best way to deliver injury prevention training to his team. As the team were a small, closely connected group with common issues, we recommended an interactive training workshop in the clinic.
The training workshop was designed to be practical, informal and collaborative. We examined relevant work tasks as a group, asking the team to identify manual handling risks, share their own personal experiences and discuss solutions they may have found for reducing stress on their bodies. Allowing the team to exchange ideas in a practical scenario, stimulated them to think about the way in which they work and how they could do things differently to prevent injury.
We discussed ‘best practice’ for each work task and taught therapists how to position themselves, their client and their equipment to minimise stress on their bodies. We also discussed important concepts of posture and breathing awareness, mindfulness, self-care and active recovery. There were many ‘light-bulb’ moments, as team members realised that they could significantly reduce stress on their bodies by making simple changes to the way they work.
The outcome
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the client and his team who were reporting less physical issues since incorporating our recommendations into their daily practice. The client went on to use our training workshop in their annual in-house training and new-employee induction programs.