A word from the CEO
Brigitte Fontaine, Occupational therapist, McGill 1994
Masters Health Care Administration, SUNY, NY 2002
Employee-related injuries are unfortunately common. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 2.8 million non fatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by US private industry employers in 2019, with an incidence rate of 2.8 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. Overexertion and bodily reaction, which includes injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, and carrying was the leading event at 31% of all cases.
Nevertheless, non-physical office workers are just as likely to suffer musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders than non-office workers, according to the National Safety Council. The most common identified cause is poor ergonomics. Probably even more significant are the bio-psycho-social interactions between physical symptoms, mental health, and other issues that are often involved in disability. The incidence rate of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work for office and administrative support workers was 69.9 cases per 10 000 full time workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Safety Council, translating to 163,9 billion US Work Injury Costs in 2020 , and 99,000,000 total work days lost.
Behind these staggering numbers, the human tragedy of 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses worldwide annually, according to the International Labor Organization. We are facing a long-term trend of tight labor markets, and we will need the participation of as many healthy employees as we can.
As an occupational therapist with a master’s degree in healthcare management and 25 years experience in the US and Canada, I know that we can do much better. By identifying individualized targeted interventions and optimizing work assignments prior to a disabling situation, employers can positively impact employee health and safety. To learn more on how MedTechnologies software solutions can significantly reduce the burden of work-related injuries and adverse health outcomes for your employees:
