The other day I speaking to Bob and he asked me to drop him a line.

 

After I'd emailed it off I thought I might touch it up a bit and send it round to everyone on my newsletter mailing list.

 

Bob works in a council, but the same principles apply in any workplace. The risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction is about the same whether you work inside or outside, whether you work in a manufacturing setting or an office.

 

To read it, scroll down.

 

In the mean time stay tuned, highly tuned and remember that organisations who can build a firewall between personally-induced body system dysfunctions and work-related injuries will do their staff a favour and save themselves an absolute fortune.

 

 

Regards

 

John Miller

(02) 6288 7703

 

 

---

 

Dear Bob

 

Good to talk to you a few minutes ago.

 

You mentioned that you've got a manual handling program in train. 

 

The context of my program is different. Its focus is more on people.

 

What I've found is that whilst manual handling is a big problem, it's not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is staff in bad shape; inparticular people lacking strength and flexibility.

 

Some time ago I ran some of my CrookBack Clinics for a group of council staff in Woop Woop.

 

I thought the people working outside would be in better shape than the people working inside.

 

I was wrong.

 

I was wrong because I thought they'd be more active. In the main they're not. They sit down on mowers, plant and trucks.

 

They don't exercise. They think they're 10 foot tall and bullet proof, but they can't do a sit up, can't do a pressup, can't touch their toes and are 25 kilos over weight. They're over 40 and still think that can do things 20 year olds can do. They can't. Nobody can unless that keep their level of fitness up.

 

They're already experiencing severe musculo-skeletal discomfort and lifting anything becomes the 'incident' that breaks the camel's back.

 

Of the people working inside, some of them can't even tap a keyboard or push a mouse without becoming dysfunctional! They too can't lack abdominal, arm and shoulder strength. Then they look around for someone to blame. The first thing that comes into view is the company's screen saver!

 

Rarely do they blame their own lack of strength and flexibility. 

 

It's no good blaming the plough if the ox is on it's last legs. And a lot of people are.

 

Any employer who hasn't put in train a proper musculo-skeletal risk management strategy is a soft, slow-moving target; a sitting duck. And you won't get much joy from the white coat professions. They'll all agree  with the employee that work Is to blame. 

 

That is unless you have in place a FIREWALL that prevents dysfunctions from becoming injuries.

 

 

Bad workmen have always blamed their tools - in the past they blamed the pick and shovel, now they blame the mouse, or a steering wheel! Either way, if you've got a firewall in place you won't fall for this swiftie.

 

WHAT I DO

So what I do is measure the risk of people becoming dysfunctional because of their lack strength and flexibility.

 

•	I let them know what the likely cause of their current dysfunction is.
•	I measure their risk and report it back to you with recommendations about what you can do to lower the risk.
•	I teach people the exercises they need to do to keep themselves in good shape - and for those who are dysfunctional - restore poor function to good.
•	You get people educated about the risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction and what they can do themselves to lower it. For some people a few simple exercises will fix them up in a few short weeks.
•	I help you develop and implement the risk management strategy.
•	You get the report and recommendations.
•	You get agreement from staff to do a few exercises in the workplace each day.
•	You get the agreement of people at grave risk to spend a couple of half hours a week in a decent strength and flexibility training program - a prehab program that you can also send your rehab cases along to.

 

 

In the sample audit report, 50 % of staff rated their musculo-skeletal condition as poor. That's a huge risk.

 

If you click on this link you can read more about the concept of setting up a firewall between dysfunctions and injuries.

If you click on this link you can read all about the CrookBack Clinic and what it involves.

 

Basically I can run 5, one and a half hour clinics in a day, each with 20 or so people.

 

You can read more about my approach to musculo-skeletal dysfunction and look at some of the exercises I recommend on this link.

 

 

(I don't like broadcasting the fee far and wide because it all depends on the time and the place. If like Bob you'd like to know what your investment is likely to be send me an email or give me a ring and I'll fill you in. But I can tell you one thing, done properly, all up it's about $30 a head.)

 

Participants receive a copy of my ebook 'How to Fix Up a  Crook Back.' You can download and have a look at it from this site.

 

The health of Australians is getting worse. It is affecting every workplace.

 

Workplaces think injuries are the problem. Maybe, but poor health, lack of fitness and lack of strength and flexibility is a far greater risk. As organisations have become safer they've also become more unhealthy. The cost is being covered up in safety budgets.

 

Organisations that don't make the distinction between health and safety are at risk of all health-related incidents being lumped into the safety bucket!

 

I run other programs - the most popular being

 

•  the Seven Habits of Fit and Healthy People

 

•  Work Life Balance and

 

•  Relaxation, Better Sleep, Fewer Headaches and More Energy.

 

Here are the details

 

http://www.millerhealth.com.au/programs/index.htm

 

The sessions last anywhere between an hour and, for the Seven habits, up to four hours. It lasts from between 2 hours and 4 hours depending on the time demands of the client.

 

Where-ever you're located I'll coming up your way soon and I'll be in your area, ready, willing and able to present seminars to your staff. Click here to view my travel arrangements over the next few months. If your area is not currently on my list, give me a call and we'll work something out.

 

And here's the promise. I reckon I can save you 50% on your workers compensation costs for musculo-skeletal dysfunction within 18 months.

 

Regards and best wishes.