Don't let your employees become working stiffs - employers should develop a program that encourages employees to stretch regularly to avoid repetitive motion injuries - Brief Article

Nation's Business, Sept, 1996 by Roberta Maynard

Repetitive-motion injuries - including back strain and carpal tunnel syndrom - can be significantly reduced by simply allowing workers to stretch their muscles periodically throughout the day, according to Mary Jo Drcar, director of occupational-safety training for Zee Service Co. The Willoughby, Ohio, firm provides first-air supplies and safety training.

Regular stretching - which warms tight muscles, keeping them flexible - benefits not just workers who have to bend, twist, and lift heavy objects on the job but also those who sit for long periods in the same position. Stretching is important all day long: at the beginning of a shift, when fresh workers are more likely to hurt themselves, and during a break later on, when tiredness has set in.

To start a simple safety program, Drcar says, a company should engage a knowledgeble person-such as a physical therapist, medical professional, or trainer - to address the group initially and to demonstrate stretches that are appropriate for different types of jobs.

The trainer should discuss the consequences of a serious injury as well as basic suggestions to follow, such as starting gradually, stretching regularly, and stopping if pain is felt, Drear says.

After the initial training, managers can provide periodic oral and posted reminders They should also evaluate their programs annually, Drcar recommends.

Commitment by top managers, she says, is the key to success for such a program. Workers must feel that taking brief stretching breaks as required - when they feel stiff - is not only accepted but encouraged.

Because each employee is different, Drcar recommends against a regimented program that allows breaks only at set times.