Back injuries are common in physically demanding roles. Pre-placement back screening and ergonomic evaluations help match worker capabilities to job requirements.
Back and musculoskeletal injuries are among the most common workplace injuries in physically demanding roles. Matching worker capabilities to job requirements helps reduce injury risk while complying with ADA requirements for job-related medical screening.
DSC provides objective back screening and ergonomic evaluations that balance injury prevention with legal compliance: baseline musculoskeletal evaluation documenting current back health, functional capacity testing measuring lifting, bending, and twisting capabilities, essential job function matching comparing worker capabilities to actual job demands, ADA-compliant medical screening avoiding prohibited pre-offer inquiries, and post-offer / pre-placement screening timing that satisfies employment law requirements. Our assessments answer the critical question: "Can this worker safely perform the lifting, bending, and physical demands of this specific job?"
All assessments occur after conditional job offers, satisfying ADA timing requirements and eliminating prohibited pre-employment medical inquiries.
Standardized lifting, bending, and carrying protocols matched to documented essential job functions provide defensible, bias-free evaluation.
Pre-placement assessments establish baseline musculoskeletal health, supporting future workers' comp defense and injury causation analysis.
ADA and EEOC Guidelines on Pre-Employment Medical Examinations:
Under the ADA, medical examinations and physical capability testing must occur AFTER a conditional job offer has been extended. Testing before the offer constitutes prohibited pre-employment medical inquiry. DSC structures all assessments as post-offer / pre-placement examinations satisfying ADA timing requirements.
Employers may withdraw conditional job offers only if the applicant cannot perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Blanket disqualification based on back screening results violates the ADA. DSC assessments provide objective functional capability data matched to documented essential functions, supporting defensible employment decisions.
DOT physicals assess general medical fitness for CDL operation per federal standards. Back screening assesses specific functional capabilities (lifting, bending, twisting) required for the physical demands of a particular job. Back screening is typically used for non-CDL positions with significant manual labor components (warehouse, construction, energy, manufacturing).
Periodic screening is permissible when job-related and applied uniformly to all employees in the same job category. This is valuable for aging workforces, following workplace injuries, or when job duties change. DSC structures periodic screening programs that satisfy ADA requirements while identifying emerging injury risks.
CDL drivers must renew medical certificates every 24 months. Schedule at 3,000+ locations nationwide—ideal for OTR drivers who need convenient access anywhere in the country.
Independent fit-for-duty evaluations help employers make informed return-to-work decisions. Board-certified occupational medicine physicians provide objective assessments matched to job requirements.
OSHA mandates annual audiograms for workers exposed to 85+ dB noise levels. OSHA hearing conservation testing with baseline and annual audiograms per regulatory requirements.
Contact our occupational health specialists to ensure your workforce meets all medical certification and fitness-for-duty requirements.