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July / August 2009

Keeping Workers Injury Free

by Addressing Traditional Risk Factors

(Part 2 of 2: Look for last months newsletter for information on Traditional Risk Factors)

As discussed in last month’s newsletter, employers are becoming more aware of the causative relationship between modifiable risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s) at work. While the mere presence of a risk factor doesn’t necessarily relate to injury risk, it may cause, aggravate or precipitate an MSD. According to research from the National Safety Council, it’s possible that interacting risk factors have a multiplying effect, which can significantly increase the likelihood of micro-trauma and worker injury.

Environmental Risk Factors

In addition to traditional risk factors, there are environmental risk factors that may contribute to work related injuries. To protect workers from environmental risk factors, groups such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists have developed acceptable exposure limits and guidelines. While some may be used as legal standards, others are merely used to make recommendations for worker safety. These common environmental risk factors can put workers in harm’s way.

Vibration

Vibration is the back and forth, linear motion that an object experiences as it moves to defined stationary point. A worker’s body can experience an amplification of the vibration’s intensity, which exacerbates the effects.
Vibration can represent a type of cumulative trauma, affecting multiple body parts and organs. The duration of exposure and the direction and intensity of the vibration are important factors to consider. In a work environment, workers can experience whole-body or segmental vibration.
The human body tolerates whole-body vibration better in the standing position. Women tend to experience more discomfort than men. To modify its effects, consider suspended seating systems to isolate the vibration source. Maintain vehicle suspension systems regularly and keep tires properly inflated. Remote-control systems can operate vibration-producing processes without body contact.
Promote good working postures and neutral joint positions, and avoid lifting or bending immediately following vibration exposure. Allow a longer recovery period for exposed tissues, and provide vibration-absorbing materials, such as rubberized anti-vibration mats or gel shoe inserts.
Segmental vibration affects a specific body segment – often the upper extremity – when using power tools or industrial machinery. Control strategies include fasteners or dampening devices to reduce the “drive” of the tool; personal protective equipment such as gel packed gloves and gel shoe inserts: tool and balance maintenance; sharpening grinders and cutting tools; and increasing revolutions per minute or cycle time of a power tool.

Thermal Stress

Workplace temperature can affect worker performance and increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders. Hot and cold extremes can lead to over-exertion injuries and even death. Hot and humid temperatures cause excessive fatigue, while extreme cold can cause overexertion and reduced finger sensation. Temperature extremes may also require additional or less protective clothing, leading to mobility impairments and trip-and-fall hazards.
Manage cold stress with dry insulating clothing, gloves, warm air jets, radiant heaters or warming plates. Cover metal tools with thermal insulation. Reduce airflow with windshields or barriers. If cold stress can’t be controlled, consider job rotation and warm-up periods.
With excessive heat, adequate ventilation through airflow and industrial fans can help. Clothing should be loose and made from think breathable materials. Job rotation and rest periods are also essential.

Sound and Noise

Excessive noise can distract workers and lead to long-term damage. Implement noise control programs, hearing conservation programs (including annual hearing test), sound-absorbing barriers and ear protection to guard against excessive noise exposure.

Illumination

Lighting levels influence worker ability. Straining can lead to eye and muscle problems, while excessive brightness can be distracting. Provide additional task lighting when high visual acuity is required.
Minimize indirect and direct glare by placing the light source as far away from a worker’s visual line of sight as possible, using multiple low-level light sources and implementing light shields or reflectors.
When using video display units, apply anti-glare screens or anti-reflection coatings, and change the work area to avoid indirect glare on the monitor.

By addressing one or more of these environmental risk factors, as well as, the traditional risk factors discussed in last months newsletter, a company can significantly reduce their worker's injury risks.

Adopted from ADVANCE for Directors in Rehabilitation

The therapists with CIS onsite are Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialists and can help identify risk factors within the work environment and provide corrective recommendations to minimize those risks. For more information, contact CISonsite at (866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com.

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Rehab While You Work

Onsite company health clinics are becoming a growing trend at large businesses across the country. Statistics show that more companies are developing such centers and that Physical and Occupational Therapy are playing an integral part of the services supplied.

Nearly 30% of large employers had a health clinic on campus or planned to open one by 2009, according to a 2008 survey of human resources consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. and the National Business Group on Health. Of the services offered, therapy is amount the most common. Rehab is available at 44% of onsite clinics opened before 2000 and at 22% created in or after 2000. Wyatt discovered that today’s onsite centers focus on improved productivity and reduced costs and emphasize preventive care services the most.

Wyatt determined that employers need to have at least 1,000 workers in one location to get anything out of an onsite clinic. While the majority of employers surveyed by the company did not track their onsite clinics’ return on investment, it is estimated that they save about $2 to $3 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and other health improvement efforts.

There are many perks to providing onsite therapy services. The therapists get to know their clients and gain a true knowledge of the job tasks that often land them in therapy in the first place. This can help with prevention of further injuries and encouragement to the employee to participate in wellness programs to enhance their lives. When participating in onsite therapy, employees feel like they are part of the team because everything is right there, onsite at the workplace health center. They feel empowered to participate in their plan of care, and motivated to continue working.

Adopted from ADVANCE for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants

CIS onsite is able to provide a variety of onsite wellness services, including Physical and Occupational Therapy, Early Intervention Programs, and Injury Prevention Trainings. If you would like additional information on how we can help you set up an onsite health clinic, contact CISonsite at (866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com.

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Think Safe!

Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now.

The likelihood that you and your family will survive a house fire depends as much on having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy, as on a well-trained fire department. The same is true for surviving a terrorist attack or other emergency. We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when disaster strikes. Just like having a working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected makes sense. Follow these steps to get ready now:

1) Get a Kit of Emergency Supplies

Be prepared for at least three days, maybe longer. Think about fresh water, food, and clean air. Consider two kits. In one, put everything you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to get away. These are some recommended supplies to include in a basic kit:

Water one gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
Food at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
First Aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Filter mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
Moist towelettes for sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers, and important family documents.

2) Make a Plan for What You Will Do in an Emergency

Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation. Use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Develop a Family Communications Plan

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. Consider an out-of-town contact as being in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Consider a Plan to Shelter-in-Place

There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process know as sheltering-in-place and sealing the room can be a matter of survival. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to shelter-in-place and seal the room. Consider precutting plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors and air vents. Each piece should be several inches larger than the space you want to cover so that you can duct tape it flat against the wall. Label each piece with the location of where it fits.

Create a Plan to Get Away

Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation out of your area. Take your emergency supply kit with you.

Know Emergency Plans at School and Work

Think about the places where your family spends time: school, work, and other placesyour family frequents. Find out how they will communicate with families during an emergency. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together.

Be informed about what might happen. By beginning a process of learning about specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Go to www.ready.gov to learn more about potential terrorist threats and other emergencies orcall 1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239) for a free brochure. After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step andget involved inpreparing your community. Go to www.citizencorps.gov for more information and to get involved.

If you've missed any of our previous newsletters, check the Archives

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