Eoghan McKenna - Logic Health - Essential steps in designing a health & injury prevention program to reduce workers compensation premiums

Logic Health. It makes sense

5 Essential considerations to implementation of a musculoskeletal or

cardiovascular risk reduction program



My Background



Background


In the past ten years there has been a significant increase in workforce cardiovascular & musculoskeletal programs, in the form of health & wellbeing programs and injury prevention programs.


Outline1) Essential Research

2) Designing Metrics

3) Collecting Baseline

4) Implementation

5) Measuring Success



Outline

“While health and wellbeing programs are flourishing in the workplace and the breadth of the programs being implemented is wide, it is not always the case that their planning, design, implementation and evaluation is based on best practice”.

Effective Health & Wellbeing Programs – Australian Government Comcare, 2010



Why“The increase in preventable disease and workplace injury resulting from unhealthy living and low levels of physical activity are a major cause of workplace absence or disruptions. Many workplaces are reporting high levels of sick leave, high staff turnover, high staff stress levels, poor job satisfaction, workplace accidents & reduced productivity.

ACT Work Safety Commissioner, 2009,

Premiers Physical Activity Council, Tasmania 2007



WhyEmployees are a companies greatest asset.

It is estimated that we spend about 50% of our waking life at work.

Therefore it is an ideal setting to improve population cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.

In order of importance, the workplace is matched only by the education system as the most significant setting to address chronic disease and promote wellness.

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003

Klein, D. (2005). The Case for Corporate Health and Well-being Programs. www.cch.com.au



Why



Why – Cardiovascular Risk


3 in 5Australian adults are overweight or obese. That's over 12 million people!

1 in 4

Australian children are overweight or obese.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/


Why – Cardiovascular Risk


Over 30%more people living in outer regional and remote areas are obese than people living in major cities. FIFO workforce.

3rd placeOverweight and obesity is only beaten by smoking and high blood pressure as a contributor to burden of diseasehttp://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/


Why – Musculoskeletal Risk


Sprains & strains of joints & adjacent muscles alone accounting for 42% of all serious claims, with an average claim cost of $33,034 (SRCC 2009). A mental stress claim on average costs 4.5 times more than a body stressing claim.

Ageing workforce (48% of seafarers are over 45yrs or older and they accounted for 59% of accepted claims)- Seafarers

WorkSafe Australia Compendium of Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics Australia 2010–11


Why – Musculoskeletal Risk


Manual handling mechanisms (Muscular stress while lifting objects and Muscular stress while handling objects) resulted in 33% of all serious claims in 09/10

Median time lost from work has risen 17% from 3.6 working weeks to 4.2 weeks

WorkSafe Australia Compendium of Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics Australia 2010–11


1. Essential Research



Essential Research-Best Practice“Best practice programs are;

• Well planned,

• Designed and developed with very strong ownership and input from workers,

• Are targeted at the stated needs of workers,

• Are suitable for the workplace environment,

• Are implemented and managed within a strong OHS policy framework, and

• They are regularly monitored and evaluated”

Effective Health & Wellbeing Programs – Australian Government Comcare, 2010



Essential ResearchBuilding the foundations of a program is arguably the most important consideration. Must be robust and well planned, this stage may take longer than expected.

• Know your why

• Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic & timely)

• Get support

• Multi-dimensional focus



Know your why

Why do you want to implement a program?

What do you want to achieve?

• Current pain (injuries, increased absenteeism, high turn over)

• Increase social standing,

• Decrease workers compensation premiums

• Proactive approach

You must identify where organisation factors, not just employee factors, contribute to poor cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.



SupportSenior Management –

Management support for both the program and participants is essential, as well as their active participation. HAPIA suggests that senior management support is critical to building and sustaining successful programs.

The wellness council of America states that “when CEO’s value healthy lifestyles and openly practice good health habits, the rest of the organisation is likely to follow in their footsteps. This does not mean they need to be a marathoner it means they just need to value and protect health & wellbeing.



SupportHAPIA suggests roles that must be embraced by senior leadership

1) Creating the vision

2) Gaining Budget & resource commitment

3) Sharing the vision

4) Serving as a role model

5) Rewarding success



Tips for Managment SupportTo gain management support provide evidence of the issue/pain and the benefits/ROI of the program.

You could do this by:

• Developing a written business case proposal on why it makes good sense

• Deliver a presentation on the benefits on investing in a program and potential ROI

Healthier Workplaces W.A have a template to use.


Tips for Managment SupportYour ROI needs to outline the current cost of your pain. For example if you want to implement an musculoskeletal risk reduction program you can estimate the cost of an injury using

Worksafe Queensland calculator

Utilise your insurance broker to discuss potential ROI on musculoskeletal & cardiovascular health and possible contributions.

For health costs there are numerous ROI calculators such the one on health workplaces WA.


Tips for Managment Support






SupportKey Stakeholders – HSE, HR, Brokers/Insurers

This needs to be embraced by each stakeholder and have their active participation. For example a musculoskeletal program needs to have:

• HR form a robust pre-employment and return to work process and procedure,

• HSE’s actively involved in risk identification and elimination.

• Brokers/Insurance: Rebates & Assistance

Ensure departments work together not fragmented. They must embrace the synergies.



Essential ResearchEmployees

What would employees like to see and would they be happy to contribute to some of the initiatives? For example paying a reduced fee for lunchtime resistance band sessions by an external provider.

