FAE

The FAE will examine your physical abilities using a review of your medical documentation, interview processes and objective physical testing. Following a musculoskeletal examination (a check of bone, muscle, ligament and nervous system health), a healthcare professional will lead you through functional tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, as well as gripping, lifting, pushing and pulling objects. Repetitive activities and those requiring fine motor skills are often both a part of the tests.  By simulating everyday life skills and job-specific skills, the FAE can evaluate abilities, determine risks and define impairments.

Standardized tests, questionnaires and interviews may also be used to evaluate cognitive abilities and psychosocial behaviour, in relation to traits required for your job.

The FAE will often compare your abilities with the physical demands of your specific job, by looking at your work responsibilities and environment.

Evaluators will be watching for consistency of effort and barriers throughout the process.

Although the FAE may recommend specific work conditioning or work hardening programs, treatment is not typically included. Such conditioning programs are designed specifically to improve the abilities required of your current workplace and would ideally be connected to the assessment and recommendations provided in your FAE, as well as the healthcare professionals behind them.

The length of the FAE varies depending on your needs, the scope of your job requirements and the extent of your injury. Most assessments are intensive and last one to two consecutive days, with three to six hours of assessment per day. The full report is provided at a later date.

Following a work injury or accident, your health insurance provider, employer, legal representative or a worker’s compensation board (WSIB, WCB, Worksafe BC etc) can request an FAE be conducted. The FAE allows objective collection of information on your abilities and limitations, and provides data interpreted for use in injury/accident compensation matters, as well as a work reintegration process.

An FAE is just one type of evaluation that may be conducted when a transition back to work following an injury is being planned.  Some other possible types of evaluations that may be requested are: 

Occupational therapy home assessment

An occupational therapist may visit your home to determine any environmental barriers and risks, and provide recommendations for home assistance.

Ergonomic assessment of a workstation

Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment, often focused on improving workspaces to minimize risk of injury or harm.

An ergonomic assessment of your workstation and overall work environment is often conducted with the injured worker present or by an assessor and another individual, to demonstrate or perform the required activities.