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Back Safety – On or Off the Job!

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

It is estimated that 8 out of 10 Americans will have a back problem at some time in their lives. And no wonder – we have a knack for neglecting our backs! You might be a weekend athlete who might strain an underused muscle, someone with bad posture, and someone who lifts incorrectly or who is overweight, under stress, or out of shape and are setting the stage for a back injury.

Then there is the average American worker who sometimes is required to do manual labor at their jobsite. It is a good practice for employers to help educate these employees on proper lifting and safety awareness. Most people are active outside of work. An injury off the job or on the job is still an injury, and impacts productivity. So it is important to try and educate your employees on not only work back safety but back safety all the time. As an employer, showing concern for your employees on or off the job can only benefit you. Help yourselves avoid workers compensation claims, retraining, overtime paid to cover shifts missed due to injury, and help boost employee morale.

Safety should be taught to avoid accidents not in response to one. Proof:Positive can help your company evaluate your safety programs and help design a program to fit your company needs. Your employees can not only learn about injury rehabilitation but also learn on how to care for themselves outside of work as well.

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Osteoarthritis, the Result of “Wear and Tear” on the Body?

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis (OA): The notion is widespread that exercise or intensive physical labor can cause osteoarthritis in the knees and other joints of the body, especially in older people, and yes even those professional athletes who succumb to the constant wear and tear on their bodies season after season. In the wake of the NBA playoff series now underway, several athletes are not battling one another up and down the hardwood, but rather battling something of a different opponent. To date, the NBA injury report reads…

  • 5 knee surgery’s, out for season
  • 5 knee soreness, out 4-6 weeks
  • 3 torn knee ligament’s, out 6-8 weeks
  • 3 knee sprains
  • 1 torn meniscus, out for season
  • 1 torn cartilage

The prevailing idea is that too much pounding can bring about the cartilage loss, and the subsequent pain, that is the combatant OA.  However, a recent study published in the February 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research finds that, contrary to popular belief, exercise and a physical demanding job has no effect on the risk of developing OA. More…

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Opportunity Knocks After Workplace Injuries

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

The opportunity for you to obtain some knowledge after a workplace injury depends on you. Why sit waiting while injuried to heal without learning about your injury? Information can be provided by your Doctor and Therapist that might be clinical and hard to understand. Finding a place where you can be educated about your injury during recovery can be difficult, but can pay dividends if you take advantage. Take the opportunity when it knocks to learn about your injury and how to recover, and even prevent future injuries…all while staying off disability.

The Proof:Positive Health and Wellness Room present the opportunities to obtain information about your injury. A Health and Wellness Room provides a place to study your injury and learn more than what your Doctor might say about your injury. You can also learn how to prevent further injury, save yourself from future pain and suffering, get back to being productive, and stay that way. Another benefit of a Health and Wellness Room is that you can remain on your regular payroll and not have to go out on disablitiy.

Of course you would have to eligible for the Health and Wellness Room, and eligibility is determined by your Doctor and what work restrictions s/he writes for you. Most restrictions can be accomodated in a Health and Wellness Room, however, and recovery from work injuries is increased dramatically when an injured employee attends a Health and Wellness Room.

So, carpe diem, and help speed your recovery and your return to work. Take the opportunity to learn and heal at the same time. Increase your knowledge and awareness about work place injuries, and stay on payroll. Opportunities don’t always come along with horns blowing and flags flying – you have to answer the knock of opportunity after your injury. Ask your employer about the Health and Wellness Room option. Above all, you are the one who will benefit from time spent in the Health and Wellness Room.

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Mental Attitude Can Have a Positive Affect on Physical Health

Author in the Prevent Future Claims, Reduce Current Costs category

Studies show that your mental health can influence your physical health. And certain personality traits – such as optimism or pessimism – can influence how well you live and even how long you live. It is important to create a positive atmosphere for your employees. It also very important to create that same environment for your injured employees. Having a positive mental outlook can also help promote healing. It is easy to forget about the physiological and psychological affects that an injury has on an employee.

Researchers evaluated results from a personality test taken by participants more than 30 years ago and compared them to the sudsequent mortality rates. They found that people who scored high on optimism had a 50 percent lower risk of premature death than those who scored more pessimistic. Besides a lowered risk of early death, researchers found other health benefits related to positive attitude. In the study, optimist reported:

  • Fewer problems with work or other daily activities because of physical or emotional health
  • Less pain and fewer limitations due to pain
  • Less interference from physical or emotional problems when engaging in social activities
  • Increased energy
  • Feeling more peaceful, happier and calmer

Source: FemHealth.com

More…

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A Well Designed Return to Work Program

Author in the Reduce Current Costs category

A well-known proverb says, “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will understand.” This quote explains what good training can do for any safety program.  You may already have a safety program at your job but what about education for your injured employees. Once injured there is a great opportunity to help your employees learn about their injuries and how to prevent further accidents from occurring.

