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 Job offers can be withdrawn when employers are advised that a worker has not passed testing.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