[MCOH-EH] Balance balls and Treadmills in the Workplace

[Hodgson, Michael - OSHA]

VHA had supported balance balls and walking workstations and actually fared quite well for a few years.  I left in 2012 but have asked the current employee health promotion chief, Ebi Awosika, MD, for an update

Michael Hodgson, MD
Formerly VHA Employee occupational Health Chief Consultant
-----Original Message-----
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Birkholz, Brenda M
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 6:05 PM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Balance balls and Treadmills in the Workplace

We don't allow balance balls to be used as chairs in the work place for safety reasons:  can rupture without warning, no adjustments possible, unstable by design, fall risk, etc.  Leadership is aware of this stance.  We do not have any treadmill workstations in place at present.  Our Wellness Committee has looked into this but space is a problem at this time.  We were looking at a location where people would sign in and out to use a treadmill workstation rather than providing any for individuals; but never got to the point of putting this in place.   Will be interested in others' practices related to the treadmill workstations. 

Brenda Birkholz, MPH, RN, COHN-S
Manager, Occupational Health and Out-Patient Education Hutchinson Health
1095 Hwy #15 S
Hutchinson, MN  55350
Ph: 320-484-4502
Fax: 320-484-4643

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:51:51 +0000
From: "Brandt, Rita" <RBRANDT at LakelandHealth.org>
To: "mcoh-eh at mylist.net" <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Balance balls and Treadmills in the Workplace
Message-ID:
	<053B6D47E509B84AA6905A76F0220EB501AF4E0B9E at RDSVMBD.lakelandregional.org>
	
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

We have been receiving an increase in request for associates to utilize balance balls and treadmills at their workstation.
While we are all about healthy lifestyles, exercise, and proper posture, we also are concerned with the increased risk of injury.

Please share how your organization handles these requests. If you have a policy and care to share, please do so.

Thank you!

Rita Brandt, MSN, RN
Manager, Associate Health and Wellness

Lakeland Health
1234 Napier Avenue
St. Joseph, MI 49085
p-269-983-8468
c-269-930-4941
f-269-934-8079


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