Work hardening training

Work hardening is an individual tailored programme for an employee who has to rebuild physical work after absence or with reduced work capacity. It is not treatment of a condition, but learning safe working methods and increasing step by step what someone can handle, in their own work situation.

The programme is delivered by an occupational exercise therapist: an allied health professional who focuses on preventing health risks and on factors that lead to overload and sickness absence. The approach is in line with the Dutch Gatekeeper Improvement Act (Wet verbetering poortwachter), the Functional Ability List (Functionele Mogelijkhedenlijst), the Positive Health model and the vision of the professional association VvOCM.

• Knowing and monitoring your own work capacity. What the body can handle, how work capacity builds up and how you monitor the balance between load and recovery day by day.
• Working in an ergonomically sound way. Applying the basic principles in your own job, in line with the Dutch Physical Workload Practice Guidelines (Praktijkrichtlijnen Fysieke Belasting).
• Recognising signs of overload. Recognising body signals in time and knowing what to do: pace yourself, alternate or call in help.
• Lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. Safe techniques for the tasks from your own work, practised with your own loads and aids.
• Pacing and building up load. Working with a build-up schedule instead of peaking on good days and relapsing on bad days.
• Restoring confidence in your own ability. Using insights from ACT and RET, the employee builds the confidence to move and work again.

Resuming too early and too much leads to relapse. Physical overload is one of the main occupational risks in the Netherlands: 77 percent of musculoskeletal complaints are partly work-related, and continued wage payment during sickness runs up to 104 weeks. Every month an employee resumes work sustainably sooner saves sickness absence costs directly.

• Returning to the employee's own job is not yet suitable, but standing still slows recovery.
• The employee is motivated, but lacks a concrete and safe build-up plan.
• Well-meant advice does not stick in daily work practice.
• Prevention often comes too late, only once absence is already a fact.

Each programme consists of fixed building blocks with flexible content: an intake, practical training sessions, coaching conversations and a completion with advice. Usually 6 to 10 guidance hours, spread over 6 to 8 weeks.

Work hardening is intended for employees with physically demanding work or physical complaints, and for display screen workers with arm, neck or shoulder complaints. Requests often come via an occupational physician, occupational expert, case manager or medical specialist.

Are you an occupational physician, occupational expert or case manager? Refer an employee.

The programme delivers not only fewer complaints, but above all an employee who knows what they can handle and can monitor that themselves.

• For the employee. Concrete techniques, an achievable build-up plan and the confidence to return to work without fear of relapse.
• For the employer. Shorter absence duration, demonstrable fulfilment of the return to work effort and an employee who returns sustainably.
• For the case manager. A well-founded programme that fits the return to work plan, with clear feedback at agreed moments.
• More self-management. The employee is actively involved in their own recovery instead of depending on advice from others.
• Lasting behaviour change. Not just fewer complaints, but prevention of relapse.

“Ergomotion offers tailored training that stays close to practice and is understood by the employees who have to work with it.”

Jan van Delft · Beckers BV