The designated occupational health team learns to recognise the challenges in the company and find effective solutions during the long-term collaboration. Pihlajalinna has helped the employees of the earth works company Harry Mäkelä Oy with musculoskeletal disorders and other health issues since 2005.
Maansiirto Harry Mäkelä Oy, a company operating in Central Finland and Pirkanmaa, specialises in infrastructure construction, earth works, demolition and material recycling. The company has employed around 100 employees. Its collaboration with Pihlajalinna started almost 20 years ago when both companies were still in their growth stages.
– In its early days, Mäkelä was a family business with around 20 employees. At the time, Pihlajalinna also had a narrower selection of services, and some of the occupational health services were provided to Mäkelä as purchased services. However, our common goal from the very beginning has been a quick treatment of all sick employees, says occupational health nurse Heini-Maria Ilvonen.
Quick treatment referrals also speed up recovery to return to work
Ilvonen has worked in Mäkelä’s occupational health team since 2012. Occupational health physician Juha-Pekka Turpeinen was appointed as Mäkelä’s occupational health physician when the agreement started in 2005. These days, Mäkelä’s occupational health team also consists of other physicians, nurses and physiotherapists in Jyväskylä and Tampere.
– A consistent occupational health team is a great benefit, as it increases working speed. The team knows the health challenges in our field and reacts to them effectively. For example, getting an MRI scan is quick, and work-related ailments are not treated simply with bandages, describes Jarno Salminen, CEO of Mäkelä Oy.
The earth works company employs, for example, machine operators, earthworks constructors, welders, fitters and demolition workers, as well as some office staff. Performance-based work exposes employees to musculoskeletal disorders, and accidents may also happen on the work sites.
– Stumbles and falls cannot be prevented as long as a human walks on two legs. Sometimes fingers get crushed and particles get in the eyes. The occupational health usually provides the quickest remedy, says Salminen.
Managing musculoskeletal disorders with a physiotherapist’s guidance
Pihlajalinna has collaboratively helped with the treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders whenever the situation requires so. They have, for example, arranged ergonomics consultancies at Mäkelä’s premises. The next plan is an exercise group that aims to rehabilitate and prevent musculoskeletal disorders with guidance by an occupational physiotherapist.
– The main idea is to provide more exercise opportunities especially to those workers who sit down a lot in their machinery during work. Moreover, we want to organise instructed group exercise outside working hours to anyone who is willing to participate, says the occupational health nurse.
Comprehensive occupational health services reduce absences
Maansiirto Mäkelä’s occupational health agreement is quite comprehensive. In addition to statutory services, the agreement includes laboratory tests, scans, clinical and neurophysiological examinations, ECG tests, vaccinations, spirometry examinations, blood pressure measurements and sleep apnea examinations. The employees also have access to services by physiotherapists, occupational psychologists and career coaches.
– The occupational health agreement is reviewed in collaborative meetings twice a year and will be amended if necessary. Absence reports are one of the indicators for the development of collaboration. For example, they have shown that MRI scans have led to shorter sick leaves, describes Ilvonen.
Familiar physician is a great help in tricky situations
Occupational health has also been contacted in more challenging situations such as severe illnesses and harassments.
– The presence of a familiar occupational health physician is significant in work capacity meetings, and the discussions will proceed smoothly if the physician is trusted. They always find solutions together to get employees back to a working condition. In addition to rehabilitation, half-day allowances have also proved to be a useful method to extend careers and increase wellbeing, says CEO.
Mutual trust and active collaboration are the cornerstone of a long-term partnership
The occupational health nurse adds that Mäkelä’s proactive approach and desire to improve employee wellbeing have an impact on problem-solving.
– For example, they prepare themselves properly for workplace surveys and address anything that needs improving. The occupational health and safety also takes good care of its property. Mäkelä as a company takes exceptionally good care of its employees, which makes the meetings a joy to participate in and the employees easy to approach. In the future, we would like to help Mäkelä in working capacity management with our application.
– In addition to other employment benefits, comprehensive occupational health services are appealing to new employees, too. We are pleased with our occupational health care cooperation, and we have never really felt a need to tender for service providers. All issues have been minor and resolved quickly, concludes Salminen.
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