Page 20 - Occupational Health & Safety, February 2017

ERGONOMICS
Workplace Stretching Programs
training on WMSD awareness, the importance of ear- ly reporting, and some type of a workplace-relevant stretching or pre-work activity preparation program.
As a component of a WMSD prevention plan, task-specific pre-shift stretching and warm-up exercises can help acclimate the body for the demands of the active workday ahead.
While intuitively it makes sense that stretching and warming up before any type of strenuous physical activity is beneficial (think of the extensive pre-event routines that competitive athletes go through), there is no conclusive scientific evidence that pre-shift stretch- ing programs alone effectively reduce injury risks. In a paper entitled “Do Stretching Programs Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders,” authors Dr. Sang D. Choi and Todd Woletz reviewed the re- sults from several prominent studies on the topic, and they concluded, “While research does support that stretching improves flexibility/range of motion and self-worth, stretching alone might not prevent work- related musculoskeletal disorder and injuries.”
In the six years since this summary was published, there have not been additional science-based studies released that quantify the effectiveness of stretching programs in WMSDs prevention.
So Why Bother with Stretching?
While science has not quantified the value of a pre- work stretching component in a WMSD preven- tion program, some organizations that incorporate stretching into their employees’ workday have re- ported successful results in improved employee mo- rale and engagement and even reductions in their incident rates. Author Donald Graham, M.S., WSO- CSE, addressed this in an article entitled “Workplace Stretching Programs: Do They Work and Are They Worth The Cost?” He stated, “There also may be a psychological benefit at work in a stretching pro- gram. Company managers and workers together in space doing a common activity can create bonding and increase workplace morale. This semi-social grouping or bonding in the workplace creates the perception of caring and support felt by employees from management.”
In addition, an EH&S director for a company that added a stretching component to its WMSD preven- tion process said that the organization eventually experienced a 30 percent reduction in workplace in- cident rates after stretching was added. The director noted that the company’s stretching program was fine-tuned during a year-long pilot, so it took time to see the needle move in the positive direction.
They are another tool in the musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention toolbox.
BY MIKE STEARNS
W
ork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) accounting for more than 30 percent1 of all nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases each year and
impacting employers to the tune of $20 billion an- nually in direct workers’ compensation costs,2 some organizations are looking for ways to bolster their er- gonomic strategies.
While $20 billion in annual costs is a big number, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates the yearly indirect costs associated with WMSDs, such as those associated with hiring and training replacement workers, are up to five times the direct costs.3
These numbers certainly grab your attention, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg when you also con- sider the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, by 2020, a quarter of all workers will be 55 or older—and there’s the fact that WMSDs generally take years to manifest themselves in an inju- ry. That’s a likely recipe for the percentages of WMSD cases to increase in the coming years.
Knowing this, it isn’t any wonder that environ- mental, health and safety (EH&S) professionals are looking for new methods to help prevent WMSDs, and employee stretching and flexibility programs have gained such popularity. Many are seeing value in adding employee stretching programs to help fill the gap between the workers and what can be done ergonomically to protect them.
While relatively new in concept—and additional scientific studies are still needed to quantify their exact impact—when properly developed and managed, these stretching and flexibility programs seem to show merit in supplementing the effectiveness of an existing and robust ergonomics program.
A Supplement, Not a Substitute
Make no mistake, employee stretching programs are not a substitute for a comprehensive workplace ergonomic program. Simply rounding up employ- ees for some random calisthenics isn’t going to pre- vent WMSDs.
Ultimately, WMSD prevention requires a multi- pronged approach to identify and address the caus- ative risk factors. A robust process should include ergonomic assessments, the necessary adjustments of the work environment to fit the employees, employee
16 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY 2017
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