Physical Ability Testing

Physical ability testing allows identification of individuals who will have the physical ability to perform a particular job. This approach is a complement to the traditional ergonomic approach of designing the job to fit the worker. Occasions arise where the traditional ergonomic approach is technically or economically infeasible, at least in the short term. In those instances, testing may be one of the few options available for achieving the benefits of worker-job matching. As an example, it is possible to reduce the risk of injury by 20-40% and improve performance through the appropriate use of physical ability testing (Anderson 1999, 2006).