Effectiveness of a Workplace Risk Assessment Team in Reducing the Rate, Cost, and Duration of Occupational Injury

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a consultative workplace risk assessment team in reducing the rate and severity of injury among cleaners within a 600-bed hospital. Cohorts of Cleaning Services and Orderly Services staff ever employed within both a 4-year preintervention and a 3-year postintervention period were assigned to the intervention and comparison groups, respectively. The date, compensation claims' cost, and hours lost from work were obtained for each injury during the study period. Age, gender, work experience, and hours worked were ascertained for every subject whether injured or not. Reductions of two thirds in injury rate, 73% in cost rate, and 43% in duration rate were evident in the intervention group. In comparison, the orderlies experienced a postintervention increase in all three rates. The success of the workplace risk assessment team intervention supports the adoption of a participatory approach to reducing the rate and consequence of workplace injury.

Effects of organisational-level interventions at work on employees’ health: a systematic review

“…Ten studies introduced changes in the material and organisational conditions, 16 studies concentrated on organisational conditions, whereas eight studies emphasised on the time conditions of work. Three studies comprised all three types of working conditions and reported statistically significant effects on burnout and injury prevention [45-47]. The changes implemented by these interventions included staffing processes, work reorganisation, training, ergonomics, assessment of factors relating to iterative injuries, and control processes.…”

“…If the results of each intervention study are compared according to their level of evidence, three out of four high-evidence studies did not report significant intervention effects [37,54,55], whereas 14 out of 25 medium evidence level studies reported significant improvements of health-related outcomes, such as ischemic heart disease risk [56], burnout [45,46,57,58], lost time injury [47], perceived health [59], blood pressure [60], decreased mental distress and better sleep [61], reduction of sick-leave length [49], back-pain related lost working days [50], eczema incidence [53], and mental health [62]. Finally, four out of ten low evidence studies reported statistically significant changes in outcomes such as self-rated health [63] and injury rates [48,52,64].…”

Interventions to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders

“…Among health care workers, Carrivick [7] reported significant improvements in workers compensation rates, lost time and costs for cleaners where manual handling risks were addressed. In the orderlies control group there was an increase in these three indicators.…”

Prevention of injuries at work: the role of the occupational physician

“…The overall impression is that objective measures such as rates, costs and duration of OI, in various settings are affected especially when comprehensive programs are implemented. Therefore, there is ample space for improvement in this field and OP should play an active role (Carrivick et al 2002; European Agency for Safety and Health at Work 2001b; Goldenhar and Schutle 1994;Guastello 1993;Krause et al 2001;Shannon et al 2001;Sparks and Cooper 1993).…”