AUGUST 2003

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Case Study - CIS Onsite helps company reduce repetitive strain injuries by 50%

A major baking company established onsite therapy services with CIS Onsite in 1999. As part of our therapy services, ergonomic job position evaluations are performed with every client we treat. The goal of the job position evaluation is to observe the employee performing his/her job and make recommendations to prevent re-injury or a different injury. The therapist's recommendations typically include improving the employee's posture and body mechanics, the development of alternate work techniques, personalized stretching programs, and simple modifications to the workstation.

The baking company was so impressed with these ergonomic job position evaluations, that they asked CIS Onsite to perform them on every job in the facility. CIS Onsite outlined a comprehensive ergonomics program, called the IMPACC program, for consideration. The IMPACC program consists of up to four parts:

1) Ergonomic Work Risk Analysis: a comprehensive analysis of each job to identify work-injury risks and corrective recommendations to address these risks.

2) Management Training: Aggressive, expert education on cumulative trauma disorders of the neck-arm and low back and on what causes injuries, claims and costs. Managers are taught strategies for reducing these injuries, claims and costs.

3) Employee Motivation Training: The goal of employee training is to motivate workers to use their bodies properly on the job and to take care of their working, aging body.

4) Ergonomics Team Training: An in-house team receives advanced training so that they may continue the effort to evaluate on-going ergonomic risks, develop prevention tactics, and assure the long-term success of the prevention program.

The baking company has implemented the first two components of the IMPACC program and is currently more than halfway through the implementation of the Employee Motivation Training.

In addition to onsite therapy services and the IMPACC program, the company has implemented an Early Intervention (EI) program with CIS Onsite (see table). Employees are strongly encouraged to see the EI therapist for both work-related and non-work-related pain problems. The employees schedule a time to see a therapist during established office hours. The CIS Onsite therapist evaluates the employee to determine the type of intervention that is appropriate. Common treatments include: therapeutic exercise, heat/cold, massage, job position evaluations, posture and body mechanics education. The therapist will contact the Occupational Health Nurse if referral to a physician is determined to be necessary. All EI therapy visits at this facility are non-recordable, as they comply with the OSHA definition of "first aid" visits.

CIS Onsite's implementation of therapy services, IMPACC training and the Early Intervention program has helped make a significant improvement in lowering work injuries and worker's compensation/lost-time costs. Just in this past year, this company has reduced it's work injuries by 33% with a 50% reduction in strains and sprains.

For more information on how CIS Onsite can help your company, visit our website or call us toll-free at (866) 298-1312.

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Are you "fit" for work?

Sitting or standing jobs, while stressful in their own way, do not provide much physical conditioning. Your body can deteriorate from lack of movement activity. You owe it to the only body you have to get in shape for your job and for a satisfying life. A personal fitness plan is vital to a successful career and life.

You would keep yourself fit for competition if you played professional sports. There is little difference between professional sports and your job. You must keep fit for your job or you will not perform well. You will go home exhausted and sore from the day's work. You may eventually suffer an injury.

Fitness refers to your endurance: your ability to sustain work output all day. It is how well your heart and circulation can deliver blood and oxygen to your working muscles. Fitness training is a light-weight physical activity that is sustained from 20-30 minutes. Examples include fast walking, running, biking, swimming, and cross country skiing. The list goes on: karate, aerobics, dance. You will enjoy finding the activity that is right for you. These do not necessarily require outdoor exercise. A treadmill, stationary bike or cross country machine set up in front of the TV is a very efficient approach to good fitness training at home. If you need to start off slow, try the little things. Park at the far end of the lot, take the stairs or take walks with a co-worker during your breaks. Studies show that benefits can still be found if the 30 minutes of exercise activity are broken up during the day. So three 10-minute bouts of walking per day can make a positive difference.

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Think Safe! -

Tool grip size can greatly influence the potential of your employees sustaining injuries to their hands and arms. It can also influence whether or not your company will have to pay for such an injury. If a tool's grip diameter is too small for your employee then he or she will be required to exert extra grip strength to operate this tool. The same holds true if a tool's diameter is too large for your employee. Incorrect grip diameter causes unnecessary stress to the wrist tendons and carpal tunnel structures which can lead to injuries.

Although incorrect tool diameter is a serious concern, it can be easily remedied. To determine the proper tool grip diameter for your employee have him or her touch the tip of their middle finger to the tip of their thumb. This diameter usually ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 inches.

him or her ideal more closely. In the long run, it is much less expensive to pay for new tools than to pay for the costs associated with an injured employee.

Need your workstation analyzed by a professional? From corporate office to production line, CIS Onsite performs job analyses to help identify potential risks and provide solutions for any industry. For more information visit the prevention services section of our website or call us toll-free at (866) 298-1312.

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