Opening the Mind to Advance Safety and Health

By William Atkinson

Two of Strategic Safety Associates' satisfied clients discuss the powerful effects of MoveSmart training in their workplaces.

The BP Operations Center is Wamsutter, WY, is on of the largest producing natural gas fields in the nation. It also has one of the most impressive safety records. "We have gone 20 years without a lost-time accident," claims Don Burkhart, senior safety engineer. One reason for the success is a stable, mature workforce.

"Until we went through a recent expansion, we hadn't hired a new employee in 16 years," Burkhart says. "Employees stay with us."

While this stability has many benefits, it also presented a challenge to management. "As any workforce ages, the risks for back and other ergonomic problems begin to increase, even when they follow safety procedures, as our employees always do," he explains.

"We hadn't had any such problems, but we wanted to take some steps to prevent them from occurring in the future."

So, Burkhart began looking around for a program, but didn't find anything too appealing. "I've been in safety since 1970, so I have become pretty jaded to the traditional 'back safety' programs," he explains. "They all seem to be about the same."

Three years ago, Burkhart heard about Strategic Safety Associates through a colleague at another company. "I met with Robert Pater, who demonstrated some of the techniques they though," he says. "I realized that this was something that could really work for us."

Burkhart was so impressed, in fact, that he encouraged the management to offer the program throughout the whole business unit, which was comprised of seven operations centers. Having no previous ergonomic injuries, it was difficult to measure success by a reduction in injuries. However, Burkhart knew the program was valuable in other ways. "I found employees were using the techniques on their own, and they also reported no feeling as tired or worn out at the end of each day," he declares. "In fact, many of them asked for even more training in the techniques because they enjoyed them so much."

What really surprised Burkhart, though, was the fact that, when it came time to find people in the organization to become trainers (for a "train the trainer" program), a number of operations supervisors approached him and volunteered to become trainers. "When first-line supervisors ask to become safety instructors, you know you've got something special," he reflects.

Jeff Burke, manager of health and safety, Ryerson Tull Coil Processing, Chicago, is so impressed with MoveSmart training that he has introduced it in the last three companies he's worked. "I bring it with me to each new employer," he explains.

In the last three months of 2000, employees at Ryerson Tull suffered nine injuries that were related to the issues that MoveSmart covers. "We began MoveSmart training in January 2001, and had no related injuries the first four months of the year," he says.

While the training was mandatory, usage of the techniques is not, but this hasn't been a problem. "Employees use them because they like them," he says. "They like the immediate results related to feelings of strength and balance. They also like the idea that they can use the techniques off the job, such as when they play golf or racquetball."

Employees even report teaching the techniques to family members, including their children who play sports such as soccer.

The idea that the training works around the clock is particularly appealing to Burke. "As far as we are concerned, it doesn't matter whether an employee is injured at home or work. He or she is still hurt."
A lot of employees, of course, were skeptical at first. However, after the training, they immediately began to feel the difference. "The program doesn't teach them that there is a right or wrong way to do a job," Burke adds. "It teaches them that there is a better way."

Reprinted by permission, Safety + Health magazine

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