If you're looking at this page it's probably because I've said I'll send you a draft proposal aimed at assisting your organisation to dramatically lower the costs of musculo-skeletal dysfunction.

The links on the left hand side of the page will provide you with the foundation concepts on which this proposal is based

PREMISE

The premise on which this aspect of my work based is the need to make the distinction between injury and dysfunction.

Conventional OH&S theory views musculo-skeletal incidents as injuries. People strain themselves while lifting objects that are too heavy, or using poor lifting technique. Things fall on people, they trip over cords, fall off ladders, breathe in noxious fumes ...

On the other hand, my experience suggests that many people in the workforce are neither strong enough or flexible enough to carry out tasks that we could normally expect of healthy people, particularly people who spend all day sitting on sponge rubber.

For people who work outside there are no crowbars or sledge hammers; no picks, shovels or wheel-barrows; no heavy lifting. It's usually a job sitting down driving something. For people who work inside it's usually tapping a keyboard or pushing a pen; for people who work outside, None of this is heavy work. The risk of injury is low, but the risk of dysfunction is high.

When it comes to musculo-skeletal dysfunction, sitting down appears to be the common denominator. Muscles on the back side of the body (particularly calves, hamstrings and buttocks) become tight and tilt the pelvis back, putting pressure on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs of the lumbar spine area and the neck. The shoulders move forward, resulting in shoulder pain and arm and wrist pain.

Sitting down for years on end without a strength and flexibility training program is the hidden culprit in many a dysfunction.

Coupled with the lack of flexibility is a lack of strength. Most people don't have a regular strength training program. Large numbers of people have lost a lot of the strength that keeps their bones in correct alignment.

Therefore when people do lift something, the pelvis and spinal column are not in a good, strong, stable lifting position. The lift becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back. The incident gets the blame, but the risk prior to the lift was high. Organisations who don't manage this risk have to cop compensation claims on the chin.

A NEW MODEL - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND FITNESS

In the first instance, what I am suggesting is the adoption of a new model for managing musculo-skeletal dysfunction.

In a sedentary society, it's essential to keep your eye on the health side of the OH&S equation if you want to lower the risk.

Based on my experience, people without a strength and flexibility training program are placing themselves at great risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction. You can see the results at this link.

This program is for employers who want to get on the front foot.

THE AIM

The aim of this musculo-skeletal risk program is to

The program outlined below

Individuals need to know what the risk is; surely if you knew you were on the way to a painful shoulder or lower back complaint you'd want to do something to avoid it.

Organisations need to know what that risk is so they can manage it and avoid the high cost of  worker's compensation.

It's a program for everyone in your organisation. If people are not obligated to take part in it, those at most risk will probably not take part. You don't cover your risk, and it's just more money poured down the OH&S black hole.

THE PROGRAM

1.    Write down the goal

We work with you to establish a clear picture of why you want/need to embark on a systematic musculo-skeletal risk management program for your organisation. The program is unlikely to go anywhere without a clear set of of objectives. We assist you to work out what your current costs are and how to spread your resources so you can lower those costs in the current and future years. We assist you to get the biggest possible bang for your buck.

In the first year, done properly I believe there's a good chance you can

I'd write goal number 4 down in BOLD CAPITALS and paste it up so everyone can see it.

I grew up in Whyalla and in most of the workplaces at the BHP there was a score board recording the number of days without a lost time accident.

I think you could have a similar 'score board' based on the cost of musculo-skeletal injuries in the current calendar year. I think most people would be amazed at the cost.

2.    Measure the risk

I measure the risk during the Crookback Clinic seminars. Click here to see an outline of the seminar program in which the assessments are included.

I recommend that groups that work together do the seminar and the assessments together. This way you may be able to develop a team benefit with an award going to the fittest and healthiest group - or a regular three-monthly award for progress toward becoming stronger and more flexible.

It's important that staff are obligated to attend the seminar and assessment program otherwise, how can you manage the risk. If it's not obligatory those at most risk will probably not attend. Your risk management strategy is blown out of the water. (Under worker's compensation legislation organisations have an obligation to provide staff with information about safety and health. Staff have an obligation to attend sessions when asked.)

Click here to look at the musculo-skeletal risk factor profile.

I report the risk of each person to the OH&S staff, together with recommendations about what they need to do to reduce the risk. OH&S Managers receive an Excel spreadsheet containing the results.

Group and overall risk is reported in a series of frequency histograms. Click here to view the results of organisations I've already surveyed.

Some staff will need a specific plan that includes some prehab sessions - extra sessions for a few months to improve strength and flexibility. These sessions can be conducted by your OH&S staff (whom I can train to do this work) or local fitness practitioners. This is not rocket science, just a series of exercises. You can look at some of the exercises by clicking here.

3.    Education

The two hour Crookback Clinic is designed to inform people about the causes of musculo-skeletal dysfunction and how to either avoid it or quickly recover from it.

