Finding the Right Fit

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most expensive workplace injuries. Complaints of back, shoulder, and knee pain alone cost employers over $7 billion annually and lead to more than 100 million lost workdays each year. These types of injuries contribute to loss of productivity and millions in annual health benefit payout costs. The financial impact on the employer is significant, but the long-term effects on workers can be severe and potentially debilitating, accounting for nearly 33 percent of occupational injuries.

Muscle and joint sprains and strains are the fasting growing category of workplace injuries and comprise more than 100 different types of job-induced injuries, and they’re severe enough to inhibit simple activities with crippling and debilitating pain. They could even eventually permanently impair a worker’s ability to perform his or her job.

Causes for these types of injuries include:

Improper Lifting or Manually Lifting Heavy Objects: You’ve heard it a million times - lift with your legs, not your back. Especially when lifting objects weighing over 50 lbs without the assistance of a co-worker or lifting device.

No Breaks: Working repetitively without short breaks may result in wear and tear on the body.

Miss-Matched Work: Workers who are not capable or strong enough to fulfill the physical requirements of the work.

The key to preventing these injuries is what I like to call “Workforce Matchmaking” – matching the worker to the work. Providing a simple and inexpensive injury prevention solution is crucial. If a worker is assigned to a role or job task, Physical Capability Assessments should be the first step in preventing the next injury. Evaluating whether an employee can lift, push, pull, carry, or meet any other physical requirement needed for the job should be assessed before the employee starts working. It's just common sense, make sure he or she fits.

Raising awareness about the health and safety of your workforce is essential for your organization. Utilizing workforce matchmaking can be a valuable tool to enhance this important initiative.