Proof:Positive Consulting can help your injured employees return to work fast, safely and effectively. At Proof:Positive, our objective is to make worksites safer, more efficient, and more profitable. We accomplish this by providing comprehensive light-duty and safety programs that cut operational costs and speed return to work for employees on temporary disability. Aside from accident prevention, an Early Return to Work (ERTW) program is a manager’s best tool to control Worker’s Compensation costs and reduce losses. ERTW programs have been proven to work in state agencies, the public sector and private firms across the nation. The key word is “Early.” Your response at the time you learn of the illness or injury has a profound impact on the outcome of most cases. ERTW actions should start as soon as possible. However, because specific illnesses or injuries may require varying amounts of time for healing, the time limits on Early Return to Work should also be flexible and based on the medical judgement of the treating physician. More…

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Lifting and Carrying: Your Guide to a Healthy Back

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Know the Facts

Back injuries affect millions of Americans, and can require medical attention.  Back injuries are a leading cause of job-related injuries.  They disable more than 400,000 people each year. It costs Americans nearly $75 billion annually for medical treatment, lost wages, and insurance claims. Back injuries can significantly limit a person’s physical activity. It is also the second leading cause of missed work days and lost wages.

Using good body mechanics to lift

  • Wear supportive shoes with traction
  • Bend and gently stretch to get ready
  • Test the load to see if you can handle it safely – if not get help from a co-worker or use mechanical aids
  • Keep a wide stance and solid footing
  • To improve balance, keep your heels down and turn feet slightly out
  • Tighten your stomach muscles
  • Do not hold your breath – exhale with the greatest exertion
  • Get a good grasp on the load
  • Keep the load close to your body to reduce strain
  • Keep your head up and trunk tall to maintain your natural curves
  • Lift steadily with your legs, not your back
  • Point feet in the direction of the move, don’t twist
  • Set the load down by squatting down and keeping the spine aligned More…
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Educate Your Employees on the Fundamentals of a “Tendon” to Reduce Workplace Injuries

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Did you know, if you educate Your Employees on the fundamentals of “tendons and ligaments”, it can reduce your Workplace Injuries. By educating your employees on the basics of tendon and ligament injuries, you can drastically decrease the amount of repetitive motion injuries, sprains and strains, and other common OSHA recordable injuries. For example: if your employees know to use the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) technique properly, they can avoid many types of cumulative trauma injuries that can exacerbate day after day. We all know that exercise, stretching, yoga, or some type of daily routine will decrease our waist lines, but do you also know that it will lessen the chance of cumulative trauma injuries, arthritis, sprains/strains, and many other types of workplace injuries? Here’s a quick lesson: More…

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High Fiber Diet Leads to a Healthy Colon

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Eating a high fiber diet can drastically reduce:

  • colon cancers
  • polyps
  • rectal abscesses
  • and pockets of inflammation

These can be irritating and painful, and affect productivity at work. Eat whole grains, fruit, or take a fiber supplement to insure you are eating correctly. The general rule of thumb for determining if you have enough fiber in your diet: does it sink or swim? Ask your nutritionist or medical doctor for further information.

What you can do if you’re an employer:

  • consider high fiber options for your vending machines
  • encourage employee’s to have annual checkups
  • post healthy eating information on employee bulletin boards
  • create an educational program for your employees outlining healthy eating habits (contact Proof:Positive for more information or consulting options)
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Early Return to Work Program

Author in the Reduce Current Costs category

return-to-work-107x159.jpg“Early Return-To-Work” is our proven, post-accident prevention program that minimizes workers’ compensation costs and reduces overall losses. The program’s goal is to coordinate and oversee, with proper medical approval, a plan for employees’ return to work, even if it requires a temporary shift in job responsibilities administered through our light-duty program—The Health and Wellness Room. The Proof:Positive Return-To-Work program can:

  • Foster and enhance the physical and psychological recovery process for the injured workers.
  • Reduce medical, disability, and lost time costs.
  • Reduce indirect accident costs.
  • Minimize the chance of re-injury.
  • Encourage cooperation between employees and management.
  • Establish a more stable workforce.
  • Enhance the injured employees sense of confidence and well-being.

Learn more…

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Workplace Injuries Cost Businesses Like Yours $554 Billion in 2003

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Cost of on-the-job injuries, 2003The cost of on-the-job injuries can counteract every effort a company makes to maximize productivity, client service, and profits. The massive costs associated with these injury claims are an indication that companies are struggling to balance the need for a safe, productive work environment with the demand to increase efficiencies and improve profit margin. But as American industrialist Lee Iacocca once suggested, if you get the people part right, the rest will fall into place; on-the-job injuries will decrease, workers’ compensation costs will drop, and performance will peak. More…

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