Playing it safely: Liberty Mutual's Research Institute for Safety—celebrating its 50th birthday this month—has been at the forefront of the battle against occupational injuries in the United States. In the next 50 years, it will continue to flex its muscles around the world

Risk & Insurance, June, 2004 by Michelle Kerr

The rationale behind it is simple. "What we get paid for--the end result--is to bring down losses," explains Wayne Maynard, director of ergonomics and tribology for the Liberty Mutual Group. Maynard works closely with researchers to translate the Institute's work into practical applications that loss prevention engineers in the field can use to help Liberty Mutual's customers achieve their loss reduction goals.

A HAVEN FOR EXCELLENCE

While the Institute's work may give Liberty Mutual certain advantages in the marketplace, that is far from its "raison d'etre." Leamon and the Institute's research staff are an intense crew, dedicated to the prevention of workplace injuries and to the advancement of their science.

It's easy to see why brilliant minds from around the world would be drawn to LMRIS. Researchers are free to explore all relevant questions and test theories, thanks to a support staff and plenty of resources. The politics of academia are non-existent. Obstacles are typically temporary. No tool or measuring device exists to gauge the problem? No worries, they'll design it and produce it themselves.

An even greater draw for some researchers is that the Institute allows them the opportunity to take their work a step farther than they might be able to in a more academic setting. They are able to witness the fruits of their labors mad see how the work is applied to real-life settings in order to help people.

Explains Pransky, "One very exciting thing about working here is you really have the chance to start with an observation or theory, confirm your findings, and then complete an intervention, figure out how to make that intervention work and see the effects of it applied."

And of course, publish the results.

"We aggressively pursue publication," Leamon says. "That really gets to the crux of this place. It's why we do what we do. We have no revenue stream, so the only value we generate is by establishing Liberty Mutual as the leader in global safety and health. So all of our findings, we share with everyone. Once people understand what we're doing, we become more valuable to customers."

The fact that all research is peer-reviewed is key, explains Leamon, because it helps the Institute preserve its credibility. Otherwise, findings might be vulnerable to claims that researchers tweaked their results to appease the customers whose operations were the subject of a given study.

FEEDING THE CURIOUS MIND

Speaking with researchers about their respective fields of expertise and their current projects, one can just about reach out and touch the enthusiasm in the air. And why not? They have cool toys to play with. Sure, the work that's conducted in the Institute's labs is all quite serious. But it's a safe bet that it's never a bore.

In the biomechanics lab, for example, a dozen infrared cameras are part of the optic- and magnetic-based motion tracking systems.

They are used along with forceplates, a specially designed treadmill, a virtual reality helmet and software programs to study the mechanics of muscular activity and the effects of stress on bodies during tasks involving pushing and pulling, walking and carrying.