Patrick Pesenti, bricklayer at Claude M BTP is equipped with the Japet.W exoskeleton.
Suffering from a vertebral strain, he feels safe with the exoskeleton and can perform movements he didn’t dare do before.
A look back at a structured and collective integration process with the testimonies (user), the company manager, the prevention officer, Cap Emploi and the occupational physician.
How did you come to meet Japet?
Sébastien Michelon, manager of Claude MBTP, a family business with his father and brother, in Bourg-de-Péage dans la Drôme.
While searching on the internet, I came across the Japet website, so I check it and contacted them. The contact was very quick, and we were able to organize a demonstration. After the presentation, we decided to invest in this equipment with Mr Pesenti, our collaborator.
He first asked me if I would be willing to try it and then Anaïs came, and we tested the exoskeleton. I found it very helpful, and I felt good.
How did the support in the search for solutions work?
My name is Cécile Combe, I am a preventionist-ergonomist, working for the Drôme-Vercors occupational health service, in Romans-sur-isère.
Our job is to evaluate and find solutions. Either we find concrete solutions and things that can be improved, or we suggest to the company that they eliminate this or that thing, and we see if they have any ideas. We accompany them on the solutions.
What role did Cap Emploi play in this process?
Stella Azizi Mourirer, consultant at Handicap, in charge of keeping disabled people in employment in the Drôme sector.
I am an employee at Cap Emploi Ardèche-Drôme and I work in companies in partnership with the occupational health services.
The preventionist, Mr. Fave, who has now been replaced by Mrs. Cécile Combe, intervened to carry out a job study. I accompanied him and presented the study to Mr. Michelon.
Beforehand, I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Pesenti to study his situation, to know his constraints, and his health problems and to make the link with his activity at work. It was the company that had identified, with its employee, a solution: the exoskeleton.
The idea was to make a global study of the workstation to see if there were other constraints to provide a global solution to the company. It was also necessary to validate the exoskeleton test before carrying out the field test. After the field test, Mr Pesanti validated this solution in the presence of his manager and the safety officer. Then the report was provided to the occupational physician for validation.
Precisely, what is the role of occupational medicine?
Occupational physician, Doctor Apetroaiei Suzana.
I have known Mr. Pesanti since 2013. He has had several repeated sick leaves. At the beginning, it was a request from the employer. It was the employer, Mr. Michelon, who called me to get in touch with the physiotherapist. He wanted to have a medical opinion to see if this exoskeleton is recommended or not for Mr Pesenti.
What about the cost of the exoskeleton?
Once the solution was validated by everyone, we put together the financing file with Mr. Michelon to help with the acquisition of the equipment. We were pleasantly surprised that AGEFIPH paid for 100% of the device.
What do you think about Japet’s integration protocol?
The support process seems very good and credible to me. They don’t just sell you a solution or you must make it on your own, so I think it’s pretty good. My job is to see the benefits and the drawbacks and, in concrete terms, does it work or not. But yes, it’s much more reassuring. It’s practical to be able to follow on one of our companies if it’s going to work or not.
How can the Japet.W exoskeleton be considered as a device for maintaining employment?
In the construction industry, it’s true that for lumbar problems, we don’t have many job adaptations. Professional retraining is possible, but no job adaptation. I think the exoskeleton is great, I’m waiting to see but I think it will be a success. In any case, I hope so. Moreover, it allows me to accompany Mr. Pesenti until his retirement and much more and to preserve our employees.