Objective ergonomic analysis to clarify injury risk, job demands, and work-relatedness in workers’ compensation cases.

How We Support Workers’ Compensation Cases

The Ergonomics Center provides expert, unbiased support to organizations navigating workers’ compensation cases. A core responsibility of our ergonomists is to observe employees performing their job tasks and conduct objective evaluations of physical demands and injury risk. This information plays a critical role in determining the potential causes of injury and work-relatedness, helping employers, insurers, and legal teams make informed decisions based on scientific evidence.

Objective Job Observation & Risk Evaluation

Our ergonomists perform detailed job observations to identify physical demands and biomechanical stressors that may contribute to injury.

• Postural demands
• Force exertion
• Repetition and task frequency
• Awkward or sustained postures
• Manual material handling requirements
• Environmental and work process factors

These observations allow us to provide an unbiased and defensible evaluation of potential ergonomic risk factors.

Physical Demands Descriptions & Risk Assessment Tools

The Center has developed specialized Physical Demands Descriptions (PDDs) and ergonomic risk assessment tools to clearly define job demands and highlight potential injury risks.

• Quantifies job-specific physical requirements
• Identifies high-risk tasks and exposures
• Supports return-to-work and job placement decisions
• Clarifies compatibility between job demands and medical restrictions
• Helps outline the most appropriate path forward in disputed cases

Independent Expert Review & Technical Support

When cases involve conflicting opinions, our ergonomists can provide independent, unbiased reviews of existing assessments or expert reports.

• Review and critique of opposing expert opinions
• Evaluation of previous ergonomic assessments
• Identification of gaps, inconsistencies, or unsupported conclusions
• Objective interpretation based on recognized ergonomics standards

When required, our team conducts detailed technical literature reviews to scientifically substantiate findings and conclusions.

Expert Witness Services

The Ergonomics Center also provides expert witnessing in workers’ compensation cases that proceed to litigation.

• Deposition support
• Trial testimony
• Evidence-based opinions grounded in ergonomic science
• Clear communication of technical findings to legal audiences

Key Benefits of Our Workers’ Compensation Support

• Objective, third-party evaluation
• Scientifically defensible findings
• Improved clarity in disputed cases
• Better alignment between job demands and medical restrictions
• Reduced uncertainty in work-relatedness determinations
• Strong documentation to support employers, insurers, and legal teams

Who We Support

• Employers and safety teams
• Human resources professionals
• Workers’ compensation carriers
• Attorneys and legal teams
• Case managers
• Occupational health providers

How Workers’ Compensation Support Integrates with Other Services

Workers’ Compensation Support pairs seamlessly with Industrial Evaluations, Physical Demands Descriptions, Ergonomics Program Development, and Continuous Improvement Events to form a comprehensive risk management and injury prevention strategy.