Keeping the Industrial Athlete Safe: How Mitsubishi Power and Orlando Orthopaedic Center Are Transforming Workplace Safety

To explore what successful modern workplace safety looks like, Orlando Orthopaedic Center recently hosted a live Q&A featuring Anne Kington, Senior Environmental Health and Safety Manager at Mitsubishi Power, and Zamaris Rivera, an Industrial Athletic Trainer employed by Orlando Orthopaedic Center who works on-site at Mitsubishi Power.

During the discussion, they share how their collaborative, proactive approach has transformed the safety culture at Mitsubishi Power, virtually eliminated soft-tissue injuries, and achieved remarkable, measurable results.

Why Workers Are Considered “Industrial Athletes”

In traditional sports, athletic trainers work on the sidelines to prevent, diagnose, and treat musculoskeletal injuries for players. In an industrial manufacturing setting, the physical demands placed on employees are remarkably similar. These workers pull, push, lift, and stand for extended periods, making them industrial athletes.

Zamaris Rivera, an industrial athletic trainer with five years of experience across collegiate, high school, and professional sports, now applies those same athletic training principles to the manufacturing floor.

Through the partnership between Orlando Orthopaedic Center and Mitsubishi Power, Kington and Rivera merge healthcare expertise with regulatory compliance, ensuring that employee safety remains paramount.

What an On-Site Industrial Training Facility Looks Like

To support a proactive approach to workplace safety, Mitsubishi Power features a dedicated, on-site first aid and rehabilitation facility designed to mirror a collegiate training room.

The workspace is equipped with:

• A universal exercise machine
• A stationary bike
• An athletic training cot
• Specialized therapeutic tools for deep tissue massage and cupping

This setup allows Rivera to treat employees right on-site. Instead of leaving the facility to visit an off-site clinic for minor aches, employees can receive immediate, professional care and learn personalized stretching or strengthening exercises they can perform at work or home.

Achieving Measurable Drops in OSHA Recordables

To understand the impact of this partnership, it helps to look at the metrics. Under OSHA guidelines, a recordable injury is determined by the required treatment. If an injury requires prescription medication, sutures, light duty, or prevents an employee from performing their regular job functions, it must be recorded.

Before the partnership with Orlando Orthopaedic Center, soft-tissue injuries frequently resulted in clinic visits, muscle relaxer prescriptions, and subsequent OSHA recordables.

Since implementing the on-site athletic training program, the results have been substantial:

• A Dramatic First-Year Decrease: In the very first year of the OOC partnership, Mitsubishi Power saw its OSHA recordable injuries drop from 14 down to just four.
• Long-Term Consistency: Over the last four to five years, recordable injuries have remained very limited.
• An Outstanding Safety Milestone: Mitsubishi Power has achieved nearly 2 million hours worked without a single lost-time incident.

By focusing on early reporting and utilizing conservative treatments like stretching and therapeutic massage, the company has almost entirely eliminated muscle-related recordable injuries.

How a Proactive Approach to Ergonomics Reduces Repetitive Strain

Rather than waiting for injuries to occur, Rivera and the safety team take a highly proactive approach to ergonomics. Rivera regularly visits different work stations to evaluate repetitive motions and identify potential hazards before they cause strain.

Common physical complaints in this environment typically stem from overuse or static posture. To combat these issues, the safety team has implemented several key structural changes:

• Station Modifications: Installing adjustable tables and ergonomic chairs for entire departments to reduce physical fatigue.
• Lifting Aids: Introducing zero-gravity lifting devices and mechanical aids to assist with handling parts ranging from 5 to 35 pounds.
• Micro-Break Stretches: Designing and distributing targeted stretching posters across the facility to encourage employees to move and release muscle tension throughout their shifts.

Additionally, Rivera compiles an annual report tracking localized discomfort across specific departments, allowing the engineering and safety teams to collaboratively implement targeted mechanical solutions.

The Benefits of Seamless Access to Specialized Orthopaedic Care

While on-site preventative care resolves the vast majority of daily complaints, some situations require advanced medical attention.

When an injury exceeds the capabilities of the on-site training room, the partnership with Orlando Orthopaedic Center ensures immediate, streamlined communication, which allows injured employees to promptly receive specialized orthopaedic care.

Once an employee is evaluated by an outside specialist, the priority shifts to a safe, structured return to work. By keeping injured employees engaged in the workplace through modified duties, Mitsubishi Power maintains productivity while prioritizing their physical and mental recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is considered an OSHA recordable injury? An OSHA recordable injury is classified based on the level of medical treatment required. If an injury requires a prescription-strength medication, sutures to close a wound, light-duty work, or results in days away from work, it must be recorded on the company’s OSHA log.
2. What are the most common physical issues seen in an industrial setting? The most common complaints are overuse or repetitive strain injuries rather than acute traumas. These are typically caused by repetitive movements, heavy lifting, or prolonged standing/sitting in a static position, which leads to muscle fatigue.
3. How do on-site injury prevention programs lower workers’ compensation costs? By addressing minor muscle tweaks with conservative on-site care (such as stretching, ice, or bracing) before they escalate into an official injury, companies can reduce overall claim volume and mitigate expensive workers’ compensation claims.
4. How does early reporting benefit employees? Early reporting allows employees to receive immediate, conservative care (like massage, cupping, or guided stretching) the moment they feel minor discomfort. This keeps them out of pain, prevents the injury from worsening, and avoids the need for stronger prescription medications or invasive treatments.

Keep Your Workforce Safe and Healthy

Whether you are an employer looking to optimize your workforce health or an injured worker seeking expert care, our dedicated teams are ready to assist. Schedule a consultation with a joint or workers’ compensation provider today to learn more about our comprehensive care programs.