Louisville Stretches to Help its Public Workers

Reach for your toes, reach for the sky, hold for 10 seconds…
This is what Louisville, Kentucky public works employees hear every morning before heading out on their routes.
Granted, it sounds a little odd. But a morning stretch is just one aspect of Louisville’s plan to prevent injuries among its garbage collectors. A little extra agility is never a negative, and over the past two years, city officials have been promoting it with their workers as well as incorporating it into their own policies.
Why?
January 2012 began with 32 percent of Louisville garbage collectors not working or having their duties limited due to serious injuries. Comparably, two years later in January 2014, that number was reduced to 15 percent. This staggering drop is a result of a three-part plan initiated by the city as part of its metrics-driven performance improvement.
Step one is the stretching routine that begins at 6 a.m. sharp every morning. Before the employees head out,  all of them — including administrators — join together for a wake-up stretch led by a different designated leader each day. In a circle, everyone participates in the toe touches, jumping jacks, and squats to prepare for the busy day ahead.
Step two is the Accident Review Committee. For the committee, every injury is important, and it reviews each one — leading to a list of suggested measures to prevent them from recurring. Their recommendations are passed to department management who then compiles a final list and passes it down to the staff.
The final step is the modified duty policy. Typically, a worker is out for six to ten weeks following a serious injury. This new policy, though, gives them the option to return to work after one week, performing less strenuous office work.
The beginning of 2012 also saw the formation of the Office of Performance Improvement whose greatest accomplishment is the establishment of the Louie Stat — which increases communication between the mayor and all city departments by holding regular meetings during which relevant metrics are reviewed and plans are established for future improvement.
Just like the workers who wake up every morning to stretch their muscles, Louisville city officials clearly have taken the extra step to expand their programs and influence to benefit their workers.
 

How a Retired Ski-Lover Turned an Old Injury Into a New Industry

54-year-old Kim Gustafson didn’t plan on starting a new business when he retired to Vail, Colo. But after his arthritis and the rigors of skiing exacerbated an old knee injury, Gustafson became part of the growing trend of “senior entrepreneurship.” Five surgeries forced him to wear an unwieldy brace on the slopes — that’s when he had the idea for pliable tights that could support active people dealing with similar injuries. Rather than the restrictive brace, Gustafson’s prototype used bands of rigid fabric sewn into spandex and nylon tights to keep the knee naturally aligned.  He partnered with the biomechanical scientists at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, a branch of the clinic where he got his treatment, and in two years founded a company called Opedix to produce the tights and bring them to market. Gustafson isn’t alone. According to the New York Times, 23% of new business owners are now aged 55 to 64, a nine-point increase since 1996. In other words, the golden years are getting a lot more golden.

Can a Crime-Reduction Method Also Prevent Traffic Accidents?

The broken windows approach to fighting street crime involves seriously enforcing the small things, like broken windows and other instances of vandalism, in order to maintain an orderly environment and discourage bigger crimes. According to the NYPD, the theory has worked to reduce New York City’s homicide rate, and could also work on reducing the number of traffic accidents caused by reckless driving. Cracking down on drivers who run red lights or who drive just over the speed limit could create more orderly roads, creating a safer environment for pedestrians.