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Table 2 Perceived strategies (current and potential) to reduce work related musculoskeletal disorders amongst physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
| Departmental or Organisational | Work load & work allocation | Work Practices | Work Environment & Equipment | Physical Condition or Capacity | Education and Training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factors relating to how a department or organisation is run | Factors relating to how the work is distributed & how staff manage their workload s | Factors relating to how the work is actually performed | Factors relating to the physical environment and resources | Factors relating to an individual's physical capacity & what is required to maintain this | Factors relating to education and training |
| 1. Rotational positions | 1. Taking sufficient breaks | 1. Use of therapy assistants | 1. Availability of equipment | 1. Own physical fitness & condition | 1. Manual handling training |
| 2. Appropriate staffing levels | 2. Management of workload | 2. Modification of treatment techniques | 2. Having appropriate equipment | 2. Access to health & fitness facilities | 2. General competencies & training |
| 3. Appropriate workloads | 3. Appropriate workload | 3. Applying ergonomic principles | 3. Modifying clinical environment or setup | 3. Work based fitness & conditioning | 3. Professional development |
| 4. Encourage staff health & fitness | 4. Mixed patient caseload | 4. Use of equipment | 4. Modifying work station setup | 4. Capacity to self manage | 4. Training in use of equipment |
| 5. Availability of staffing | 5. Inclusion of non clinical tasks | 5. Modification of treatment approach | 5. Storage of equipment | 5. Staff exercise classes | |
| 6. Provision of Injury management strategies | 6. Sharing of workloads | 6. Avoiding particular tasks or activities | 6. Maintenance of equipment | 6. Early treatment | |
| 7. Opportunities for change of role | 7. Pacing of work activities | 7. Application of manual handling skills | 7. Mechanisms to transport equipment | 7. Private physiotherapy treatment | |
| 8. Funding & resources | 8. Assistance of other therapists | 8. Consultation for equipment purchase & acquisition | 8. Fit for job assessments | ||
| 9. Culture of injury reporting culture | 9. Appropriate vehicles | ||||
| 10. Appropriate employer & consumer expectations | |||||
| 11. Part time positions | |||||
| 12. Sick leave cover | |||||
| 13. Mixed/split rotations | |||||
| 14. Management of rostered overtime | |||||
| 15. Team building |
