June 2005 |
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Volume 04, Issue
2 |
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Shared Services Group |
Not just a stretch Industrial Athlete Program helps workers better tackle physically demanding tasks BY BETSY CASE Bending, twisting and lifting might describe a day in the life of a professional athlete. But the people who build Boeing products crawl out on wings, twist through small fuselage sections and lift heavy equipment. It's time, Boeing Health Services Manager Dr. William E. Smith said, "that they receive the same level of advanced care as professional athletes in order to prevent pain and injury." It's for these "industrial athletes" that Smith is creating a new program at Boeing. The Boeing Industrial Athlete Program combines services such as industrial massage, conditioning exercises, stretching, and physical and occupational therapy. This voluntary program, available at the workplace, is designed to improve the physical and mental resilience of employees. Services are available at no cost to the employee and the benefits can be life-changing, "Our goal is for employees to be able to fully engage in life without pain and injury and stay in the game for themselves, their families and their career," Smith said. Aspects of the program are already under way in the Everett and Renton, Wash., factories, and the response has been enthusiastic. "I've been at Boeing for 26 years and have never seen a preventative program before," said Lori Battles, a manufacturing coordinator on the 777 Program. She said industrial massage helped her "work harder and feel better." Added electrical installer Dan Wakeland, who's learned to stretch and take breaks to reduce and prevent injuries: "It's a real boost to morale." The Boeing Industrial Athlete Program combines proven therapies with innovative technologies such as digital video analysis that evaluates body mechanics. With services available on site, time away from work is minimal. Since members of the industrial athlete training team spend a great deal of time in the factory, they know about the requirements of each job, which helps them understand why injuries occur and how to help prevent them. The program has multiple benefits, many of which appear rapidly. "We've seen employees experience improved flexibility, higher energy levels, a more positive outlook, greater resistance to injury and disease and an enhanced ability to handle stress on and off the job," Smith said. Those who participate in the program are also given the tools to recover more quickly if an injury occurs. The program helps Boeing as well as employees. "By taking early, pre-injury action we help keep skilled, knowledgeable employees healthy, productive and on the job," Smith said. The program has four main areas:
Personal accountability is a key to the success of the Industrial Athlete Program, Smith said. "The whole idea of continuous improvement—learning about preventative maintenance and how to be healthy—is the wave of the future," he said. Currently, job conditioning, early intervention and work hardening are available at Boeing sites in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. Variations of these programs are planned for other locations. The goal for the Boeing Industrial Athlete Program is to have a coordinated, integrated plan that other Boeing sites can adopt in the future, Smith said. "The ability to deliver our products and services depends on keeping our people healthy," he said. "We have to do this to stay competitive. Besides, it is the right thing to do." For more information, visit http://industrialathlete.web.boeing.com on the Boeing Web.
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