So What’s Your Company’s Five Year Plan...for Ergonomics?

Craft-Co Enterprises in Morton, Mississippi manufactures wiring harnesses and switch assemblies for Ford, Saturn and GM. On March 22, 2000 Craft-Co became a member of the Mississippi Manufacturers’ Association Workers’ Compensation Group, MMAWCG. The Loss Control Representative who provides service for the MMAWCG visited with Craft-Co management and observed that Repetitive Motion claims were the leading cause of injury among the over 300 personnel employed at the facility. Craft-Co acted decisively and enlisted the help of Leigh Buckner who is an Occupational Therapist and Ergonomic Specialist. Leigh’s services are provided at no additional charge to members of the MMAWCG because the group understands that MSD’s or Musculoskeletal Disorders are a costly problem for most manufacturers. Leigh received full management commitment and began awareness and preventative exercise training with supervisors and employees on a regular basis. Management adopted work rotation schedules and improved work areas as recommended by Leigh in her ongoing Ergonomic Assessments.

The results were astounding! In 2000 Repetitive Action claims accounted for 98% of the total Workers’ Compensation costs and by 2003 they were down to only 14%. How surprising was it to find out that in 2005 there were NO Repetitive Action claims at all!

Now I can hear the voices out there screaming “Great story, but it took five years! My injury and illness rates are high now!” If you contact your Loss Control consultant he can provide other things that might help a little in the here and now. But let’s face it, unless you don’t intend to be in business five years from now there’s no reason not to commit to an aggressive ergonomics program today.

Scott C. Anderson
Loss Control Consultant,CCMSI