Adjusting the Way We Approach an Injured Worker

A new term was coined to illustrate those that use their body for work—an industrial athlete. With this new designation comes new ways to think about the healing and recovery process when workers get hurt at work.

Joining the Safety Justice League hosts, safety expert Rachel Walla and physical therapist Chantel Gorton talked about this concept and their work together. Walla is a safety consultant with Ally Safety, which supports safety professionals with products and services to transform workplaces. Gorton currently works as an injury prevention specialist with Work Right NW.

Gorton offered some highlights of her career as a PT, from working with a professional basketball team in Vietnam to doing similar work back in the states.

“I didn’t know if this was the right road for me. Then I met my boss, and it was eye-opening because the mission is to change healthcare for industrial athletes,” she said.

Gorton used the term because they “use their body for a living, the same as athletes.” She noted that these individuals don’t usually know how to make their bodies well, but they still have to work hours a day using it.

Walla had similar thoughts working as a safety professional. She met Gorton through work, and they started to create videos together to address these things.

That awareness set them on a mission to rethink the process for an injured worker. “When there’s an injured worker, you go into this automatic cycle of investigation and follow-up. The goal is to get them back to work, and we want to change that narrative, so they are seen as a person that needs to heal,” Walla said.

Gorton added, “It’s the words we use, and many of these people identify as their trade. So if you can’t work, who are you anymore. It can compound the injury and its perception.”

More Stories Like This One:

What EHS Professionals Can Expect from Safety Connect

How to Keep Safety First During a Skilled Labor Shortage

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Gift Cards
Gift Cards and Alternative Payments: Their Place in the Hotel Operations Ecosystem
January 14, 2025

The most significant barrier preventing hotels from efficiently implementing successful gift card operations is due to restrictions within their technology stack  By Warren Dehan  What good is a gift card if it’s a chore to purchase or use? Keeping this top of mind should be key to hoteliers when considering program options, and it’s particularly…

Read More
Hammer Down with Class8 CEO Chris Atkinson
Optimizing Truck Data is Reshaping the Future of Logistics
January 14, 2025

The trucking industry has been seeing some digital transformation as of late, and at the center of it is data—truck data, more specifically. From electronic logging devices (ELDs) to dispatch optimization systems, this sector is leveraging advanced tech to address the unique challenges truckers face daily. With over 70 percent of all U.S. freight…

Read More
Career Paths
Career Paths: Media Strategy for Advertising & Marketing
January 13, 2025

In this episode of The Apple One Podcast Career Paths series, host Brett Howroyd chats with Jonathan Perez, Disney Ad Sales’ Director of Category Strategy, about navigating the ever-changing world of media strategy. With 17 years in the industry, Jonathan shares how ad placements have evolved—from traditional platforms like TV and radio to today’s digital…

Read More
nasdaq milestone
A Revolutionary Leap: LeddarTech Celebrates NASDAQ Milestone
January 11, 2025

LeddarTech marked a pivotal milestone with its NASDAQ listing, solidifying its position as a leader in AI-based sensor fusion and perception software for autonomous vehicles and ADAS. With over 150 patents, the company’s innovative solutions enhance road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and improve mobility efficiency for manufacturers and suppliers worldwide. CEO Frantz Saintellemy honored the…

Read More