Early intervention strategies to manage workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been proven to significantly decrease injury rates and worker’s compensation claim costs within a business.
What is Early Intervention?
Australian research published in 2016 outlines effective early injury intervention as:
- Immediate access to onsite clinical physiotherapy services
- Occupational interventions
- Suitable duties prescribed if required
- Ergonomic redesign
- Work rotation or modified work pace
- Training or education
Where is it Used Already?
Employ Health has successfully implemented early intervention programs in workplaces across Australia in the following industries:
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing
- Food Processing
- Meat Processing
Organisations such as Work Cover QLD and Com Care outline the importance of having an early intervention program in place. Businesses have been able to save on their worker’s compensation premiums by up to 61% utilising this model. Despite the successes of early intervention programs delivered by physiotherapists in the workplace, there are limitations to being able to provide this type of service for all workers.
How can early intervention be applied for lone, remote, rural, mobile and shift workers?
Barriers have been identified by Employ Health for the provision of early injury intervention services to lone, remote, rural, mobile and shift workers. A value that we pride ourselves on at Employ Health is that of being game changers and have therefore taken on the challenge of delivering a service to these workers. The current model of early injury intervention requires a on the physical presence of the physiotherapist This is often not feasible for the workers we have identified as at risk of injury. International and Australian research has demonstrated that physiotherapy delivered telephone triage and assessment services can effectively manage acute injury both in the community and in the workplace. Based on this research and the experience of our team Employ Health have created a rapid response telephone service to address workplace injury. The service is delivered by Employ Health physiotherapists. The logistics of such a service and the research that supports it will be the topic of our next blog. If you’d like more information please contact us at admin@employhealth.com.au.
