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

"So that is what drives me. Six million injuries a year in this country and nobody else is working on that? It's the same in every country. My goal is to elevate occupational injury to the place it should be."

50 Years of Progress

1954: Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. opens the Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health. Initial research focused on automobile safety, industrial lifting tasks, preventing slips and falls, and developing prosthetics.

1959-1961: The center introduces two prototype "survival cars.'

The Survival Car I and II, developed in collaboration with Cornell University, pioneered and tested many innovative automobile safety features, including a wrap-around dashboard, anti-whiplash headrests, a collapsible steering wheel and safety belts. Many of these early efforts evolved into standard automobile safety features.

1961: The Research Center develops the Boston Elbow prosthesis, In conjunction with Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Research Center designed the first myoelectrically controlled Prosthesis to improve the lives of victims with arms amputated above the elbow.

1964: Driver trainers attend the first Research Center Skid School.

The first Skid School for driver, trainers was held on the center's three-acre driving range. This program became the basis for today's "Decision Driving" program that includes a complement of training vehicles for use on the center's skid pan and driving range, as well as classroom facilities to educate driver trainers.

1980s: The center begins conducting a series of psychophysical studies of common, workplace tasks involving repetitive motion of the upper extremities. The studies involved female Subjects performing simulated industrial tasks as researchers collected data and pain ratings. The information obtained from these studies help formulate guidelines for such tasks in actual industrial settings.

1993: Vehicle Braking Technique Evaluation Apparatus receives U.S. patent. This device measures and quantifies a driver's performance during vehicle operation. The apparatus helps to train drivers in proper braking techniques.

1994: The Research Center adds 16,000 square feet of laboratory space.

With 26,000 square feet of research-dedicated space, the center expands its research programs and staff. Twelve doctoral-level researchers boost the center's ability to provide science-based solutions for workplace safety and health concerns.

1994: Hearing Protection Device Evaluation Apparatus receive U.S. patent.

This portable-device determines the noise attenuation of a muff-type hearing protection device worn by workers in noisy environments.

1997: Researchers develop the portable Whole Body Vibration Meter. This portable field evaluation meter enables service providers to collect vibration measurements and compare this data to standards set by the American National Standards Institute and the International Standards Organization.

1999: The center restructures to form two units: the Center for Safety Research and the Center for Disability Research. Resources are devoted to the Center for Disability Research to study return-to-work issues, without neglecting research on the causes and prevention of occupational accidents and injuries through the Center for Safey Research.