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My coworkers and I think we need better work stations and help with lifting heavy items. How can we convince our employer to do this for us?

Disability prevention programs often include improving workers' work stations. Decreasing the physical workload by providing lifting devices is often part of the plan. But research has not been able to prove that these factors really make a difference in back pain or injuries.

It looks like there may be many factors that must be addressed. The problem is, it also looks like each person is unique and has his or her own needs. Changing the work place for one employee may not be as helpful as some other change.

Scientists are working to gather together enough information to be able to predict who needs what for a successful outcome. These are called predictive factors. It's not guaranteed that a patient with one set of predictive factors will have 100% success. But the chances of a good result go up or down based on positive or negative predictive factors.

Although it makes common sense that an appropriate work station will reduce work-related injuries, there just isn't enough scientific proof to support the idea. You may have your best results by putting together a list of logical and reasonable reasons for your request.

Increased job satisfaction has been linked with improved work performance. If changing your work station and decreasing your lifting load will improve your outlook at work, then your request may be seen as reasonable.

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