Appleton Consulting Firm Works
to Ease Jobs

Fox Valley Inc.

Appleton - As employers bemoan the tidal wave of increasing worker's compensation costs, Blankenheim Services is trying to stem the advancing tide as well as improve overall work environments.

The firm offers expertise in industrial therapy, ergonomics and safety consulting.

"We take a broader systems approach to try and improve the workplace, make it more efficient, make workers more comfortable and productive, as well as decrease injuries," said Eric Blankenheim, co-owner of the company with wife Dawn.

Started in 1997 out of the couple's Grand Chute home, the company now consists of a statewide team of 14 professional ergonomists and therapists who offer a variety of services form OSHA and ADA compliance to post-offer screening.

Based in Appleton, Blankenheim Services currently has staff based in Eau Claire, Madison, and Milwaukee. They work from home and spend time at clients' facilities.

Coordinating with therapy groups across the country, Blankenheim is able to service clients' out-of state sites. Treating injured workers with physical and occupational therapy represents 70 percent of the firm's business and the remainder is consulting, including post-job-offer testing, Blankenheim said.

"Eric does our post-offer, pre-employment testing to ensure that employees can perform the essential functions of the job," said Rob Roehrborn, employment manager for Brillion-based Ariens Company.

Studies show that about one-third of all worker's compensation costs originate from employees who have been with a company for less than one year.

By offering potential workers employment that is contingent on successful completion of the post-offer screening process, employers can save costs associated with these preventable injuries.

"We test to make sure (employees) are physically and mentally able to do the job," Blankenheim said. Job offers can be withdrawn when employers are advised that a worker has not passed testing.

Blankenheim has completed about 10,000 screenings and approximately 10 percent were denied placement.

"We use Blankenheim in two ways," said Dan Ortscheid, safety manager for Pierce Manufacturing, Appleton. "Eric is a certified ergonomist and he (configures) workstations so that they are set up properly for employees.

"Second, they do on-site occupational and physical therapy, which helps us save money with less production downtime," he said.

Pierce started using Blankenheim Services in May 2003 and they estimate the company saved nearly ,000 in worker's compensation costs and lost productivity, Ortscheid said.

Injuries to the shoulder are one of the more common complaints that Blankenheim receives. The firm focuses on movement therapy and educating workers on how they interface with the workplace.

Blankenheim therapists are qualified to do Kinesio Taping, a therapeutic taping technique that offers support but also rehabilitates the affected area.

"The shoulder joint is inherently biomechanically unstable, and that's where we spend a lot of our time both treating and trying to prevent shoulder injuries," Blankenheim said.

 

Judy Waggoner can be reached by e-mail at pcbusiness@postcrescent. com

Injury Management Focus of Blankenheim Services

Post -Crescent Staff Writer

Who: When Eric and Dawn Blankenheim began Blankenheim Services 12 years ago after doing consulting work in the Valley, no one could have predicted the company would grow to one that has subcontract relationships in 40 states and has teamed with a national therapy provider. Blankenheim Services provides a comprehensive approach to injury management for businesses whose employees have injured themselves on the job. The company has grown to a business that employs 30 and has recently had to move their offices for more space to keep up with the growth of the company. The company was previously housed in a 1,200-square foot space and has upgraded to a new 3,000-square foot office at 1650 Tri-Park Way in Appleton.

What: The company provides a proactive approach to reducing employee injuries by offering post-offer employment screening, medical support staff, early intervention programs and ergonomic job analysis to different businesses nationally. The company puts therapists on site at various businesses to provide services to injured employees. "We not only have occupational therapists, but we also offer engineers and ergonomists to maximize our client's impact," said Eric Blankenheim, owner.

One service the business offers that proves very helpful for clients is a proprietary job analysis. "We come in and analyze the job and weigh the ergonomic risk factors, " said Blankenheim. "This is important and helpful because if an employee reports an injury, we can assist in determining if the injury is work related based upon our analysis."

What's next: "We are continuing to expand not only our Wisconsin base, but also our national base," said Blankenheim. The company is also shifting its focus onto white-collar jobs with the manufacturing base continuing to decline. "Office workers have a lot of problems with their desk set-up and with sitting for long hours," he said.

The company also is planning on shifting their focus to nursing home ergonomics. "We would like to tailor our systems for a nursing home environment so we can prevent nurse injuries and maximize the care and safety the residents receive."

For more information: Melissa Adelman, National Sales Manager for Blankenheim Services, 1650 Tri-Park Way, Suite A, Appleton, 920-830-6697, www.blankenheimservices.com