Content area
Full Text
Injuries are a source of concern for any type of business. Injuries not only cause pain and suffering for employees, they also have direct and indirect (hidden) costs. These hidden costs are reflected in the time lost for an employee who is not available to accomplish his tasks, as well as the cost of training replacement workers and increased insurance costs.
On average, $5 is spent for every $1 of medical expense on a typical injury. One type of injury that is subject to high costs is strains or soft tissue injuries, sometimes called musculoskeletal disorders.
Subscribe to EHS Today Magazine to receive leading coverage of the EHS industry.
Musculoskeletal disorders and injuries frequently are difficult to diagnose, and it often is difficult to recognize the hazards that cause them. Hazards in the workplace can be controlled by several methods; usually engineering controls, where the hazard is designed out, is the first choice. The second choice is an administrative control, where the use of policies, procedures and job assignment rotation can be used to eliminate the hazard. The last option for eliminating injuries is centered on the worker, whether it's providing task-specific personal protective equipment or providing training in the form of stretching and flexibility exercise programs.
Why Implement Stretching Programs?
A stretching program requires careful planning and thought. The impacts of an ill-conceived and hastily implemented program can result in significant bottom line corrosion and possibly further injuries for employees. Many workplaces look to a stretching program as a simple and quick fix to workplace strain or muscular skeletal injuries, but it is more than that.
A stretching program is a form of physical exercise where specific muscles are elongated to their fullest length...