WorkCare’s Bryan Reich will be a panelist during a free, virtual town hall meeting sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC) and its MSD Solutions Lab on March 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific. (Register here to join via Zoom.) The topic, Navigating Musculoskeletal Medical Management in the Workplace, is relevant in all types of workplaces.

During the Town Hall session, attendees will gain valuable insights into best practices and policies to mitigate MSDs, promote early reporting and intervention, and create a comprehensive return-to-work strategy.

Bryan is passionate about finding practical ways to reduce musculoskeletal disorder risk and manage physical discomfort at onset for employees, whether their jobs require exertion, repetitive tasks or are sedentary. An active participant in MSD Solutions Lab activities since its inception, Bryan is a certified athletic trainer with a master’s degree in kinesiology and years of professional experience in collegiate sports and industry settings. He oversees WorkCare’s Industrial Athlete Program, and in his role as vice president, programs and operations – prevention services, is on our company’s leadership team.

Bryan will be joining two other expert panelists during the hour-long webinar: Dr. Michael Hodgson, chief medical officer and director, OSHA’s Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing and Roger Parker, an occupational health nurse with Amentum.

Why It’s Important

Musculoskeletal conditions are a leading contributor to disability worldwide, with non-specific low back pain the most common complaint. MSDs can have a profound and lasting impact on worker well-being and quality of life. In addition, these disorders cost employers billions of dollars a year in medical care and other related claims costs, legal liability, productivity loss, absenteeism, presenteeism and employee turnover. Injuries caused by overexertion alone cost an estimated $13.3 billion a year.

It’s easy to see that MSD risk reduction is a smart investment. According to the NSC, every dollar spent on prevention generates at least twice the return. Early intervention and holistic return-to-work programs help minimize the severity of MSDs. Well-managed workplace initiatives allow employees with musculoskeletal pain to work during recovery, successfully reintegrate into their roles after absence and ultimately help employers retain valuable talent.

Clients of WorkCare’s Industrial Athlete Program have experienced four-to-one savings after introducing preventive interventions such as job coaching, ergonomic evaluations, guidance on stretching, first aid for discomfort and general health education, as well as improved employee engagement in their own health and well-being.

WorkCare has joined other forward-thinking organizations in taking the Solution’s Lab MSD Pledge to measurably reduce work-related MSDs by identifying exposure risks and taking definitive steps to create workplace cultures that attach true value to reducing MSD risk. If your organization hasn’t taken the pledge, refer to this toolkit.

Contact us at info@workcare.com to learn more about ways we can help your organization protect and promote employee health for optimal outcomes.