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May / June 2007

Minimizing Injuries - One Step at a Time

Step 2 : Ergonomic Analysis

In our last newsletter we tackled the first step in our series "Minimizing Injuries" by learning to ' Make Sense of Your Injury Data' . This first step is extremely useful in identifying the departments or job positions that would most benefit from Step 2 : Ergonomic Analysis.

In an Ergonomic Analysis , each problem job (or each job within a problem department) is analyzed by a medical ergonomist. The ergonomist will observe employees performing the functions of the job and identify the various risk factors for injury. These risk factors can include everything from poor worker habits to excessive loading or repetition to environmental factors. The medical ergonomist then offers corrective recommendations to address and minimize these risk factors.

The corrective recommendations of the Ergonomic Analysis are typically low-cost/no cost suggestions that fall into 5 categories:

Engineering Recommendations: Include workstation modifications and/or equipment suggestions to reduce the stresses on the worker's body.
Exposure Reduction Recommendations: Include job rotation or job-task rotation to minimize the effects of repetition or excessive forces on the worker.
Exercise Recommendations: Include stretches that can be performed for brief intervals throughout the day to enhance blood flow to overworked tissues in order to prevent breakdown.
Education Recommendations: Include training of management and employees in various injury prevention techniques and in the need to report work-related pain problems in a timely manner. We will discuss this topic in our next newsletter.
Enforcement Recommendations: Include suggestions to ensure the long-term success of your injury reduction program. This topic will be discussed in our September-October newsletter.

Once an Ergonomic Analysis is performed and the recommendations reviewed by your organization, it will be time to decide which recommendations to implement and a timeframe for implementation.

Stay tuned to our next newsletter to learn more in our series of Minimizing Injuries - One Step at a Time. If you've missed any of our previous newsletters, visit www.cisonsite.com and click on Newsletter then Archives.

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CISonsite Early Intervention Program Works to Reduce OSHA Recordables and Costs - Again!

We are proud to announce yet another Early Intervention Program success story for one of our client companies - your organization could be next!

Early Intervention Programs (EIP) are programs that are designed to dramatically reduce OSHA recordables and the medical costs associated with work-related injuries. With an EIP, employees are encouraged to report their work-pain problems in the early stages - while they are still very manageable. Then, within the next couple of days, an onsite EIP therapist consults with the employee problem and educates him/her in self-help techniques. These self-help strategies include exercises, pain-control techniques and a visit to the employee's job site. At the job site, the EIP therapist and the employee work together to find alternate ways to perform aggravating work tasks so as not to further irritate the condition. And, because the therapist strictly adheres to OSHA's definition of "First Aid", the visits are not recordable.

At CISonsite, our most recent EIP success story is with a large paper cup manufacturer in Illinois . They implemented an EIP last June. During the past year 80 employees have visited the onsite EIP therapist for work-related pain problems. Of these 80 employees only 3 required medical treatment beyond First Aid - 96% of these employees did not need to go to the doctor! Additionally, the company experienced no lost-time for the entire year and a dramatic reduction in Workers' Compensation costs.

Early Intervention Programs work, are simple to implement, and have a very fast return on investment. For more information about EIP's and if one is right for your organization, please contact Jim Panozzo toll free at (866) 298-1312 or at jpanozzo@cisonsite.com .

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Think Safe! Preventing Falls in the Workplace

Source: National Safety Council

Slips, trips and falls are the third leading cause of workplace injury and account for 12% of workplace fatalities. Most fall-related injuries happen in the service industry - and most fall-related deaths occur on construction sites.

Fall Risks:

Wet or slippery walkways.
Clutter or wires blocking passages
Broken stairs or handrails
Improper use of ladders or other height equipment

Tips for Prevention :

First and foremost, watch where you're going.
Keep all aisles, stairs and walkways free of clutter and keep cabinet drawers closed when not in use.
Immediately pick up and clean any dropped items or spills.
Use caution on stairways: use handrails and take one step at a time.
When walking on a wet or slippery surface, slow down, take small steps, and keep a hand free for balance.
If your work area tends to be wet, dirty, or oily, wear slip resistant footwear, and keep the soles clean for better traction. Request nonskid floor coatings and slip- resistant mats in slippery or heavy traffic areas.
Place chains, guardrails, or warning tapes around elevated areas.
Keep all harnesses and other fall protection equipment in working order, and use them correctly.
When using a ladder, start with a firm, solid surface. Inspect the ladder before and after every job. Follow the safety rules and warnings posted on the ladder.
Report even a minor fall. It could prevent someone from experiencing a more serious injury down the road.

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Our programs assist employers in reducing their OSHA recordables and Worker’s Compensation claims, cost and injuries. We offer a variety of customized programs to fit each employer’s unique needs.

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Our mobile therapists come directly to your facility, by treating the worker onsite. the therapist can directly observe the physical demands of the worker’s job and design a treatment program that specifically addresses these demands.

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Our case managers work with employers and insurance companies to proactively manage the care of an injured worker through the entire case management process from injury to return to gainful employment.

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