Worker profile: two functional assessment models

Abstract

The traditional functional assessment techniques developed by medical, psychological and social care providers lack the quantitative precision of industrial engineering work descriptors. This study develops two models of disabled worker behavior for use in the vocational assessment and job design process. In addition to providin the rehabilitation engineer a usable assessment of the client's abilities the Worker Profile should aid in the sharing of information among the specialists on the rehabilitation team. Unlike previous efforts directed at modeling disabled workers' abilities, this study individually modifies the elements used to describe unique, specific jobs. The element by element Worker Profile approach encourages proper job selection and work station modification. This study uses both a traditional Motion Class Model and a novel Action Set Model. Both models use standard Available Motions Inventory test scores as inputs. Each of the models produces a Worker Profile which can be used to predict the worker's performance on any job for which an appropriate job standard has been written.