Introduction

The return on investment calculates profits as a percentage, that is how much money you will have after an investment than the money you had before. Salary costs and lost production costs are associated with stretching. Safety professionals must provide business stakeholders with workplace solutions which are cost effective which will help in improving business and human performance. Occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most injuries and pain to occupational in the workplace.

A Summary and Analysis of the Key Points

Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and back pains are occupational injuries due to various reasons; repetitive of work, vibration, temperature, work postures and movements. Musculoskeletal disorders have a great impact on the return on investment of a business. Professionals and researchers advocate stretching to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.

Stretching Impacts on Human Performance

Stretching reduces speed, agility, and strength or force-generating capabilities and it does not affect muscular endurance either positively or negatively. An employee’s force-generating ability is significant during work. Therefore, reducing the strength of employees will negatively affect the productivity and quality of a business.

A Discussion Related to the Concept of Return on Investment Considerations for Advocating the Implementations of Appropriate Controls

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affects the professionals in the workplace, thereby it affects the return on investment. For instance, thirty-one percent of professionals in the United States and thirty-nine percent of professionals in Europe are affected by musculoskeletal disorders. The stretching program is recommended to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Stretching program is a passive static stretching which involves lengthening a muscle and holding it in a gently uncomfortable position for about ten seconds to thirty seconds. In addition, stretching affects the performance of human in different ways. Stretching reduces strength or force generating capabilities, it reduces speed and agility and does not affect muscular endurance either positively or negatively. The most impact of stretching on human performance is reducing the strength. Stretching reduces strength in many ways, first, stretching causes changes in the spinal cord in muscle spindles. These are sensory receptors which detect changes in the length of muscles. After stretching, signals are reduced and altered hence reducing the generation of the workforce. Secondly, stretching leads to a response in nervous systems that cause the neural drive to contract a muscle. Third, stretching causes changes in the brain, especially motor cortex, a region in the brain which is used in control, execution, and planning of movements. After stretching, the motor cortex decreases the length of the neural signal that directs the contraction of the muscle, thus reducing the ability of the muscle to generate force.

Calculating the Costs of Workplace Stretching Program

The first step is calculating the time in minutes of the workplace stretching activity per week. The second step is calculating the low- end stretching activity time per week in minutes. Third, is calculating the range of costs both low and high end and finally, calculate the potential for lost revenue.

Conclusion

Stretching programs in the workplace affect the performance of human, thus, reducing the capability of the workforce. Stretching causes response in nervous systems and in the brain of a human. Therefore, it alters the neural signals which affect the contraction of muscles, thus reducing the ability to generate workforce. This affects the performance and productivity of business negatively. Stretching reduces occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Professionals should provide cost-effective workplace solutions to business stakeholders to improve the well-being of employees and optimize business and human performance.

References

McGowan, B. (2018). WORKPLACE STRETCHING PROGRAMS: Are They Worth $400,000 per Year?. Professional Safety, 63(12), 46-47.

Baxter, S., Sanderson, K., Venn, A. J., Blizzard, C. L., & Palmer, A. J. (2014). The relationship between return on investment and quality of study methodology in workplace health promotion programs. American Journal of Health Promotion, 28(6), 347-363.