One of the key principles is that it's a big ask expecting to stay healthy in our culture without keeping yourself fit. It's an even bigger ask expecting to get better by having someone do something to you; sooner or later you have to do something to yourself.

During the session I will teach participants some of the key exercises they need to do to keep themselves strong, flexible and in alignment.

Click here to view details of this two hour seminar (again).

4.    Develop a health and fitness culture

Some of your staff may be reticent and skeptical about this sort of program. In some instances seeking union and staff support may be a good thing.

However, once people have been through the seminar and have started to experience the benefits, their level of  interest and involvement is likely to rise. Many people leave the Crookback Clinic in less pain and feeling looser. It will be the first time they have received any education about what they can do to reduce their pain and discomfort. Certainly few people ever became stronger or more flexible in a  surgery or pharmacy!

5.    Training program

I recommend that work groups undertake a 10 minute obligatory strength and flexibility warm-up program, either at the beginning of each working day, or if that's not possible, at some time during the day. The sessions can be overseen by a supervisor or manager, with individual staff taking it in turns to lead the exercise session.

Don't ask whether your staff afford the time off work?  Rather ask whether the organisation cannot afford this time to assist it's staff to stay in good work condition?

It's not time off work, it's a part of work's time.

To facilitate this process I train managers, supervisors and your OH&S staff to take a leadership role. Again, we are not talking rocket science here and all staff will have been taught the key exercises in the Crookback Clinic. If individual staff can take these sessions on a rotational basis it will reinforce the importance of the program to each and every staff member.

Posters

I'd recommend prominently displaying posters with diagrams of the key exercises that staff can refer to in the workplace.

ebook - 'How to Fix Up a Crook back'

Participants will have access to the ebook 'How to Fix up a Crook Back', downloadable from this link.

Alternatively I can arrange to have the books printed.

I'd encourage staff to do the exercises at home. Some may be encouraged to join a fitness centre. You could perhaps provide a subsidy for memberships to a local fitness centre. Partners could be included as a employee value proposition. If people can go with a partner they may be more inclined to go. (A word of caution; a lot of people signed up for a gym membership but never went. If you are going to subsidize a gym program, do it 'after the fact'. ie, after 20 visits, give them their subsidy. Or pay by results. No results, no subsidy.

6.    Prehab - rehab program

Some of your staff will be in such poor shape that I'd recommend they attend a 40 minute strength and flexibility program twice a week, This program could be run by your OH&S staff or by a fitness leader. I can train them to do this.

The program could be conducted for small groups at regular times each week.

7.    Re-assessment

I recommend that staff be re-assessed every three months.

I can do this, or your OH&S staff can do it. It would take me about an hour for each group, during which time they could review the program and be given an exercise session refresher. I could do seven sessions in a day.

The results need to be posted to see the improvement.

8.    Rewards

The carrot will always rule out over the stick.

One of the responses at the beginning of the program will be 'If you're saving all this money, can we have a share of it?'

Of course, why not. Stimulating the hip pocket nerve will be a good way to advance the objectives of the program.

I'd consider rewarding people who can achieve over 70% on the risk factor assessment. A small fitness bonus will pay for a new pair of sandshoes or part of a gym membership.

And/or I'd reward people who improve from one assessment to the other.

And/or I'd reward groups that showed an improvement. You could have a group situp and pressup challenge. Some organisations have a 10,000 step challenge. Why not a strength challenge? This will encourage people to support each other in improving their strength and flexibility.

9.    Added bonus

As your staff become fitter and healthier you can expect them to take less day off. I'd keep a prominently displayed score board for days off and reward groups who consistently meet attendance targets.

10.  Fitness equipment

Installing some fitness equipment that people can use during a break is not such a bad thing. As a former fitness centre proprietor I can provide suggestions about which pieces of equipment to purchase.

11.  Partner involvement

In a program like this, where the service I provide is paid by the day, give consideration to inviting partners and spouses to take part. For a small investment you'll be giving your staff extra support and encouragement from the home front to keep themselves in better shape. It stands as a good employee benefit initiative as well.

THE INVESTMENT

I will let you know in a separate email what my daily rates are.

It would take a day working with you and your OH&S staff to set the program up. I see this as a team effort with you and your staff being the principal drivers. The day could include meetings with managers and supervisors to explain the nature and scope of the program. This could include taking them through the program so they were in a good position to recommend it to their staff.

I do the seminars and the assessments at the same time. Groups of 20 - 25 people for two hour seminars is about right. I can run four seminars a day.

If you have shift workers I can run an extra session during the evening to accommodate them.

The reassessments can be done in an hour, during which time I get people to report on their progress and take them through the exercises again.

It takes me a day after each series of assessments to record the scores and prepare the reports.

Based on these parameters you'll be able to work out how many days you're likely top need me for.