Stretch and Flex Program for TxDOT Office and Field Workers

Strain/sprain-related incidents account for 40% of the total injuries of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) employees. Over the past 5 years the most common strain/sprain injury was of the lower back; 50% of these injuries were caused by lifting tasks. The goal of this project is to create a guidebook presenting a set of ergonomic recommendations for common TxDOT workplace tasks and a Stretch and Flex program designed to reduce strain/sprain-related incidents. Research studies have shown that muscle strengthening exercises can reduce workplace strain/sprain-related incidents. However, most of the Stretch and Flex programs currently being implemented involve more stretching than flexing. Thus, current Stretch and Flex programs may not be as beneficial as they could be. Since injury of the low back is the most common work-related injury, strengthening the core musculature is the best preventative strategy. The challenge that current Stretch and Flex programs face in achieving this goal may be that traditional core-strengthening exercises are performed on the ground, which may not work well for employees who work outdoors or are not dressed for being on the ground. Thus, the Stretch and Flex program that will be created will involve exercises done in the standing position to strengthen the core musculature as well as target other muscles and joints susceptible to work-related injuries. The University of Texas at Austin (UT) has developed instructional videos for vertical core strengthening, and has developed and implemented exercise programs for groups of UT employees. The user-friendly guidebook that will be created for TxDOT employees will contain ergonomic recommendations for TxDOT maintenance and office workers as well as a Stretch and Flex program that will be superior to current programs. A guidebook will help TxDOT employees reduce their risk of injury through specific work-related ergonomic strategies and injury-prevention exercises designed to improve strength and flexibility. This program is expected to reduce the incidence of TxDOT strain/sprain-related incidents and substantially reduce associated costs, which have exceeded $3.7 million over the past 5 years.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-publications/0-6805-1.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/search/SearchResults_ClearCriteria.aspx?q=(catalog.ID=(32917))
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report date March 2014; Published September 2014. This report includes as Chapter 5 a version of the P1: Stretch and Flex Guidebook also available as a separate document. Project Title: Stretch and Flex Program for TxDOT Operations.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 1616 Guadalupe Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-1255

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Griffin, Lisa
  • Leite, Fernanda
  • Machemehl, Randy
  • Fleisher, Tim
  • Choe, Sooyoung
• Publication Date: 2014-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Illustrations; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 56p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Back; Employees; Ergonomics; Handbooks; Health; Industrial accidents; Physical fitness; Recommendations
• Identifier Terms: Texas Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01538337
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-14/0-6805-1, 0-6805-1
• Contract Numbers: 0-6805
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 25 2014 9:00AM