Page 24 - Occupational Health & Safety, February 2017

ERGONOMICS
With WMSDs currently accounting for nearly
a third of all nonfatal workplace injury and ill- ness cases each year, piloting a well-thought-out stretching program is a worthwhile investment.
the end result is a customized stretching routine that typically con- sists of multiple function-specific exercises that require between five to 10 minutes to complete.
As pointed out above, when discussing the value team stretching plays in early injury intervention, the role of the front-line supervi- sor is crucial to the success of a workplace stretching program. A supervisor is an invaluable conduit between the frontline employ- ees and EH&S leadership within an organization. If supervisors see the value stretching adds to the overall ergonomics program, they can use each stretching session as a way to visually monitor the health and well-being of the team and take action at the first signs of trouble. Conversely, if the front-line supervisor views stretching as a waste of time or the “flavor of the month,” the value of their unique perspective is lost and potential WMSD risks go undocu- mented. Also, employees innately understand where a supervisor’s priorities reside, so if the supervisor doesn’t take stretching seri-
ously, neither will their employees and, again, the value of the pro-
gram is compromised.
Where to Go From Here
Employee stretching programs alone will not turn the tide on WMSDs, and more research is certainly needed to quantify the role of these programs in WMSD prevention. With WMSDs currently accounting for nearly a third of all nonfatal workplace injury and illness cases each year, and with that percentage poised to increase based upon the aging demographics of our workforce, piloting a well-thought-out stretching program is a worthwhile investment for organizations looking to fill the gap between what ergonomics can accomplish and their workers.
Mike Stearns is a Technical Safety Specialist with Grainger. He has worked for Grainger for more than 30 years in various roles related to safety. In addition having a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater, he is also OSHA 30 hour trained.
REFERENCES
1. OSHA’s Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace, https:// www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/
2. OSHA’s Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, https:// www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=UNIFIED_ AGENDA&p_id=4481
3. OSHA’s Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
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