Teaming up to revolutionize safety at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective

When Meish Peacher was first approached about using a wearable device from Nationwide partner Kinetic that claimed it could help lessen injury and risk while she worked, she was apprehensive.

“I was not sure how effective the device would be or how it would possibly interfere with my daily work,” shared Peacher, the volunteer operations lead in the Reclamation Department at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC).

Instead, it turned out to be hardly noticeable and quite beneficial.

“It was like wearing a pager from the 80s or 90s with it having to be attached to the hip, but it was similar to wearing a Fitbit in terms of it tracking your steps and movements,” Peacher detailed. “If I turn my body a certain way or if I was going to pick something up without bending my knees, it will trigger the device. It has made me more cognizant of the way I move my body and the way I can save my back from future injury or issues.”

Though it is not a new partnership for Nationwide, Peacher is benefiting from a new pilot program involving the MOFC that sees employees and volunteers wear the Kinetic devices donated by Nationwide.

“This is a safety apparatus,” said Dale Hoppe, Nationwide’s senior AVP, workers compensation programs. “Who would ever enter a construction area that has grinders going off without a hard hat or safety glasses? No one. This is no different, the device is here to help protect you and bring awareness when you're doing something wrong.”

Why the MOFC in particular?

Nationwide's pilot program with Kinetic and MOFC is a great example of how the insurance and financial services company can improve safety in frontline environments. It helped reduce high-risk movements and helped leaders address potential issues before they turned into injuries. This approach is not only effective but can be scaled and measured across different industries.

Given Nationwide’s established relationship with the organization and standing as a protection company, Hoppe explained that this pilot program is another way to show that Nationwide cares about preventing risk with a partner whose mission the company believes in and at a place where so many Nationwide associates volunteer their time.

Rob Camp, SVP of Operations at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, is thankful for Nationwide’s support of its associates. Nationwide has been a long-time partner of the organization; this safety campaign is a further extension of that relationship.

“The tools, support, and training from Nationwide and Kinetic gave us new ways to center safety in our daily operations,” says Camp. “It helps make safety part of your culture, which helps it become second nature. Their support helped us stay safe and focused on what we do best: feeding our hungry neighbors.”

For more information about the Nationwide/Kinetic workers compensation program, visit https://kineticcomp.com.