Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T21:53:24.789Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Failures in Occupational Rehabilitation: A Case Study Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

Dianna T. Kenny*
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
Get access

Abstract

Forty-nine injured workers were selected from a study population of 3,041 injured workers using a critical case sampling technique, to explore characteristics of workplaces and worker perceptions and attributions related to return to work status following workplace injury. The only significant differences between those who returned and those who did not return to work were satisfaction with pre-injury pay and provision of training in occupational health and safety procedures. From the in-depth structured interviews of 49 injured workers, 5 workers who failed to return to work were selected for detailed case study to further explicate the factors which contributed to unsuccessful rehabilitation. Worker characteristics, the timing and meaning of the injury to individual workers, and conflicting and unstated agendas in the occupational rehabilitation process, were all identified as critical factors which impact on return to work outcomes.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Workers’ Compensation Guide (1988). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Bruyere, S., & Shrey, D. (1991). Disability management in industry: A joint labor-management process. Rehabilitation Counselling Bulletin, 34, 227242.Google Scholar
Callus, R., Morehead, A., Cully, M., & Buchanan, J. (1991). Industrial Relations at Work. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Dawis, R.V. (1986) The Minnesota Theory of Work Adjustment. In Bolton, B. (Ed). Handbook of measurement and evaluation in rehabilitation. Baltimore, MN: University Park Press.Google Scholar
Ferguson, S. & Talbot, K. (1992). Employee occupational rehabilitation programs: They work!Proceedings of the First National Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors Conference (pp. 33-37). Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service.Google Scholar
Ganora, A., & Wright, G. (1987). Occupational rehabilitation: Costs and benefits. Journal of Occupational Health & Safety - Australia and New Zealand, 3, 3337.Google Scholar
Gardner, J. (1987). Vocational rehabilitation: Lessons for employers. Business and Health, 5(20), 20-24.Google Scholar
Habeck, R. V., Leahy, M. J., H. A., Hunt, Chan, F., & Welch, E. M. (1991) Employer factors related to workers’ compensation claims and disability management. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 34, 210225.Google Scholar
Johnson, W. and Baldwin, M. (1993). Returns to work by Ontario workers with permanent partial disabilities. Research and Evaluation Branch, Strategic Policy and Analysis division, Ontario Workers’ Compensation Board.Google Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (1994a). The relationship between workers’ compensation and occupational rehabilitation: An historical perspective. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety - Australia and New Zealand, 10, 157164Google Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (1994b). Determinants of time lost from workplace injury: The impact of the injury, the injured, the industry, the intervention and the insurer. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 17, 333342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (1995). Barriers to Occupational Rehabilitation: An exploratory study of long term injured workers. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety - Australia and New Zealand, 11(3), 249256.Google Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (in press). Common themes, different perspectives: A systemic analysis of employer-employee experiences of occupational rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin.Google Scholar
Oxenburgh, M. (1991). Increasing productivity and profit through health and safety. North Ryde, NSW: CCH Australia Ltd.Google Scholar
Pati, G. (1985). Economics of rehabilitation in the workplace. Journal of Rehabilitation, 52(4), 22-30.Google Scholar
Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Quinlan, M. (Ed) (1993) Work and health. The origins, management and regulation of occupational illness. Melbourne, Australia: Macmillan Education Australia.Google Scholar
Quinlan, M., & Bohle, P. (1991). Managing Occupational Health and Safety in Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Macmillan Education Australia.Google Scholar
Remenyi, A. (1992). The workplace as a rehabilitating environment.Proceedings of the First National Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors Conference (pp. 1-7). Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service.Google Scholar
Schonpflug, W. (1983) Coping efficiency and situational demands. In Hockey, G.R.J. (Ed). Stress and Fatigue in human performance. London: Wiley.Google Scholar
Shrey, D. (1993). Workplace-based disability management: challenges and opportunities for joint employer rehabilitation professional initiatives.Proceedings of the Second National Rehabilitation Conference (pp. 27-36). Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service.Google Scholar
Strautins, P., & Hall, W. (1989). Does an early referral to an on-site rehabilitation program predict an early return to work? Journal of Occupational Health and Safety - Australia & New Zealand, 5, 137143.Google Scholar
Stubbins, J. (1984). Vocational Rehabilitation as Social Science. (Symposium). Rehabilitation Literature, 45, (11-12), 375-380.Google Scholar
Williams, C. & Thorpe, B. (1992). Beyond Industrial Sociology. Sydney, Australia: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
WorkCover Administration Act (1989). Sydney, New South Wales: Government Information Service.Google Scholar
WorkCover Authority. (1992a). WorkCover Authority Annual Report, 1992. Sydney, New South Wales: Author.Google Scholar
WorkCover Authority. (1992b). WorkCover Statistics. Sydney, New South Wales: Author.Google Scholar
Workers Compensation Act (1987). Sydney, New South Wales: Government Information Service.Google Scholar