Authors: (including presenting author): :
Ho MLA(1), Chan WCW(2), Wong STS(2), Tsang TWE(1), Li MSJ(1), Ching KYA(1)
Affiliation: :
(1) Administrative Services Division, Haven of Hope Hospital, Hong Kong, (2) Physiotherapy Department, Haven of Hope Hospital, Hong Kong
Keyword 1: :
IOD Reduction
Keyword 2: :
Physical Health
Keyword 3: :
Workplace Safety
Introduction: :
In many organizations with operational demands that expose staff to physical hazards, preventing Injury on duty (IOD), especially slip, trip, and fall (STF) incidents, remains a priority. Traditional approaches which focus on environmental controls and awareness training may overlook the role of building daily physical habits among employees. Evidence from workplace health studies shows that brief pre-work warm-up exercise can build physical resilience by enhancing musculoskeletal function, improving reaction times, and prevent job related injury. With the co-join effort of Physiotherapy & Administrative Departments, a short 5-minute Towel Exercise Program (TEP) featuring low-cost, no sophisticated equipment and time saving was introduced. The TEP commenced with a kick-off ceremony in April 2025, featuring management endorsement to encourage participation. A subsequent check-in challenge concluding in December 2025 utilized designated QR codes for daily post-exercise registration, with prizes awarded for accumulating specified exercise days to promote participation.
Objectives: :
This study evaluated the effectiveness of the TEP in improving staff perceptions on its benefits for injury prevention, improvement of physical function, promoting sustained exercise participation, and contributing to a measurable decline in slip, trip, and fall incidents.
Methodology: :
Total no of attendance were counted during the program period. Participants were invited to complete a 7-point Likert scale questionnaire (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree) after the program, rating on their beliefs about the exercise reducing injury risk, enhancing body function and responsiveness, and supporting ongoing pre-work warm-up practice. Mean scores and standard deviations were summarized. STF incident counts were compared from April to December 2024 versus the same period in 2025.
Result & Outcome: :
The initiative achieved strong engagement, as evidenced by the 7,700 check-in count. Questionnaire responses (N=46) showed strong agreement that pre-work TEP reduces injury likelihood (Mean = 5.80, SD = 1.15) and improves body function and responsiveness (Mean = 6.09, SD = 1.03). Staff also indicated intent to continue such warm-ups after the TEP (Mean = 4.96, SD = 1.83). STF incidents fell sharply from 6 cases (April to December 2024) to 0 cases in the same period of 2025, indicating enhanced physical resilience likely played a key part in lowering IOD risk. These findings demonstrated quick, physiotherapy-led routine TEP can meaningfully increase physical preparedness and contribute to safer workplaces with minimal time investment.
