ASSP Great Plains Chapter: December Chapter Meeting

ASSP December Chapter Meeting

Topic: Reducing Recordables Through Early Intervention & Job-Specific Risk Analysis

This presentation explores practical strategies for reducing workplace injuries and OSHA recordables through early intervention and job-specific risk analysis. Attendees will learn how OSHA First Aid programs can be used to address employee symptoms early, before they progress into more significant injuries, while maintaining appropriate documentation and communication with safety teams. The presentation will also examine the role of Job Demands Analyses (JDAs) and ergonomic assessments in identifying physical risk factors, better understanding the demands placed on employees, and developing targeted injury-prevention strategies. Real-world case examples from Industrial, manufacturing, and construction environments will demonstrate how these approaches can be applied in practice to support employee safety, reduce injury risk, and improve workplace health outcomes.

Speaker: Olivia Leathers – Director of Occupational Health, Makovicka Physical Therapy

Olivia Leathers, OTD, OTR/L, is the Director of Occupational Health at Makovicka Physical Therapy, where she leads occupational health services and works closely with employers, safety professionals, case managers, and healthcare providers throughout the Omaha and Lincoln communities. She attended Creighton University for undergrad and graduate school where she earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Olivia specializes in workplace injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return-to-work services, with experience across manufacturing, construction, and other physically demanding industries. Her work includes OSHA First Aid and early intervention programs, Job Demands Analyses, ergonomic assessments, Functional Capacity Evaluations, post-offer employment testing, and work conditioning. As a Certified Industrial Ergonomic Assessor and Functional Capacity Evaluator, Olivia focuses on bridging the gap between healthcare and workplace safety. She works directly with employers and employees to better understand job demands, identify injury risk factors, and develop practical solutions that support a safer and healthier workforce.

Location: National Safety Council, 3111 Oak View Drive, Omaha – Lunch included – members $20, non-members $25.

Date:  December 11, 2026

Time:  Lunch 11 am, Presentation 12:00 pm