Employee participation in an on-site stretching programa case study in a central Wisconsin manufacturing company

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders are the single most controllable injury in today’s work place. Musculoskeletal disorders are also costing the most lost time workers compensation dollars and have been the leading work place injuries for the past five years. One strategy to reducing such injuries is the implementation of a work conditioning, on-site stretching program in the work place. However, in order for such a program to be implemented and maintained successfully, it is important to learn a number of things about the employees who will be participating in such a program. It is important to learn what motivates employees to participate in such a program, and to discover the attitudes regarding the perceptions of responsibility for conditioning programs among management and employees in relation to work conditioning programs. A review of the literature indicates that many companies have realized significant cost-savings through the implementation of simple ergonomic adjustments and the initiation of on-site stretching programs. The literature also indicates a number of motivating factors that serve to encourage or discourage employees from participating in exercise programs, perceptions of the influencing factors on the causes of musculoskeletal pain and also individual perceptions of health status as correlated with exercise activity. This case study will also explore employee and management opinions on responsibilities for health promotion activities, on-site stretching programs and general work place safety. It is believed that a good understanding of these opinions will be instrumental in the implementation process of an on-site stretching program.