First, we wanted to let you know that... 

It's National Ergonomics Month! 

And second, those of us here at Healthy Roster we wanted to make you aware of a great new article from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Comp on reducing overexertion injuries. 

In the article, they refer to how much overexertion injuries cost industrial companies, accounting for almost 25% of all insurance claims, and how these injuries happen. 

They also go into depth on solutions that work for companies where workers are completing manual tasks in awkward postures, with repetitive motions, and while lifting heavy objects.

One particular section of the OBWC article caught our eye: 

A more effective approach, but one requiring more time and greater upfront investment of resources, is to develop an in-house ergonomics team to tackle problem jobs. Comprising both workers and management, such an interdisciplinary team has deep knowledge of the jobs, tools and equipment, workflow, supply chain logistics, and operational constraints such as customer requirements. When given basic ergonomic training that includes an understanding of MSDs, the team can devise effective engineering solutions that reduce physical risk factors while also meeting production demands. Iterative engineering can fine-tune the ergonomic solutions to account for unforeseen factors or changes in the production environment.

And we really loved the results from the USPS, after they had implemented an in-house ergonomics program: 

The average cost of the ergonomic interventions was a mere $1700, and when compared to the average cost of $6000 for a WC claim for an MSD, the ROI (return on investment) for ergonomics is obvious.

However, we know most companies, and their safety teams, are overwhelmed dealing with their day-to-day challenges to take on a completely new ergonomics program. 

That's where Healthy Roster comes in. 

With our Virtual Injury Prevention services, we are able to provide your workers with 24/7 access to workplace athletic trainers — for every shift and location — to give ergonomic advice, as well as injury triage, ongoing wellness checks, and ergonomic LMS content. 

Connect with us today to learn more. And check out the article when you get a chance!