Health, safety, and productivity in a manufacturing environment

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Health Management
• Productivity Management

Background:

• International Truck and Engine Corporation faced significant costs in safety, workers' compensation, and disability.
• Economic and clinical analyses revealed excess healthcare costs and potential savings through modifiable health risks.
• Existing programs operated in silos, necessitating a coordinated approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a Health and Productivity Management (HPM) model.
• To integrate safety, health, and productivity programs.
• To reduce overall employee-related costs and improve productivity.

Main Methods:

• An iterative approach involving opportunity identification, intervention development, and continuous measurement.
• Integration of multiple disciplines: safety, workers' compensation, short-term disability, long-term disability, healthcare, and absenteeism.
• Regular reporting to senior management and goal setting with the board of directors.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated reduction in direct healthcare costs and improved productivity (absenteeism) through corporate wellness.
• Significant reduction in current costs and financial liability in workers' compensation and disability programs.
• Documented positive economic impact across various intervention categories.

Conclusions:

• The integrated HPM model, emphasizing employee productivity and cost, proved successful.
• An iterative and data-driven approach is key to achieving targets.
• A coordinated program offers greater economic benefits compared to a siloed approach.