LANSING – Increasing Michigan’s workforce productivity and keeping workers safe is a growing challenge for employees and their employers. Due to the declining economy, safety experts are concerned Michigan employers are pressured to reduce staffing levels while maintaining productivity.
“Michigan employers are facing increased threats of extinction while at the same time being pressured to increase productivity,” said Joe Ross, workforce analyst at Communications & Research.
“Working faster without working smarter increases workplace injuries,” says Dr. Dan Greene, director of the WorkSafe safety program. “With a little training, employees themselves can create the best solutions to increasing workplace safety.”
WorkSafe is a free, nonprofit training program intended to reduce back and ergonomic injuries. Back ailments are one of Michigan�??s leading causes of missed workdays. There are over 100 participating WorkSafe doctors performing this free training in every county in Michigan.
The Michigan Association of Chiropractors developed the WorkSafe safety program. An appointed MAC doctor who has received specialized workplace safety training provides the one-hour program. Training sessions focus on proper ways to lift and move, and includes free back safety booklets for all participants. Additionally, company employers receive a free CD-ROM containing safety information for future use.
The safety training is available to manufacturing and nursing home industries with up to 100 employees. To date, the WorkSafe program has trained more than 8,000 Michigan employees.
In recent months, a survey was conducted to review WorkSafe’s effectiveness by manufacturing and nursing home facilities throughout Michigan. Employers ranked WorkSafe at the top of the scale for the eighth year in a row, since the program began in 2001. Rankings were consistently in the 80 to 100 percentile.
“It was great for us. It showed us what we should and should not do,” said a manufacturing survey respondent.
Not only are chiropractors effective at preventing work place accidents, researchers have proven their effectiveness in the treatment of back-related injuries incurred in the work place.
According to a peer-reviewed study by a group of medical doctors published in 2008, “Workers whose first health care visit for the injury was to a chiropractor had substantially better outcomes.”
This program is made possible through a state grant from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The MIOSHA Program is part of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
“The MIOSHA program is dedicated to protecting the safety and health of Michigan’s working men and women,” said MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski. “Our goal is that every worker in Michigan goes home healthy and whole, every day. The WorkSafe program provides a valuable tool to help employers protect their workers.”
Employers can obtain more information about WorkSafe by clicking on
a>>
