The following is a case study based on real Kapnick clients about how poor office ergonomics were impacting a client’s workers’ compensation claims and premium costs.
THE PROBLEM
A Kapnick client with a large office staff kept having significant workers’ compensation claims due to repetitive strain injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tendinitis from a number of employees. These injuries not only drove up their work comp costs, they also caused absenteeism and presenteeism and increased health care costs and disability claims.
The Kapnick Risk Solutions team investigated and performed a site visit. They discovered computer workstations with poor ergonomic setups, including desks that were too low or too high, poorly aligned computer monitors, and armless computer chairs.
THE NUMBERS
An OSHA study showed that simply engineering an environment for proper ergonomics could eliminate 26% of ergonomic-related injuries. If workers’ compensation claims were costing our client $100,000 annually, then simply evaluating, analyzing, and redesigning employees’ workstations to have properly aligned desks, chairs, monitors, and keyboards could save $26,000. It could also prevent loss time at work, days away from work, and health care claims, while promoting safety.
THE SOLUTION
RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Using our risk management process, we were able to provide proactive solutions and help our client drive down their work comp claims through small investments in office equipment to ergonomically engineer the office environment
KAPNICK RISK SERVICES CENTER
Utilizing Kapnick Risk Services Center, the client is able to easily provide ongoing employee education on the benefits of proper ergonomics to prevent strain and injuries.
