A safer approach to
work, life and sport

EMPLOYERS

Injury prevention is everybody’s job. But as an employer, you have a special responsibility to keep your workers safe. In 2013, the rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers to the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 3.3 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers.

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INJURY PREVENTION IS A FULL-TIME JOB

Injury prevention is low on most employers’ list of things to do. But there is no topic more important to building a successful workplace. THOUSANDS OF WORKERS are injured on the job every year. Some of these injuries are serious and life threatening.

There are many ways a company can improve its injury prevention program. The increase in work-related injuries creates lower employee morale and retention, lost workdays, higher workers’ comp payouts and escalating health insurance costs. Not to mention, poor OSHA standing and potential litigation.

How can your business improve its injury prevention record?

LESS EXERTION MEANS FEWER CHANCES OF WORK INJURY

Complaints of work injuries from excessive lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying or throwing accounted for 26.8 PERCENT of the cost burden according to a report from Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index listing the top five causes of injuries for 2010. Investing in labor-saving devices to assist with these lifting tasks is one way to prevent these kinds of injuries. The problem is that’s not always possible due to cost, location or type of work. An athletic trainer could assist in providing training and technique to your workers. Plus, an athletic trainer’s rehabilitation skills substantially reduces absenteeism. Employee health programs with an athletic trainer double the odds of an employee returning to work after an injury within 3 weeks.52


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WORK RELATED INJURIES BEHIND THE DESK


Even workers who spend the majority of their time behind a desk can develop work-related injuries.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including those of the neck, upper extremities and low back, are leading causes of lost workday injury and illness. Exposure to these known risk factors for MSDs increases a worker’s risk of injury.45 This is another area where an athletic trainer’s expertise in injury prevention can pay dividends.

DON’T LET WORKPLACE INJURIES RUIN YOUR BOTTOM LINE


The national annual cost of occupational injuries and illnesses is estimated at around $250 billion.50 Companies that fail to adequately manage workplace safety and health perform far worse financially than those that do according to a recent study.47

An injury prevention strategy can turn this around. More than 60 percent of chief financial officers reported that each $1 invested in injury prevention returns $2 or more. More than 40 PERCENT of chief financial officers cited productivity as the top benefit of an effective workplace safety program.49

Investing in a workplace safety strategy that includes the addition of an athletic trainer can substantially improve your company’s bottom line.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS: REDUCING THE RISK OF INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE

Companies that employ athletic trainers report a decrease in costs associated with workplace injuries by more than 50 PERCENT.51 The unique combination of an athletic trainer’s skills in injury prevention, rehabilitation, education, and fitness/wellness can reduce workers’ compensation costs while promoting a healthier workforce.

In conjunction with a workplace physician, an athletic trainer can run an on-site clinic, thus reducing lost work spent traveling to off-site rehabilitation.

Athletic trainers are often able to address both work-related and non-work-related injuries on-site, with proper physician referral and supervision. Athletic trainers can play a critical role in prevention of injuries, rehabilitation and general safety in the workplace. Athletic trainers can help employers reach their safety goals and impact their bottom line.

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"Employers who invest in injury and illness prevention programs can expect significant cost savings in addition to reducing fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Workplace safety is not only the right thing to do for your workers; it's the right thing to do for your business."

- Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor46

"The high standard for care and treatment is deserving of the department’s police officers. Bringing together a new and innovative way to provide immediate care and response, while reducing costs involved with potential significant injuries is a win/win and a golden opportunity for all of us as stakeholders in the process."

- Teri Flynn, risk manager, Fairfax County, Virginia

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