Affiliations: The University of Queensland, School of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia | Interact Injury Management, Lismore, New South Wales,
Australia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Libby Gibson, School of Health
and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Tel.: +61 7 3365 3004; Fax: +61 7
3365 1622; E-mail: libby@uq.edu.au
Abstract: Objective: To conduct an exploratory pilot study of pre-placement
screening practice in Australia by examining the nature and use of
pre-placement screenings in a sample of New South Wales (NSW) workplaces. Participants: 29 of 279 employers (10.3%) invited using three sources: a
public list of self-insured NSW companies, a regional chamber of commerce group
and researcher's contacts. The majority of respondents (31%) belonged to
government administration and education. Half of the workplaces employed more
than 200 people. Methods: Employers completed an online survey from a
link sent by email. Results: Sixteen (55%) of the companies had a
formal process for conducting pre-placement screenings, that were conducted by
a range of professionals using a variety of methods, with costs ranging from
$80 to $350 (Aus). The majority of respondents (81%) reported that the
pre-placement screenings included an assessment of the person's ability to
perform the specific physical demands of the job, i.e. against the specified
physical demands of the position. The majority of employers who completed
screenings found them useful. Conclusions: The findings, while from a
small sample size, provide evidence that pre-placement screenings are being
conducted in Australian workplaces by various professionals, using varying
methods and are valued by employers.
