Building a Stronger Workforce: How Wellness Programs Reduce Recordables
Introduction:
The construction industry is the backbone of our infrastructure, but it comes at a cost - a toll on the physical health of its workers. Strains, sprains, and musculoskeletal injuries are common, accounting for a significant portion of workers' compensation claims. In this blog post, we delve into the preventative power of wellness programs, specifically focusing on how they can significantly reduce work comp recordables in manual labor fields like construction.
The Alarming Statistics:
Musculoskeletal Injuries: Musculoskeletal injuries make up 33% of workers' compensation claims, with strains and sprains being extremely common.
Financial Burden: The average cost for a workers’ compensation claim due to physical strain injuries exceeds $33,000 per claim. Occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) alone account for $1 out of every $3 in workers’ compensation costs.
Impactful Areas: The costliest lost-time claims involve injuries to the head, central nervous system, neck, and arms/shoulders.
Lost Workdays: Lower back pain, a prevalent issue, causes an estimated 149 million lost workdays annually.
The Role of Wellness Programs:
Prevention and Early Intervention: On-site wellness programs identify and correct potential health risks before they escalate. Mild strains are easier and less expensive to treat than severe injuries.
Chiropractic / Physical Therapy Services: Proactive care through conservative services reduces the need for specialists, unnecessary imaging and emergency room visits.
Targeted Approach: Construction workers often suffer from conditions like tendonitis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and thoracic outlet syndrome. Tailored wellness programs address these specific concerns and prevent exacerbation of these symptoms leading to missed work days or need for invasive interventions..
Key Elements of a Successful Health and Safety Program:
Management Commitment: Ensuring management commitment and active employee participation are crucial to creating a robust safety culture.
Hazard Awareness: Educating workers about hazards and promoting awareness ensures a safer work environment.
Training: Providing regular training equips workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid injuries and assures proper utilization of the wellness services being offered.
Medical Management: Using PT or chiropractic as an entry point to care can significantly reduce healthcare costs and assure conservative management is first-line.
Insights from Research:
A study conducted by the NIH revealed that factors like total duration in the construction field, work hours, and age significantly impact musculoskeletal morbidity. This emphasizes the need for targeted, proactive wellness interventions tailored to the unique challenges faced by construction workers. Manual labor demands require a level of physical strength and mobility that cannot be taken for granted.
Conclusion:
Investing in employee well-being not only fosters a healthier, happier workforce but also significantly reduces the financial burden associated with work comp recordables. Construction companies can create a safer, more productive work environment by implementing comprehensive wellness programs, ultimately ensuring the longevity of their most valuable asset - their workforce.