As the owner or manager of a massage therapy business, protecting your employees from injury should be a top priority. For all the upsides of the job—helping clients, enjoying a flexible schedule, and faster-than-average occupational growth—the risk exists.
Start by learning more about helping the massage therapy professionals you employ lessen their injury risk on the job. Then make sure you're carrying enough business insurance for massage therapy, including workers' compensation insurance. Why? Because this crucial coverage is "the exclusive remedy" for any injuries your employees suffer on the job. To start, it covers the cost of medical bills and rehabilitation for employees hurt at work. Workers' compensation also furnishes lost wages if a staff member needs to take time off following an injury.
Since this type of business insurance policy automatically repays injured employees, it also prevents your establishment from facing a lawsuit. If you file an accurate claim about an employee getting hurt on duty, your workers' compensation policy will cover it. This is precisely why almost every state requires some degree of coverage, usually if you employ more than a few people.
Without a doubt, workers' compensation coverage as part of a business insurance policy is important for your massage company. But preventing injuries in the first place is equally imperative. With an emphasis on prevention, you can help your employees have long, rewarding careers sans debilitating injuries!
Most people wouldn't think twice about engaging in an occasional pinch grip. But massage therapists typically see multiple clients a day. Repeating this motion, again and again, boosts the likelihood that it will become a problem over time. As Massage Magazine writes, "Just 2 pounds of pinch force… can result in microtrauma and eventual injury if that force is sustained or repeated often enough." For a frame of reference, this force is "about the amount required to open a clothespin." When you look at it like that, it's quite easy to see how small, repetitive motions can actually cause big problems.
Remind your massage therapists to avoid gripping with the tips of their thumbs. Instead, use the stronger base area to power compression. Or, advise them to massage tissue between their palm and fingers. This will help reduce the likelihood of an injury to the thumb, wrist, or hand.
One of the most demanding aspects of "hands-on" jobs is actually being on your feet all day. Make sure your employees are getting ample breaks to stretch, sit down, and step away from the massage table. Otherwise, they may experience a range of negative reactions, from fatigue to muscle strains, and more. If these musculoskeletal issues become chronic, they can "cost a massage therapist their livelihood."
Another way to reduce injury risks for employees is to set up ergonomic workstations. Make sure your therapists have enough room to move around freely during appointments. Keep lighting relaxing, yet bright enough to prevent eye strain and missteps. There's no substitute for a well-designed workplace when it comes to reducing injuries and subsequent workers' compensation claims.
The right business insurance for massage therapy safeguards against injuries to employees and clients alike. Learn more with CoverHound, and get started with a free policy quote!
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