Introduce the concept and conduct a needs analysis – Small focus groups, surveys, workplace environmental audits (facilities).

Does the work environment actually support a program?



Essential ResearchBudget – Identify your budget – Management, Broker/Insurer, Employees

What external resources exist that can be implemented?

• Safe Work Australia

• PERFORM Program

• Live Lighter

• Healthier Workplaces WA

Does not need to be expensive, utilisation of government resources and funding from broker/insurer can assist.

Can you cost share with your neighbours?



Essential Research

Once you have buy in from all levels you need to start designing your program. It must include elements from employee feedback and it also has to relevant, realistic and easy to access.

• Establish a vision, clear goals and objectives

• Design a calendar – Plan how to best implement the program.

• Have a staged approach

• Have champions & a committee – They must be allocated time.

• Don’t just focus on the employee must address (Environmental, Cultural, Policy)



Relevant & Realistic

What is wrong with teaching people how to lift safely?

For example “bend your knees keep your back straight”



2 & 3 Designing & Collecting Metrics



Designing & Collecting MetricsMajority of programs implemented are not measured therefore they can not be optimised.

Very hard to have sustainability and success if not supported by metrics.

According to HAPIA evaluation is the cornerstone of best practice workplace health programs. It enables you to identify success and ensure the program meets the needs of the workforce.



Designing & Collecting Metrics

Metrics should be directed by what you want to target– If your issues are increasing sprain and strain injuries you need to decide on metrics specific to this for example duration, cost of claim, severity etc.



Metric ConsiderationsAre your metrics cost effective?

Are they lagging?

Do you need to engage outside support or input?

Do measurement tools already exist?

For example Government resources that put a dollar value on the metrics.

• Ache, Pain Discomfort Questionnaires

• Active Australia Survey

• Workers Compensation Premiums

• Perception Mapping

• Healthier Workplaces WA calculator



Designing & Collecting MetricsHR – Absenteeism, Turn Over, Pre-Employment scores

HSE – Manual Handling Audits conducted and musculoskeletal risks eliminated, procedures reviewed and or changed

Staff participation rates



Designing & Collecting Metrics1. Ensure a regular, comprehensive, systematic evaluation process

has been documented.

2. Carry out ongoing evaluation of program goals and objectives.

3. Identify opportunities for improvement in the program

4. Provide feedback on a regular basis to continually improve the program.



Designing & Collecting Metrics5. Assess if the program is attracting the volume of participants

that it intended.

6. Assess the overall worker and management satisfaction with the program.

7. Identify the health outcomes (behaviours and status) of the program against measurable criteria.



4. Implementation



Implementation - RelevantOnce you have management support this process is a lot simpler

Program must be relevant and realistic –

A health program for a labour intensive workforce that promotes physical activity as the major step in improving health will struggle to be successful. The focus needs to be nutrition.

Having an injury prevention program for a construction workforce that focuses on bending your knees and keeping your back straight as the most important way to mitigate injuries will struggle to get traction with employees.



Implementation - Inclusive

You must involve all stakeholders – An injury prevention program cannot be successful if the sole focus is education. You need to have :

• HR input in the pre-employment process and they need to understand the musculoskeletal risks of the jobs they recruit for as well as the implications of injured workers.

• HSE input into polices, procedures, job demand assessments etc



Implementation -PromotionHold a program launch such as a lunch BBQ or Breakfast:

An event to announce the commencement of the program raises awareness about the program and its activities

within the organisation. Seeking the support of your most senior manager, or respected guest speaker, can add a sense of occasion

Newsletters: Provide information and promote activities in

newsletters, online and in employee emails. Send reminders about up and coming activities and events

Send letters home: Incorporating the family is a powerful tool



Engagement & SustainabilityIncentives and rewards: Offering incentives and rewards for participation can help motivate employees to get started in the program, and may assist with maintaining their motivation over the long term.

Integrate community resources & organisations: Build relationships with government bodies, NGO’s and external clubs

Simplicity - clear outline of benefits and how to participate

HAPIA – Best Practice Guidelines, Workplace Health in Australia

Healthy Workplace Guide – Ten Steps to implementing a workplace health program



Engagement & SustainabilityPrivacy and confidentiality – alleviate concerns of data ownership and access

Goals – setting specific goals (e.g. raising money for charity

Cost - free or cost-sharing basis to foster commitment & buy in

Support – peer (e.g. buddy systems), management or professional support (e.g. coaching), and extension to family members (where appropriate)



Implementation• What resources are you going to utilise and are they readily

accessible to staff?

• Weekly Committee meetings

• Constant promotion and usage of resources and technology

• Workforce buy in.

• Gold standard programs have participation rates of around 60%

You must identify where organisation factors, not just employee factors, contribute to poor cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.



Implementation

Tips

• Utilise free resources

• Apply for funding

• Incorporate the family

• Have a staged approach

• Run competitions



5. Measuring Success• Repeat of collecting baseline

• This may simply be collating statistics that are kept along the way.

• Needs to be the same process, assessments & participation.

• The results need to be utilised to enhance and analyse the program

• Must report to stakeholders

• Translate into a ROI



Further Resources• HAPIA

• WELCOA

• Work Safe Australia

• Healthier Workplaces WA

• Live Lighter



Thank YouEoghan McKenna

0409 201 482

Logic Health

[email protected]


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Eoghan McKenna - Logic Health - Essential steps in designing a health & injury prevention program to reduce workers compensation premiums