the National Safety Council’s recent Annual Congress
and Expo in October 2024.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain a significant challenge in workplace safety, with the private sector reporting 976,090 musculoskeletal disorder cases that led to days off of work in 2021-2022. These injuries, often caused by repetitive motion, force, vibration, and awkward positions, can result in severe sprains, strains, and back injuries.
Innovative Pilot Program Launch
Amerisure’s commitment to pioneering innovative safety solutions has recently seen remarkable advancements under the National Safety Council’s (NSC) MSD Solutions Lab. With a focus on cutting-edge technology to combat workplace injuries, Amerisure was awarded a safety grant to pilot HeroWear’s Apex 2 exosuits, designed to mitigate lower back injuries—a prevalent concern in MSD-related claims.
“As pioneers in workplace safety solutions, we always prefer to help prevent an employee’s injury altogether. This is why we are very excited to assist the NSC’s MSD Solutions Lab with their work to develop repeatable solutions that improve workplace safety,” explained Ryan Anderson, a risk management technology programs manager at Amerisure.
Selection and Testing of Policyholders
Amerisure partnered with two policyholders in the Midwest and Southeast, providing each with ten HeroWear Apex 2 exosuits for a 90-day evaluation period. During this time, employees integrated these cutting-edge exosuits into their daily routines; extensive feedback was collected through employee surveys, alongside critical HR metrics like injury rates, productivity levels, absenteeism, and turnover rates. This comprehensive data collection allowed the study to capture both the quantitative and qualitative benefits of the exosuit technology in real-world applications.
Promising Results and Future Plans
The preliminary feedback from the pilot has been overwhelmingly positive, with early indicators promising a significant reduction in lower back stress. Amerisure is now preparing a detailed case study, which will soon be published to share insights and outcomes from the pilot program.
Following a successful showcase at the National Safety Council’s recent Annual Congress and Expo in Orlando, plans are underway to expand the use of these exosuits across more policyholders, underscoring our role as a leader in proactive workplace safety measures.
“We are thrilled to be identified among the nation’s top safety innovators and work together with the NSC in implementing cutting-edge solutions for the prevention of workplace injuries,” said Kevin Clary, Amerisure’s vice president of risk management. “Our company’s participation in the grant program speaks to our service differentiator of identifying and offering emerging safety technologies to the benefit of our agency customers and policyholders.”
For more updates and to explore how we’re working together to make safety a priority at: https://bit.ly/3BldDFl.
