Four years ago, workers' compensation costs in the New England region of Waste Management Company averaged $3,000 per claim. It's not surprising, considering hourly workers pick up literally tons of trash for nine hours a day, according to Dan Reynolds, the environmental health and safety manager for New England region of Waste Management, a nationwide trash disposal company with headquarters in Oakbrook, IL. Lifting and pushing heavy trash cans and consistently climbing on and off trucks stresses the lower back and knees, he says. But comp costs came down after the company listened to employees and launched an exercise program.
In 1994, Waste Management implemented a nationwide management and customer service improvement training program, coincidentally titled, 'Workout.' Corporate asked regional managers and employees what they needed to do their jobs better. While other managers asked for help on how to provide better customer service, Reynolds surprised everyone by asking for personal trainers.