Injury Prevention and Injury

Management

A system of processes that targets

workplace physical injury reduction

 

Workplace injuries are at least a

50 Billion dollar

annual problem in Australia

Work Safe Australia 2008

near near ZEROZERO - - Master DocumentationMaster Documentation

nearZERO - Injury Prevention and Injury Management

processes build a custom management system that lowers

the risk of physical injury in a work place

Hence the overall cost to the Employer and Insurer is tightly

managed and contained

The main aim of the nearZERO approach is simply to enable

workers to sustain their employment tasks at maximum physical

efficiency

If an injury does occur or develop then a comprehensive

management system is already in place

nearZERO processes produce a system that:processes produce a system that:

Incorporates existing health, safety and wellbeing programs

Focuses directly on each individual worker’s functional capability

Matches ability to the inherent requirements of tasks

Roles to be playedRoles to be played

In a successfully working nearZERO system three key roles are

well defined and performed:

o The nearZERO Workplace Co-ordinator (internal)

o The nearZERO Project Consultant (external)

o The nearZERO Technical Advisor (human movement expertise)

In a In a nearnearZERO ZERO system all Jobs:system all Jobs:

o Have been assessed for risks to a worker’s body (Physical

Demand Assessment – PDA)

o A functional (screening) test for every job has been designed

o Every worker’s functional results are considered against their

job’s PDA

Every worker for their job will have:Every worker for their job will have:

o A unique Risk Profile describing their physical capacity

o Risk Points assigned according to their functional test results

o The opportunity to lower their Total Risk Points by improving

their physical profile

Using the Using the nearZERO points system all workers are points system all workers are

assigned an overall category of risk for their job:assigned an overall category of risk for their job:

o Lower risk of injury

o Medium risk of injury

o Higher risk of injury

o Remediation required

o Conditional (new applicants)

For Effective Management:For Effective Management:

o The employer’s information system stores the results

o The personal Risk Rating is discussed with workers

o Workers are given assistance to improve their rating*

* Data exists for regular management reporting of company wide and individual risk levels

Targeted InterventionsTargeted Interventions  Three types of risk lowering interventions are delivered:

o Global: identified needs for a whole section of workers

o Sub Group: small groups of workers with common needs

o Individual: the needs are specifically known and unique

Injury Management:Injury Management:

 

Minor injury recovery can often be effectively guided by the

nearZERO Technical Advisor and local medical expertise

Major injury recovery may require external rehabilitation

expertise in a coordinated return to work plan

External Rehabilitation:External Rehabilitation:

The nearZERO Project Consultant has access to an Expert

Rehabilitation Panel drawn from number of disciplines and

able to work nationally

The Project Consultant may assist the nearZERO Workplace

Co-ordinator to ensure progress in rehabilitation delivery

Maintaining the SystemMaintaining the System 

Once the system is in place (Installation Phase complete) the

system’s integrity must be maintained (Maintenance Phase)

Audit* and Training Processes are by this time automatically

in place

* National and International Standards referenced where applicable

A final but most important question -A final but most important question -

Who are the winners in this process?Who are the winners in this process?

The Employer Saves: The Employer Saves:

o Down time - by not having to change work tasks

o Retraining time - by not redeploying good workers

o Recruitment time - by not having to replace workers

o Management time - lower injury rates require less management

o Premiums - by quantifying and lowering risk

Overall Productivity increases

The worker - Their livelihoods and health are more protected as

they know their body’s strengths and limitations. They know how

to improve their physical health and how to safely perform their

specific work tasks

Any union - The duty of care of their members increases. The facts

and not just conjecture are “on the table” at any time

Any Insurer - has very accurate information, including the

nearZERO risk points system and PDAs, giving more control

over all aspects of insuring and claims management

Any Medical Provider has their job made easier as they have

access to a worker’s Risk Profile and workplace PDA

In Summary: In Summary:

The Employer has cost effective and active management of

workers physical performance of their jobs.

Bottom Line: Bottom Line:

Productivity and Profitability ImprovedProductivity and Profitability Improved

Cost BenefitCost Benefit**

typically 6 to 10 times initial outlay

*Dependent on level of internal expertise nearZERO builds on existing internal capacity