New Berlin company reduces costs through proactive safety measures
Six years ago, the management team at Industrial Towel and Uniform in New Berlin decided to take a different approach to their Worker’s Compensation costs – a more proactive approach.
"We have a lot of people that work very hard," says David Leef, vice president of the 70-year-old industrial laundry-service company. "There’s not a lot of automation in this business; it’s a lot of manual labor. So we call our people ‘industrial athletes,’ because they’re always hustling."
So in the spirit of treating them as such, the company instituted a daily pre-shift stretching session where employees perform a simple 10-minute stretch to music. That daily ritual lead to numerous other safety measures that have been initiated throughout the company during the last several years, and have instilled a routine practice in some of the employees. "Many of them say they do the stretches every couple of hours to stay limber," he says. "It’s become a habit."
Such programs as wellness counseling, pre-shift supervisor meetings, and home safety training have all become part of the employees’ culture. "Even the office staff gets involved," says Leef, "We asked our insurance company if they could customize a stretching program for people who work on keyboards all day, too."
Royal Alliance, formerly known as EBI, was an insurance company that the management team of Industrial Towel and Uniform felt shared a similar focus on health and safety. Royal Alliance helped introduce programs to the company to help lower the costs incurred by employee injury.
And the industrial launderer soon realized that the workplace was not the only place injuries could and do occur. Taking that into consideration, it began offering home safety programs, providing tips on how to avoid injury while at home as well as work. "Such things as how to properly lift things and do yard work properly, and kitchen safety tips and fire prevention are taught," says Leef.
"When we teach an employee [safety training], we teach them things that they can use at home. Because many back, Worker’s Comp injuries have their origins at home," says Jerry Zelm, a chiropractor in Oconomowoc and a licensed occupational injury consultant and trainer.
"Seventy percent of all Worker’s Compensation claims are musculoskeletal," he says.
Sarah Knebel, president of Pieces of Health in Cedarburg, a health and wellness organization, agrees and says that such training is becoming a trend in the workplace as a way to prevent injuries from happening in the first place.
"That’s a very proactive company," she says. "And that’s a good thing to see … Because, let’s face it, whatever you do at home impacts your work as well," she notes.
But not all employees may respond to home safety training, Knebel points out. "I think it depends on the company. If the company truly cares about the employees and is demonstrating that in a variety of ways, then when you introduce a program that will effect them at home, the workers are a lot more receptive to it," she says.
"If they don’t feel valued by the company, then it can backfire and it can have the opposite effect, where they’re thinking, ‘Why are you trying to control what I’m doing at home? My home is personal and its none of your business.’"
Making it a habit
Leef says the daily stretches and health concerns have become a habit with its 225 employees at its New Berlin headquarters. "Which is all part of prevention," says Leef. "I mean, Worker’s Comp is a valuable program, but absolutely the best solution is to not have accidents in the first place."
And reminders of the company’s extensive safety policies are evident throughout the plant. "Safety habits" signs of varying sizes (from postcard to poster size) echo the acronym "TOWEL PROS," which stands for various points regarding safety training, such as Think about safety at all times, and Obey safety rules and regulations, etc.
And "safety bucks" are awarded to workers who have accident-free months. Earning $5 for each accident-free month, employees can use the "bucks" to purchase products in the company’s catalog such as clothing, tools and other gadgets. "I think that recognizing people who have good records is important," according to Leef.
The company also offers regular preventative maintenance check-ups up to $400 annually, so that employees can check such things as their cholesterol, high blood pressure and other health maintenance tests.
Although Leef could not give a solid number as to how much these programs have saved the company, he says a low injury rate and high retention have served the company well. "We don’t put a price tag on safety. We’ll do basically whatever it takes to keep our employees safe," he says.
The company’s headquarters are located in New Berlin with additional offices across Wisconsin and in Illinois and Indiana where the same safety practices are utilized.
