Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are some of the most common workplace injuries. In fact, the private sector experienced nearly 250,000 reported MSD injuries or illnesses involving days away from work in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These injuries often occur from tasks that include “sudden or sustained exposure to repetitive motion, force, vibration, and awkward positions,” and can cause sprains or strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons; and back injuries including damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, nerves, joints and bones.
As part of its involvement with the National Safety Council’s (NSC) advisory group to help prevent these types of injuries, Amerisure’s Risk Management team has been awarded a safety grant through the NSC’s MSD Solutions Lab. Participation in the “Pilot Grant 1.0” program will include the selection of two policyholders who will leverage analytic video assessments and exoskeleton wearable devices through exclusive technology partnerships with Amerisure. These companies will be recognized for their involvement and the results can aid in advancements to reduce worker injury rates and absenteeism.
“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,” said Ryan Anderson, risk management expertise specialist at Amerisure. “The program provides us an opportunity to pilot safety technologies and determine the impact these solutions can make on musculoskeletal disorders.”
Following an application and screening process, Amerisure will select policyholders for the program this fall. Participating policyholders must be exposed to the types of ergonomic safety risks related to the pilot technology; already be proven champions for safety at their organization, with a strong safety culture; and be willing to share the resulting data from the pilot program for a future case study.
“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 and premium audit. “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.”
Amerisure is a founding member of the National Safety Council’s safety advisory group to help prevent workplace injuries. Funded by Amazon and implemented in 2021, the council seeks to address risks associated with musculoskeletal injuries and drive initiatives to prevent workplace losses by engaging key leaders and stakeholders, leveraging technologies and implementing prevention solutions.
As part of the council participation, Amerisure was also recently awarded the MSD Solutions Index Badge, which represents the company’s commitment to reduce the most common workplace injuries.
To learn more about the NSC and the safety grant pilot program, visit their website.
