Most people simply don t know how to work correctly. As a result, our bodies experience innocent stresses caused by improper lifting and sitting techniques. These innocent stresses add up over time and wear the body down. They cause fatigue, discomfort, pain and to the unlucky injury. Nor can companies mandate the use of proper lifting, sitting and standing techniques.
Employees have to realize that they are responsible for their own health, Downing says.
In order to affect workers comp costs, you must change the behavior of the individual. This can be achieved through training that teaches people often for the first time how to use their own bodies in ways that are biomechanically correct. In reviewing the training that has historically been used, Downing says, we found that the information that was being provided was very good. But after observing employees on the job after training, we found there was zero effect. The information was not learned because it wasn t used.