1795 Henderson Hwy, P.O. Box 28060, RPO North Kildonan, Winnipeg, MB
Phone: (204) 471-5668 | Fax: (204) 478-6677 | info@indep.ca

Posts Tagged ‘Working Well Program’

Putting Health First With Our Working Well Program

Posted by Victor Andres

Patient doing some exercises under supervision“Health first”. This is a common idiom uttered by nearly all of us. And it’s likely that it’s become such a popular term due to its sheer obviousness. It’s true, isn’t it? Our health does come first. Because without our health, what else would we have? Clearly, it’s not possible to truly enjoy life without being able to live every day pain and illness-free. And it’s certainly not possible to be able to function adequately at work when there are health issues.

It goes without saying that your workforce is important to you. The fine individuals that make up your staff are the lifeblood of your business. They help for your company to function on a daily basis, and without them, your brand’s operations would cease to exist. Therefore, as a business owner, “health first” is an idiom that you also take seriously as it relates to your employees. At Independence Incorporated, we strongly support that way of thinking.

Our “Working Well Program” is designed to assist businesses with implementing the best practices possible to ensure that health and safety are key components to the working environment. We have devised a plan to address the health concerns of your team so that we can prevent injuries, manages stress and provide early intervention of musculoskeletal injuries. Our multidisciplinary team consists of a Registered Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Physiotherapist. And here’s what they provide.

1. Injury Prevention. “Knowledge is power” is yet another idiom that’s been thrown out there to connote how important it is to be educated about the issues that affect our everyday lives. In many cases, staff members require information to be delivered to them about the various ways that injuries can be prevented on the job. Our program’s education and training seminars go a long way in educating your team about the many ways to keep safe on the job.

2. Worker Wellness Support. Naturally, we expect to minimize the number of injuries that occur in the workplace with all of the education that our program provides. However, there is always the possibility that an injury can occur. And, of course, some jobs present more dangers than others. Our In-House Physiotherapy Programme works to rehabilitate those who have suffered injuries in order to promote a more speedy recovery.

3. Work-Flow Improvement. Sometimes, the biggest risks to our health and safety are found in the machinery, tools, supplies and materials that are being used in the workplace. Our program seeks to identify improper and unsafe body mechanics and provide feedback that serves to correct particular issues that may be deemed as dangerous. By making particular changes in the workplace, we strive to improve the overall safety conditions for all of your employees.

4. Work Re-Entry Support. As you know, there are some injuries that will require employees to take time off of work. In such cases, it may be necessary to facilitate an adequate work re-entry program. This way, the employee can experience a smoother transition when coming back to work after a prolonged absence due to injury or illness. By putting health first, your company will be given the opportunity to foster a stronger staff and therefore, a stronger business.

Your business is important to you. That goes without saying. So it should also go without saying that your employees are very important to you as well. At Independence Incorporated, we work to ensure that your team is well taken care of. And that helps to take care of your business. For more information on our “Working Well Program”, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly by calling 204-474-2228 or emailing victor@indep.ca.

6 Ways To Ensure That Your Workplace Is A Safe One

Posted by Victor Andres

construction safety conceptIf there’s something that we can all agree on – most of us, anyway – it’s that nothing is more important than our health and safety. This is why it’s incumbent upon all of us to do our best to practice safety measures in our daily lives. The old parent-taught adage of “always look both ways before you cross the street” rings true for us all no matter our ages. So when it comes to being on the job, there’s no reason to stop taking care.

In fact, practicing safety at work is more than mandatory. Naturally, employers want their employees to work in an environment that promotes high levels of productivity. And that requires a workspace that is safe and fun to conduct business in. According to health specialist, Langdon Dement on EHSToday.com, “thousands of workers are injured on the job every year.” So what can you do to ensure your workplace is a safe one? Here are six top suggestions.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you can’t reach something, if something is too heavy, if you’re unsure of how to manoeuvre around something (you get the picture), simply request assistance. Dement writes that injuries due to bending, climbing, reaching, standing, sitting, slipping or tripping without falling are incredibly common. When one overexerts him or herself, it is bound to lead to some type of injury. Get help instead.

2. Be prepared for a fire. People tend to not take fire drills very seriously. Often, they’ll stroll through the doors while having casual conversations with their co-workers. That doesn’t mean that your business shouldn’t be conducting fire drills. WikiHow.com states that “fires are potentially devastating occurrences, putting many businesses, especially restaurants, in jeopardy”. The site also insists that you make sure that working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are always installed.

3. Be mindful of where you walk. Yes, it may sound like a no-brainer to “watch your step”. But taking your surroundings for granted can often lead to injury. Dement writes that being struck by an object has accounted for 8 per cent of workplace injuries and $4.10 billion in direct costs, based on the 2012 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. He recommends implementing policies that include the wearing of hardhats, glasses and goggles to protect workers in certain environments.

4. Clearly mark potential safety concerns with the proper signage and instructions. WikiHow.com provides us with this pertinent advice: “If an electrician is rewiring an area of the workplace, or if a crew is doing construction on a piece of railing, inform your employees by memo and by placing an appropriate, visible sign near where the potential hazard could occur. Don’t assume that people are smart enough to act accordingly. Spell it out for them very clearly.”

5. Maintain proper housekeeping. Who doesn’t like a tidy place? Keeping your office clean isn’t just great for aesthetics, it makes things safer. Dement writes that falling is among the top five ways that employees get injured on the job. The solution? “Proper housekeeping is one way to reduce injuries from falls,” he writes, “Keeping your work area clean and clutter-free is very important in preventing these kinds of injuries.”

6. Have an easily accessible first aid kit in the office. No matter what, accidents are bound to happen. So unfortunately, you won’t be able to prevent them all from taking place. However, you can certainly minimize the damage done by having help nearby. WikiHow.com recommends that you “consider investing in first-aid training or, at the very least, a first aid kit. First-aid training won’t keep the accident from happening in the first place, but it could help keep any injuries incurred during an accident from getting out of control.”