Case Study Seminat - Fitness for Work
Code
9424
Academic unit
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública
Department
Saúde Pública e Comunidade
Credits
1.0
Teacher in charge
António Neves Pires de Sousa Uva, Ema Maria Sacadura Leite Resende
Total hours
12
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
– Define and understand the goals of medical fitness for work;
– Identify the factors that affect fitness for work;
– Know methods for assess working physical and psychological capacities;
– Know how to characterize the physical demands of work and the major psychosocial factors at work as well as to characterize employees work capacities;
– Learn to use fitness information to promote the maintenance work capacity;
– Identify the "borders" (ethical and legal issues) of the fitness for work and the consequences of that decision to the employees.
Prerequisites
To be enrolled at Occupational Medicine Specialization Course
Subject matter
1. Concept of fitness to work and concept of disability and handicap assessment;
2. Factors that influence fitness for work: Working conditions, job activity, work capacity;
3. Methodology for fitness for work assessment: Characterization of the activity and its specific requirements and characterization of the capacity of the employee for work;
4. Criteria to be taken into account in the selection of assessment methods for fitness to work (need, relevance, scientific validity);
5. Physical, psychosocial and psychological demands at work;
6. Fitness for work as an enabler of maintenance of work capacity;
7. "Borders” or “Limits" of fitness for work: ethical aspects, aspects involved in the collection, analysis and transmission of information; Legal Aspects. Repercussion of the medical fitness in employment.
Bibliography
– ARO, T. – Assessment of work ability. In TASKINEN, H. Good Occupational Health Practice. Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 2001. 141- 146.
– BATTIGELLI, M.C. – Determination of Fitness to work. In ZENZ, C.; DICKERSON, O. B.; HORVATH JR., E. P. - Occupational Medicine. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 3rd Ed.., 1994. 65-69.
– CARAYON, P., LIM S.Y. – Psychosocial work factors. In KARWOWSKI, W., MARRAS, W. S. The Occupational Ergonomics Handbook. Florida: CRC Press, 1998. 275-283.
– COX, R.A.F., EDWARDS, F.C., PALMER, K. ed. lit. – Fitness for work: the medical aspects. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
– LOUHEVAARA, V. – Job demands and physical fitness. In KARWOVSKI, W., MARRAS, W.S. The occupational ergonomics. Florida: CRC Press, 1998.261 – 273.
Teaching method
– Theoretical and practical session, supported by audiovisual media;
– Analysis and discussion of cases;
– Seminar.
Evaluation method
– Evaluation: continuous and attendance (20%);
– Practical case (50%)
– Presentation and discussion of practical case (30%)