Musculoskeletal injuries represent one of the most prevalent workplace risks for those in manufacturing jobs. In fact, they account for over 32% of all serious work-related compensation claims in Australia, often resulting from repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and awkward postures.
Unfortunately, musculoskeletal problems – which can affect any muscles, bones, or joints in the body – can lead to prolonged worker absence, productivity problems, and increased turnover. Manufacturing businesses should therefore pay close attention to preventing workplace injuries. As well as demonstrating an ethic of care towards your employees, early intervention and injury prevention solutions will help you maintain a more efficient workplace and improve employee retention rates.
What are the costs and causes of musculoskeletal injuries?
Musculoskeletal injuries most commonly affect the back, wrists, shoulders, and knees. Typically, they’re caused by repetitive motions, lifting heavy objects, prolonged standing, and awkward movements; the sorts of activities required in manufacturing jobs. Of course, some issues can heighten the risk of employee injury, including inadequate supervision, lack of training in injury prevention, and absence of workplace injury procedure guidelines.
Over time, workplace injuries can cause a significant loss of productive workdays, as well as a damaged business reputation and loss of revenue.
Solution 1: Workplace ergonomics
The first line of defence against musculoskeletal injuries involves effective workplace ergonomics. In other words, you can reduce the risks that come with manufacturing by optimising workers’ tools and equipment to suit their individual body types. For example, ergonomic workstations that can adjust to people’s different heights could prevent back pain caused by slouching. Similarly, ergonomic handheld tools could help to reduce awkward grips and reduce force on the wrists and fingers. Just remember to find tools certified by occupational health and safety specialists to ensure quality and effectiveness.
Solution 2: Early intervention and comprehensive reporting procedures
While injury prevention strategies can help reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, accidents and chronic issues are still likely to crop up. When problems start to arise, early intervention programs can help reduce employee recovery time and prevent minor injuries from becoming chronic health issues.
A key aspect of early intervention programs includes clear workplace injury procedures. Your employees should know who to tell about their issues, while you should reassure employees of the confidentiality of reporting systems and provide rapid access to physiotherapy and rehabilitation solutions.
Solution 3: Integrating physiotherapy and rehabilitation solutions as part of employee wellness programs
Holistic wellness programs that offer physiotherapy and injury rehabilitation will ensure your employees get back on their feet after a workplace injury. As well as accelerating healing and recovery, offering integrated physiotherapy in nearby health clinics will ensure employees can attend appointments with minimal disruption to their lives.
Integrated wellness programs can also deliver customised exercise plans that suit employees’ lifestyles, as well as personalised guidance for returning to work.
Solution 4: Building a return-to-work plan template
A comprehensive return to work plan template will ensure recovering employees don’t reinjure themselves or take on too much too soon. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a plan, as you should consider the employee’s preferences, medical history, role responsibilities, age, and more. Ideally, you should draw up a plan in collaboration with healthcare professionals, HR professionals, and relevant supervisors to ensure the needs of the employee and the business are met.
Of course, it’s a good idea to draw up a return-to-work plan template that you can adapt to suit different workers, with elements including:
- A timeline for a phased return to work
- Workload modifications and procedures for graduated duties
- Medical accommodations
- Employee wellbeing protocols
- Regular check-ins and performance reviews
- An assessment of risks
With a comprehensive template, you can help reduce reinjury rates and ensure employee retention remains as high as possible.
Building a safe and injury-aware culture
Preventing musculoskeletal injuries represents an ongoing project that requires consistent work and effort. As a manufacturing organisation, it’s incumbent on your leaders and HR professionals to consider the following long-term strategies:
- Conduct regular health and safety audits to ensure aging equipment doesn’t pose increased risks to employees.
- Celebrating injury-free months and rewarding employees for following health and safety protocols.
- Providing injury prevention training for new starters and refresher courses for existing employees.
- Listening to worker concerns and addressing health and safety issues straight away.
- Asking workers for feedback on their wellness programs and injury prevention protocols. If you come across any complaints, take immediate steps to address the problem.
- Keep up with new health and safety technologies, such as real-time ergonomic analysis sensors.
The bottom line: Prioritising care delivers untold long-term value
While musculoskeletal injuries are common in the manufacturing sector, they don’t have to threaten employee wellbeing or your long-term business success. Health Stack can work with employers to use these incidents to engage with the individual employee and improve their wellbeing via their individualised programs; that drive ongoing health and wellness interaction – tailored around their schedule and lifestyle needs.
From investing in workplace ergonomics to combining physiotherapy solutions as part of employee wellness programs, even minor steps can yield significant results.
If you’re ready to take injury prevention seriously and protect employees from harm, Health Stack is here to help. We’ve embraced the challenge of early intervention with a platform that offers real-time access to physiotherapy and employee wellbeing solutions. If you’re keen to support a healthy workforce with seamless healthcare access and injury management, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
