JDA (Jobs Demands Analysis) is an analytical process used to determine compatibility between a worker and a specific job.
There are 4 main uses of a JDA:
For Return to Work and IRB.
- JDAs that are done for the purpose of determining Income Replacement Benefit (IRB) and return to work occur in the motor vehicle accident industry, for workers compensation and for short and longterm disability. JDA information can also be used to set treatment goals for return to work.
- JDAs may seem costly, but if they allow your worker to get back to work a couple days earlier, you are already making your money back.
For Performing Job Matches
- Post Offer Employment Test (POET), occurs after a job offer is made, but before employment begins. The purpose is to ensure that the person is physically capable of doing the job they are being hired to do.
- Job matching can save as much as $6,000-$7,000 per case as it prevents overexertion injuries from occurring from appropriately matching the worker to the job they are assigned.
For Ergonomic Assessments
- Ergonomic assessments evaluate risk in jobs. A JDA provides the data to determine if a risk exists. Ergonomic Assessments can be done for one person, or for one job or for one facility.
- These assessments decrease and prevent injuries, and lead to increase productivity. Performing a PDA using in-house staff will have the lowest cost, external agencies may charge as much as $700 per PDA.
For Legislative Requirements
- Employers are required to keep JDAs on file. They should be updated regularly, once every two years is recommended. This ensures that information is readily available for the above mentioned uses.
- Documenting accurate physical demands involved in a job can help be more defensible in any legal or arbitration hearing, hence saving money in lawsuits or lawyer fees.
