workers compensation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a very popular TV network show.  So popular, in fact, that it has been airing for 15 seasons.  Audiences obviously enjoy the drama as the investigators sift through the evidence to solve the crime.  The attention to details and minute clues are imperative to solving some cases.  Do these investigations and investigator skills apply to the workplace when incidents occur?  I think there is a case to be made that they do and should apply.  Obviously, workplace incidents related to injuries or errors aren’t typically ‘crime scenes’; however, they often do hold

Last week I presented the first 5 reasons of my Top 10 list for why ergonomics (and lean) programs failure.  Here are the next five:

“We started off well but things have fallen by the wayside”.  “Employees were trained, they were enthusiastic and then things just started slipping away…”  The previous two statements are ones I’ve heard from companies who wanted to do ergonomics that then proceeded to get a program together and implemented who currently find themselves with a program “in name only”.  Common reasons given for demise of the program were that other priorities came up that took precedence or people just got tired of doing it.  There can be numerous reasons given for program failure but with a closer look can b

The last two blogs have focused on why employees, despite knowing policies and processes and even paying attention to them most of the time still consciously choose to take risks.  The next question that should be considered looks at the flip side, “Why companies/CEOs/directors/managers, even if there’s great evidence that safety solutions are cost effective, will lead to more productivity and profitability, consciously decide to ignore those solutions and continue to permit risky situations?”

Why employees, even when they know the safety policy, they’ve been properly trained in the policy and even paid attention to it, still might consciously choose to take risks?  Part 2

What is the age that you use to define for an “older” worker?  Is it 45, 50, 55 or 65?  Employers across the nation are seeing the average age of their work force getting older each year as people are delaying retirement more than ever before.  This is a trend that has employers concerned for several reasons with two being the most impactful—potential injury/safety ramifications and upcoming knowledge loss.  The “common wisdom” has been that older workers don’t get hurt often but when they do the expenses are very high.  Is this “common wisdom” true?  A

Many companies devote time to training their employees on back safety in which they teach the basics of back anatomy and safe lifting techniques.  The question I have had on this training “Is the time and money spent on back injury prevention worth it?”  Of course, this question (“Is it worth it?”) should be asked of any training.  After all, training takes time, takes employees away from their jobs and therefore is a significant investment by the company in their personnel as well as financially.

It is well known that obesity is an epidemic in America with over 60% of Americans either overweight or obese. (1) Recently there have been two studies published which caught my attention due to fact that both were in regards to obesity and driving.  Both studies left me to believe that ergonomics and wellness are imperative for employers as well as communities.  Let me explain why.