The Projected Impact of a Manual Handling Program in Castlereagh Health

The focus of this projected impact study was on a most vital, planned initiative: A Manual Handling Program ( MHP ). The aim of the MHP was to drastically reduce the risk associated with this mechanism of injury and its life changing impact on employees as well as the impact on the organisation. With potentially, such a high impact program, the projected impact study examined and identified the many potential tangible and intangible benefits associated with a successful implementation of the MHP .

Not only did this approach highlight the immense support throughout the organisation for the MHP , it also revealed a substantial, projected positive return on investment of a minimum of 42% for one year, based on an initial $5.6M investment.

This study, designed to evaluate the potential success of the MHP , had four key objectives;

1. To assess the projected business impact of the MHP in measurable contributions to the extent possible, up to and including the calculation of the projected business impact;
   
   
2. To identify specific barriers and concerns about successful program implementation and utilisation;
   
   
3. To identify the key components of the MHP , from the collaborative input of potential participants, managers, key stakeholders and senior executive. The key components of the MHP formed the basis for recommendations, which would assist the Health organisation to develop a strategy for implementation across the organisation and to achieve a number of objectives including:

• Reduce the incidence of workplace injury particularly in relation to manual handling activity by 10% during year 1 and thereafter a reduction of 10% in each premium year.
• Reduce the average lost time for all claims by 5% by the end of year 1, and thereafter a reduction of 5% in each premium year.
• Reduce the workers compensation premium rate by 10% by the end of year 2, and
• Reduce unscheduled absence – workers compensation specifically in relation to manual handling activity by 10% by the end of year 1 and thereafter a reduction of 10% in each premium year.

1. To provide a proven process or ‘road map’ to follow, to assist in the successful implementation of future business initiatives within Castlereagh Health.