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Description
A capstone project and ALE at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant focused on hand injury prevention through program analysis. Work related injuries remain one of the biggest concerns for companies as it results in reduced quality of life for employees and economic burden. Data analysis revealed that new hires were disproportionately affected by hand injuries. This led to three key deliverables. First, a hand risk assessment tool was developed to evaluate injury risk per process, preventing new hires from being assigned to high-risk tasks consecutively while building skills. Second, a hand strengthening program was created to support new hires as they progress toward full independence. Third, a research plan was designed for implementation by EKU OTS P3 students. The project demonstrated leadership by identifying a workplace need and developing evidence-informed solutions through cross-team collaboration. It strengthened the author's skills in occupational health, ergonomics, and data analysis while reinforcing evidence-based decision-making. The work also advanced occupational therapy's role in industrial settings, showing how the profession can address workplace injury prevention beyond traditional clinical environments. A key conclusion emerged: ergonomic design alone is insufficient for injury prevention. This experience highlighted the value of comprehensive prevention programs, leading to the development of strengthening initiatives and risk assessments that address both environmental and individual factors contributing to hand injuries.
Graduation Date
2026
Keywords
Occupational therapy, Manufacturing, Injury Prevention
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Degree Type
Book
Site Mentor
Amanda Balser, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP/SMS
Comments
Link to presentation: https://youtu.be/-ZJ5MWUEPpQ?si=txql4P6Hsai1fjnK