Joe Gilliland, a returning guest with over two decades of experience in HSE initiatives, and Paul Timko, a leader in the health, safety, and medical industries with a 15-plus-year career spanning medical device sales, marketing, and strategic growth. The discussion centers on the surprising and often overlooked role of topical pain relief in the workplace, a subject Joe Gilliland only learned about six months prior, despite his 27 years in the field.

Joe and Paul discuss how topical pain relievers, particularly those using menthol, are a vital, non-disruptive, and cost-effective tool for HSE professionals. Traditional treatments for musculoskeletal disorders or impact injuries involve oral pain relievers, ice, and time away from work. In contrast, topical pain relief allows an employee to get immediate care, apply the ointment, and quickly return to work, ultimately reducing downtime. Paul explains the science, noting that menthol topicals are FDA-regulated OTCs that have two mechanisms of action: local cryotherapy and interrupting the pain signal by attaching to the TRPM8 receptors. Critically, as Joe points out, these products treat symptoms without triggering OSHA recordability, which is a significant advantage for safety and health managers looking to keep injury rates down. The speakers encourage listeners to drop the historical stigma and recognize the clinical foundation and recent innovation in these products as a proactive health and wellness tool.

Takeaways:

• Expand Your Pain Relief Toolkit: Consider incorporating FDA-regulated, over-the-counter (OTC) topical pain relievers into first aid kits as an alternative to traditional oral medications like ibuprofen for initial musculoskeletal or impact injuries.
• Prioritize Immediate Treatment: Utilize topical solutions to provide immediate care to employees who experience pain, allowing them to apply the product and return to work quickly, thus reducing downtime.
• Understand the Science: Educate yourself and employees on the science behind menthol-based topicals, which function through local cryotherapy and by interrupting the pain signal at the TRPM8 (menthol) receptors.
• Combat the Stigma: Challenge the old perception that topicals "mask the pain" by highlighting the clinical data and the scientific mechanism that actively interrupts the pain signal.

Quote of the Show:

• "I would encourage anybody to be proactive. Don't wait for a pain occurrence to happen. Get educated, try things out. They're very cost-effective." - Paul Timko

Links:

• Paul Timko 
  • Cellphone: (440) 396-4361 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultimko/ 
  • Website: https://shor.by/spc 

• Joe Gilliland
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gilliland-544b1611/