Presented by: Lee Gardiner, Leeder Health and Ravi Kolluru, WEL Networks at OHSIG 2014, Wednesday 10/9/14, NZI Room 5, 10.45am

1. The Benefits of Early Discomfort
Intervention
Lee Gardiner, Leeder Health
Dip.Phys. PGDip.Rehab. (Dist.) (Otago),
Adv Pract (Occ Health) MNZCP, MPNZ
and
Ravi Kolluru, IGC (NEBOSH), Grad Dip in OSH (Massey)
WEL Networks Limited
10 September 2014

2. The Benefits of Early Discomfort
Intervention
“A shift in attitude is necessary to ensure that employers and
employees recognise not only the importance of preventing ill
health, but also the key role the workplace can play in
promoting health and wellbeing ”
Dame Carol Black, 2002 from her review of the health of Britain’s
working age population.
10 September 2014

3. Discomfort & Injuries Are Seldom
Caused By One Thing
• Individual posture and body mechanics
• Fitness for work
• Fatigue
• Manual handling demands of job
• Individual work techniques, skills, competencies
• Perceived support from managers and peers
• Job Satisfaction

4. Wellness
Serious
Illness
Ill Health W
E
L
L
N
E
S
S
Discomfort Chronic
Injury
Panic Attacks Stress Muscular Pain Chronic Back
Pain
Burnout/
breakdown
Anxiety Fatigue OOS
Heart Attacks Depression Strains & Sprains Pain Disorders
Cancers Frequent
Infections
Tension
Headaches
Autoimmune
Disorders
High Blood
Pressure
Suicide Stomach
Disorders
© Lee Gardiner 2004

5. Safety Culture Wheel

6. Benefits of Early Management
 Savings of $3-7 for every $1 spent on health & safety
 Where we ran an EIC and a Stay Fit For Work programme the
injury rates for that site were 5 x lower than other sites with
similar type of work
 Early intervention of a carpal tunnel syndrome - $3K compared
to $22k if went onto surgery

7. Costs of Not Managing Early Discomfort
 For every $1 spent on direct injury costs, there are another $3-
5 indirect costs
 Accident or claim cost of $755 at 3% profit margin the
company needs $25,166 in additional revenue to offset the
cost of that one claim.
 Experience ratings and insurance premiums > 300% of going
rate
 High turnover of staff, and absenteeism
 Low morale, low productivity
 Bad employer label

8. The Cost of Presenteeism
 Loss of productivity when employees at work but not fully
functioning because of illness or injury.
 The cost of presenteeism nearly 4x cost of absenteeism.
 6 working days of productivity lost for each employee pa.
 Up to 45% less productivity if working with health condition
 Less likely to support colleagues or share knowledge

9. Early Intervention Clinic Model
 Encourages early reporting
 Early response
 Med level screening-differential diagnosis
 Focussed management
 Education and advice
 May need onward referral
 May need duties modification

10. How The Model Looks
 Run by an Occupational Health physiotherapist
 Regular “clinic” on site
 Criteria for entry agreed upon
 20 minute appointments
 Consent to assessment
 Differential assessment and diagnosis
 Advice/education/exercise/WSA
 Reporting & Follow up

11. Range of Conditions
 By body region-anywhere
 By condition
 Musculoskeletal-strains, sprains, sports, postural
 Headaches
 Rheumatoid Arthritis
 Ank Spond
 Polymyalgia
 Diabetes
 Anxiety/depression
 Age/work fitness
 Marriage breakup
 Vascular/cardiac
 Mental health issues

12. Side benefits
 Early detection of problems
 Prevents full blown injuries
 Message of “we care” & “you’re worth it”
 Less time off for treatment
 Strong self responsibility message
 “Added value” for employees
 Encourages trust to report problems
 Closer communication
 Dealing with aged workforce

13. WEL Networks
 In the business of providing the electricity to the
homes, businesses and farms in the Waikato region.
 Job is to build, operate and maintain the physical
network and the technological smarts which drive it.
 Over 5,200 kilometres of electricity lines servicing
over 85,000 connections
 Subsidiary WNL and UFF building a 3000km fibre
network across the central North Island.

14. WEL Networks (cont.)
 Around 100 field services staff employed – undertake
heavy to very heavy manual handling tasks on a daily
basis
 Mostly electrical tradesmen and some civil workers
 40% growth in the last five years
 Vegetation management division brought in-house.
 60% of all injury incidents are strains and sprains.

15. Number of Accepted Claims
Levy
Year
Total
Claims
Claims
Over
$500
Med
Fee
Weekly
Compe
nsation
Claims
2008 22 6 4
2009 21 5 1
2010 26 5 2
2011 36 3 1
2012 42 4 2
2013 38 2 1
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
All Claims Medical Fee Claims Over $500
Weekly Compensation Claims

16. Total Claim Costs
Levy
Year
All
Claims
Weekly
Compen
sation
Claims
2008 $160,423 $154,468
2009 $28,650 $24,182
2010 $65,139 $57,688
2011 $34,148 $27,305
2012 $9,099 3,364

17. Weekly Compensation Days
Levy
Year
No of
Weekly
Compen
sation
Days
No of
Weekly
Compen
sation
Claims
700
600
500
2008 679 4
400
2009 203 1
300
2010 448 2
200
2011 93 1
2012 143 2
100
2013 57 1 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

18. All Claims and Benchmark
Levy Year Benchmark/
Employer
Total Claim
Count
Cost per $10K
Liable Earnings
2008 Benchmark 220 84.00
Employer 22 146.33
2009 Benchmark 1103 79.16
Employer 21 23.58
2010 Benchmark 1161 41.26
Employer 26 49.11
2011 Benchmark 1193 34.71
Employer 36 23.18

19. 105
100
95
90
85
80
75
Field Services Productivity
2008 ~ 09 2009 ~ 10 2010 ~ 11 2011 ~ 12 2012 ~ 13 2013 ~ 14

20. Still Need To Encourage
 Correct clothing, tools & resources for the job
 Shift length and frequency
 Pace of work
 Rotation of tasks
 Induction process
 Training schedule
 Early reporting and action
 Access to good rehabilitation
 Commitment to H & S by the company and employees

21. Promote Lifestyle Management
Healthy Living
• Fitness for work
• Get enough sleep
• Annual heath checks
• Regular Exercise
– Stretches
– Core stability
– Heart/lung fitness
• Work life balance
• Healthy eating
• Weight management

22. Prevention Is Still The Best Medicine
Stay Workfit Work Safely Stay Healthy
Flexibility Hazard ID Stress
management
Strength Correct manual handling
skills
Physical fitness
Stability Use the right equipment
& tools
Nutrition &
hydration
Endurance Pace yourself

23. Questions please