On the ninth day of industrial ergonomics, my favorite safety team gave to me…tips on including athletic trainers' expertise into my triage and injury prevention programs, and a chance to win a $10 Home Depot gift card!
Welcome back to DORN’s 12 Days of Ergonomics, our annual blog series where we’re giving away daily prizes while exploring some of the hottest topics and top insights in the world of workplace safety and injury prevention.
Remember: For your chance to win the daily prize, share this blog on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or TikTok and tag the DORN Companies account so we can record your submission. For extra entries, you can share each day’s blog on multiple social media platforms and tag your friends and colleagues in the safety world.
The winner from Day 8 of the 12 Days of Ergonomics is Laura Reign. Today’s prize: $10 Home Depot gift card!
Is Your Triage Line Doing Its Job?
Every successful injury prevention program needs a reliable triage system. When a workplace incident occurs, triage plays several critical roles:
- Providing real-time medical expertise and guidance for employees and supervisors
- Assessing the severity of pain, discomfort, or injury
- Documenting key incident details for accurate reporting
- Guiding next steps so workers receive the right care, fast
But many employers discover that traditional nursing triage lines struggle to keep minor injuries in the first-aid category. In fact, some systems only maintain about 20% of cases at first aid, meaning more employees end up visiting urgent care or medical facilities, driving up OSHA recordables and workers’ compensation costs.
Why Athletic Trainers (ATCs) Are the Missing Piece
The solution lies in integrating certified athletic trainers into your triage process. ATC triage lines specialize in the musculoskeletal injuries that dominate workplace incidents like overexertion, strains, sprains, and repetitive motion injuries.
With ATCs handling triage:
- 85% or more of cases typically remain in first aid
- Workers receive faster, more accurate care for musculoskeletal issues
- Employees build greater trust in safety programs due to hands-on, empathetic care
- Employers reduce workers’ comp costs and downtime while improving morale
This approach blends clinical expertise with the proactive, preventative mindset of athletic trainers, creating a system that’s efficient, employee-centered, and OSHA-smart.
A Win-Win for Employers and Employees
By combining traditional triage with athletic trainer insights, organizations achieve:
- Reduced injury rates
- Faster recovery times
- Lower medical and comp costs
- Improved employee satisfaction and engagement
As the ergonomic experts at DORN know, prevention is always more cost-effective than treatment, and athletic trainers are at the frontline of that prevention.
Join the 12 Days of Ergonomics Celebration!
Share this post on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or TikTok, and tag DORN Companies for your chance to win today’s prize, $10 Home Depot Gift Card!
Share daily for multiple entries, and don’t forget to tag your colleagues in safety and ergonomics!
