It starts with a stretch

Workers begin their day by warming up cold muscles

Author: Jamie Hall

Bend and stretch, reach for the sky.

Normally associated with a children’s song, these words are actually put into action by Flynn Construction crews before they begin work. Every day, they take the time to move their bodies in a series of very purposeful exercises, all designed to warm up cold, sleepy muscles.

According to company safety specialist Anthony Feltham, the stretching routine is a wake-up call to their bodies and their minds.

It starts with a stretch

Workers from Flynn Construction stretch it out on an Edmonton job site before starting their day.

Keeping back health front and centre

“Being in good physical shape is so important,” says Feltham.

That’s especially true when it comes to good back health, a message Feltham works hard to keep front and centre with his crew.

Flynn specializes in everything from roofing systems to architectural building products and employs nearly 5,000 people, most of them tradespeople, at 19 locations across Canada. Torn ligaments and pulled back muscles are among the most common injuries Feltham sees, so being prepared for the day and having more flexibility is crucial.

Getting in the safety mindset

As is the case with most trades, says Feltham, parts of the job tend to be very physically demanding. Employees are often required to perform repetitive motions (working from their knees, or bent over in awkward positions) for extended periods of time.

“Having a good warm-up routine has resulted in our workers being more flexible and more prepared for the physical demands of their day,” he says. “Even better is that it gives them time to think about the tasks they have to carry out and gets them thinking about safety right away.”

Find out more about how to maintain good back health, at work and at home!

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