By Chad Engle, Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
While reviewing workers’ compensation loss data for a member county recently I was comparing their loss leaders, or most common types of losses, to those of the entire membership and as I expected, things have not changed.
For the last five years the most common cause of injury to NIRMA member employees, both in frequency and severity, is Fall or Slip. As these are much more common during the winter, I am going to wait a few months before we discuss Fall or Slip prevention in greater detail. The second most common cause of injury to NIRMA member employees is Strain or Injured by, what I refer to as sprains and strains.
Sprains and strains are caused by many different actions or activities, but my experience shows that they are a result of handling materials. Pushing, pulling, lifting, etc. Whenever we exert force on an object, we run the risk of spraining or straining soft tissue.
NIRMA continuously strives to provide our membership with resources to help them reduce workplace hazards and prevent injuries to employees. A relatively new resource that can help reduce the risk of sprains and strains is the Energized Approach from Michael Melnik. Every other Tuesday, Michael sends an email with a link to the Energized Approach’s Player Page where you have access to full length training videos and dozens of brief videos ranging from 90 seconds to 5 minutes that work perfectly for starting up a toolbox talk or quick safety meeting. The link on the email is always active, so you can access the videos 24/7. If you are not receiving the Energized Approach email and would like to, please send me a message to let me know and we will get you on the mailing list.
Back injury prevention titles (available at no cost):
Quick Tip Short Videos
- Lifting: Keep it Close
- Lifting: Build a Bridge
- Lifting: Feel First
- Standing: Staggered Stance
- Standing: Slight Bend in the Knees
- Standing: Get a Foot Up
- Standing: Move/Fidget
- Blink! (Stretch)
- The Rule of Opposites
- Your #1 Fuel Source is Oxygen
- Warming Up
- The Brain/Body Disconnect
Full Length Training Videos
- A Better Way to Lift
- A Bit About Backs: Part 1
- A Bit About Backs: Part 2
- A Bit About Backs: Part 3
- Back In Step
- Blink!
- Stretching Out at Work
- Take Five: Lifting
- The Back Owner’s Guide to Lifting
- The Lighter Side of Lifting
- Take Five: Ergonomics
- Take Five: Sitting
- Take Five: Standing
- Take Five: Stretching
The Energized Approach can also be used to improve (increase the energy) in your safety program’s culture. The topics listed above are only a fraction of what is available to our members through the Energized Approach. NIRMA invites you to utilize the Energized Approach to simplify training employees on how to reduce the risk of back injuries, sprains and strains. Please reach out for more information, I can be contacted at chad@nirma.info or 1.800.642.6671.
