Nicole Matoushek PT MPH CSHE CEES
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Joined: January 15, 2005
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WORK INJURY CONTAINMENT PROGRAMS:
Impact of Work-Related Injuries on Industry
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, every year workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths cost our nation $170 billion (U.S. Dept. of Labor). There is a direct relationship between workplace safety and a company’s performance and profits. As workplace injuries increase, the injury claims increase and profits suffer. Company safety and ergonomic programs can reduce injuries and increase company bottom line profits.
Ergonomics and Injury Containment
Ergonomics is useful in managing workplace injuries to control and contain injuries and the associated costs. By using ergonomics in injury management, injured workers are able to safely and promptly return to productive work duties with a reduced chance for re-injury or injury progression. This in turn, reduces the indemnity costs associated with lost time injuries, increases employee performance and reduces direct medical costs related to treating subsequent injuries that may result from continued exposure to ergonomic risk factors.
Injury Containment Defined
The concept of injury containment is based on the premise that if ergonomic issues are not addressed when an injured worker returns to work, the current injury and the associated costs may continue to progress and escalate. However, if the ergonomic risk factors that are associated with the original injury are addressed and reduced, then the injury will heal sufficiently, and not worsen. The work-related injury is therefore “contained”. Injury containment is a process which enables the evaluator to identify and control some of the factors that can influence the injury progression.
Injury Containment Program
An injury containment program is a program designed to provide immediate identification and work modifications of injured workers who are returning to work, and may be at risk for further injury or injury progression. The goal of the program is to assess the worker’s specific work practices, work tasks, work environment, ergonomic factors and injury characteristic factors as they relate to the essential functions of the job. All of these factors can affect the progression of a work-related injury. In addition, at least in part, these factors can be modified to reduce the likelihood of injury progression, and therefore, contain the injury.
The injury containment program is designed and appropriate for all injured workers who are returning to work from an injury, and who may be considered “high risk” for re-injury.
Components of the Work Injury Containment Program
A work injury containment program is performed at the workplace with the injured worker. The work injury containment program is divided into several components:
• Work Data
• Musculoskeletal Assessment
• Ergonomic Risk
• Injury Risk
• Recommendations
The program is similar to an ergonomic risk assessment and functional capacity evaluation, but focuses on the injured worker and the ergonomic risk factors associated with the work tasks and injury.
Summary
The work injury containment program is an overall assessment of the complex interaction between the worker, the clinical findings, the critical job demands, the injury risk, ergonomic risk factors and return to work. The program evaluation focuses on the overall assessment on whether modifications to the job and / or adaptive equipment are recommended in order for the safe and effective return to work of the injured worker.
References:
ErgoRehab, Inc: [URL=http://www.ergorehabinc.com]www.ergorehabinc.com[/URL]
US Dept of Labor
Liberty Mutual Workplace safety Index, 2001
Nicole Matoushek, MPH, PT
[URL=http://www.ergorehabinc.com]www.ergorehabinc.com[/URL]
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Nicole Matoushek, PT, MPH, CSHE, CEES
http://www.ErgoRehabinc.com
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