FCE FCE Return-to-Work Planning & Job Demands 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which classification system is commonly used in the US to describe physical demand levels of occupations for FCE comparison?
- ICD-10 coding system
- Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) physical demand categories (Correct answer)
- OSHA hazard classification
- ADA functional limitation scale
Correct answer: Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) physical demand categories
The DOT physical demand categories (Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, Very Heavy) provide a standardized framework for comparing FCE results to occupational requirements.
Question 2: In return-to-work planning following an FCE, what does 'transitional work' refer to?
- Permanent job reassignment
- Temporary modified duties that accommodate current functional limitations while the worker recovers (Correct answer)
- Vocational retraining for a new career
- Full-duty return without restrictions
Correct answer: Temporary modified duties that accommodate current functional limitations while the worker recovers
Transitional work provides temporary modified or alternative duties that match the worker's current FCE-defined capacity while allowing gradual progression toward full-duty return.
Question 3: What is the primary document produced after an FCE that guides return-to-work decisions?
- Medical discharge summary
- FCE summary report with functional capacity findings and work recommendations (Correct answer)
- OSHA 300 log entry
- Job task analysis form
Correct answer: FCE summary report with functional capacity findings and work recommendations
The FCE summary report documents the worker's measured capacities, compares them to job demands, and provides objective work recommendations to guide return-to-work planning.
Question 4: Which US federal law is most directly relevant when an FCE is used to determine reasonable accommodation for return to work?
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Correct answer: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, and FCE results can help define the functional limitations that accommodations must address.
Question 5: What does a 'job demands analysis' provide in relation to FCE outcomes?
- A list of all job applicants
- An objective description of the physical, cognitive, and environmental demands of a specific job (Correct answer)
- A summary of workplace injuries
- A wage and salary comparison
Correct answer: An objective description of the physical, cognitive, and environmental demands of a specific job
A job demands analysis provides an objective, task-by-task breakdown of what a specific job requires physically and cognitively, enabling direct comparison with FCE results.
Question 6: When FCE results indicate a worker can perform 'medium' physical demand work, what is the maximum occasional lift typically associated with this category per DOT standards?
- 10 lbs
- 20 lbs
- 50 lbs (Correct answer)
- 100 lbs
Correct answer: 50 lbs
According to DOT standards, the Medium physical demand level involves occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs and frequent lifting of up to 25 lbs.
FCE FCE Return-to-Work Planning & Job Demands 1
Which classification system is commonly used in the US to describe physical demand levels of occupations for FCE comparison?