Davey Tree Flipbooks

9 May/June 2024 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN INDUSTRIAL ATHLETE PROGRAM MOVES EAST Since officially taking root in California in March 2023, the program has been adapted to Eastern Utility services. Starting in February, the program is being piloted on the TECO account in Florida. Davey is continuing its partnership with WorkCare, a California-based firm that consults with companies on workforce health, and which provided a dedicated IIPS, Matthew Perret, to the employees on the TECO account. There, work activities offer an opportunity for the program to further accommodate a broad range of equipment and technique applications. "The morning when he meets crews in their yard is the most important time of his day," said Tim Bushnell, arborist skills trainer, Davey Institute. Bushnell worked with Sakihara, and Autumn Dickerson, manager, Eastern Utility training and development, to bring an IIPS to TECO. "People know who Perret is and what he does. One of the big things he'll do is tape a shoulder, an elbow or a wrist. He also follows up if he's got some cases he's working on. If there are individuals he provided some ergonomic coaching to or who had an issue the previous week, when he's back in their yard he'll do a follow up to see how they're doing and see if any more coaching or work needs to be provided. Each time he has an interaction with a Davey employee, there is a report he fills out. And those reports are starting to build out data." Bushnell said having Perret available is a tremendous benefit to the crews on the account, and one goal of the program is to determine the feasibility of expanding it to other Davey operations. STRETCHES UPDATED FOR 2024 Bushnell and Sakihara also worked with Morgan Browning, manager, corporate health and safety, to assess and update the company's stretching program. Sakihara visited Davey operations in each service line to perform an ergonomic assessment and understand how employees move their bodies to do their work. "The new stretching program was designed to address the needs of what we require of our employees in their daily work," Browning said. "It created one set of stretches that applies companywide to all field roles across all service lines. It is a more dynamic program and is modernized to take the industrial athlete approach." The stretching program was piloted by Commercial Landscape Services in the Montgomery County Maintenance territory with Josh Piquette, branch manager, and Mike Arthur, assistant branch manager. Following the initial pilot, the stretching program was modified according to feedback and tested further in both western R/C and Surgery Company operations. Browning said the stretching program will be rolled out companywide this year. "One of our biggest sources of injuries are strains, sprains, and general aches and pains from musculoskeletal issues," she said. "Strains and injuries caused by working in a tree or in a bucket are not as predictable as, say, factory work. Our hope is by updating our program we can help our employees stay healthier. First and foremost, preventing injuries is our goal." Bailey Evers, lead Industrial Industry Prevention Specialist, treats the arm of Matt Krause, safety and training manager, Davey Tree Surgery Company.

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