Reducing new hire injuries with early intervention and treatment
Published by HealthFitness on January 10th, 2025
A leading appliance manufacturer with 5,000 union and non-union employees across two shifts sought out our Injury Prevention and Treatment (IPT) services to address musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) challenges for its new hires. They wanted to reduce the incidence of OSHA recordables and new hire injuries, which were negatively affecting their overall worker’s comp claims and disability costs.
HealthFitness partnered with the company to provide a comprehensive injury prevention solution including nine full-time and three part-time employees, post-offer employment testing, early intervention, work conditioning, line-side coaching, on-site physical therapy and program integration.
Challenge
True with many manufacturing populations, employees at the appliance company often deal with stress from standing for long periods, strain from heavy lifting and repetitive motion injuries. The company noticed an increase in new hire injuries during their first year of employment.
Employees had little to no time to learn the work techniques or receive guidance in the most effective work behavior. In addition, new hires were deconditioned and using less than optimal safe work practices.
Solution
HealthFitness launched a comprehensive approach to injury prevention. This includes post-offer employment testing (POET) to match the worker’s abilities to the essential job demands.
HealthFitness also provides conditioning programming with a mock production line to acclimate new employees to the job tasks, as well as line-side coaching that delivers on-the-line service for workers to develop safe work techniques and encourages employees to report any discomfort.
Results
Following implementation, the number of OSHA recordables reduced from 48 to 12 in two years. In addition, 121 employees who received early intervention did not escalate for further medical attention.
The average workers’ comp claim cost was $19,000, so the company experienced a cost avoidance of over $2.2 million.
And finally, of the employees who received physical therapy, 80 percent returned to work with reduction in pain levels.
Connect with us to learn more about our injury prevention and treatment services.
HealthFitness partnered with the company to provide a comprehensive injury prevention solution including nine full-time and three part-time employees, post-offer employment testing, early intervention, work conditioning, line-side coaching, on-site physical therapy and program integration.
Challenge
True with many manufacturing populations, employees at the appliance company often deal with stress from standing for long periods, strain from heavy lifting and repetitive motion injuries. The company noticed an increase in new hire injuries during their first year of employment.
Employees had little to no time to learn the work techniques or receive guidance in the most effective work behavior. In addition, new hires were deconditioned and using less than optimal safe work practices.
Solution
HealthFitness launched a comprehensive approach to injury prevention. This includes post-offer employment testing (POET) to match the worker’s abilities to the essential job demands.
HealthFitness also provides conditioning programming with a mock production line to acclimate new employees to the job tasks, as well as line-side coaching that delivers on-the-line service for workers to develop safe work techniques and encourages employees to report any discomfort.
Results
Following implementation, the number of OSHA recordables reduced from 48 to 12 in two years. In addition, 121 employees who received early intervention did not escalate for further medical attention.
The average workers’ comp claim cost was $19,000, so the company experienced a cost avoidance of over $2.2 million.
And finally, of the employees who received physical therapy, 80 percent returned to work with reduction in pain levels.
Connect with us to learn more about our injury prevention and treatment services.
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Written by HealthFitness
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