A controlled case study of supervisor training to optimize response to injury in the food processing industry

Work. 2006;26(2):107-14.

Abstract

The role of supervisors to aid injured workers, access health care, and provide reasonable accommodation may prevent prolonged disability among workers reporting musculoskeletal pain. Although supervisor training has been a common element of broad-based ergonomic interventions to prevent injuries, the impact of supervisor training alone to improve injury response has not been studied. In a controlled design, 11 supervisors in an intervention group and 12 supervisors in a delayed intervention control group from the same plant were provided a 4-hour training workshop. The workshop emphasized communication skills and ergonomic accommodation for workers reporting injuries or health concerns. Workers' compensation claims data in the 7 months before and after the workshop showed a 47% reduction in new claims and an 18% reduction in active lost-time claims versus 27% and 7%, respectively, in the control group. Improving the response of frontline supervisors to employees' work-related health and safety concerns may produce sustainable reductions in injury claims and disability costs.

MeSH terms

  • Administrative Personnel / education*
  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Food-Processing Industry*
  • Humans
  • Inservice Training / organization & administration*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Health
  • Wounds and Injuries*