Are you interested in starting a pre work stretching program at your facility?
If so, you’re on the right track. Pre work stretching has many physiological benefits and can also improve the safety culture at your facility.
It’s a very visible way to show you care about your employees’ well-being.
Not sure how to get started?
Here are seven steps to follow to implement your pre work stretching program:
- Establish top level buy in
- Select the right program for your facility
- Communicate the program to all members of the team
- Train management and all team members
- Select and train warm-up stretching leaders
- Be consistent
- Evaluate and improve
Establish top-level buy-in
The biggest killer of progress is when management isn’t on board with your initiatives. Like any other initiative, this is true with pre work stretching. Learn to make the business case for safety and to be an advocate of the health and safety program driving your organization’s goals.
Good managers will have questions and concerns about implementing a pre-shift warm-up stretching program, and you will need to be prepared to make the case for the investment you are asking them to make.
Select the right program for your facility
In the end, the success of this program will depend on its effectiveness. If you implement a poorly designed program, you will get below par results. Make sure that you implement a warm-up and stretching program developed by a professional with experience in designing stretching programs for the workplace. Only a properly designed program will insure that your team members are effectively prepared to perform the demands of their job.
Communicate buy-in to all members of the team
Once you have buy-in from your management team, their commitment to pre work stretching needs to be communicated through all levels of the organization. It’s important for everyone to know that this initiative comes from the top and has their full support.
Training
Not only do you need a communication plan, you need a training and marketing plan for this initiative as well. Yes, marketing is key! High participation rates are achieved when team members fully understand the benefits of the program. In addition, each warm-up exercise should be demonstrated and proper technique should be emphasized.
Select and train warm-up stretching leaders
The execution of your program will depend on the size and structure of your workplace. Most often, warm-up stretching can be done in conjunction with department start-up meetings and led by supervisors or carefully selected hourly team members.
Don’t underestimate the importance of selecting good leaders to “coach” the team through the program. Certain supervisors and hourly team members are very capable of this leadership role and will do an excellent job, but keep in mind that many are not for a variety of reasons. Once the leaders or coaches are selected, they will need specific training from an experienced professional on how to execute and lead each warm-up exercise.
Consistently perform pre work stretching program
It is imperative to perform the pre work stretching routine consistently. Professional football teams never skip their stretching and warm up routine, and workplace athletes never should either.
If your pre work stretching program becomes inconsistent, your program will lose all credibility in the minds of employees and your efforts will be wasted. Don’t allow this to happen!
Evaluate and improve
Conduct periodic employee surveys to determine what the employee sentiment is for your program and to make systematic improvements.
Here are a few questions to ask:
- Do you feel the pre-shift warm-up stretching program is effective in preparing your body for work?
- Do you feel the pre-shift warm-up stretching program is effective for improving the overall health and performance of your body’s movement system?
- Do you feel that your coach is doing an effective job in leading the pre-shift warm-up stretching program?
- Which stretches do you feel are the most effective for you?
- Which stretches do you feel are the least effective for you?
- How do you feel we can improve the warm-up stretching program?
Takeaways
Pre work stretching is most effective as part of a comprehensive injury prevention strategy that includes ergonomics, employee education and early intervention.
Follow the 7 step process above, and you’ll be well on your way to implementing a successful program.
P.S. We’ve been implementing programs like this for over 20 years with great success. If you’d like some help with your program, request a free MSD prevention assessment here and we’ll be happy to help you.
