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CLICK to view past issues and articles in the NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE . . .

May / June 2010

Table of Contents:

1. New Hire Training: Reduce Ergonomic Injuries by Training Employees in Proper Work Techniques
2. Ergonomic Risk Factors: Lack of Arm Support
3. Think Safe! Sun and Heat Exposure

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New Hire Training

Reduce Ergonomic Injuries by Training New Employees in Proper Work Techniques

As was discussed in the last newsletter article about Post Offer Screens, it seems that many businesses have at least one story of someone who was recently hired that had a costly injury. There is a good chance that if you look at your Worker’s Compensation logs, you will find employees with less than two years on the job account for 20% or more of your total cost and claim count. Examine it more closely, and many of these claims involve back injuries or muscle sprains and strains. As America’s economy recovers, businesses will be hiring more people to meet their service needs and production demands. Hiring individuals who are then not properly trained to perform the job safely can result in higher worker’s compensation costs for many years.

Ergonomic risk factors should be considered one component of how to perform a job safely. When a worker is learning a new job, their body and their brain are also learning new movement patterns that will eventually become habits. It makes sense that the best time to learn the safest way to perform the job is right from the start. It is easier to form good habits right from the start, than it is to change old habits. New Hire Training is an effective tool for assisting with this process.

New Hire Training is done on site at your company and can be set up in conjunction with an Early Intervention Program or separately. As part of the training, employees are instructed either individually or in small groups on the importance of taking care of their own bodies. They are educated about basic ergonomic risk factors and the importance of good blood flow for their working bodies. The employees learn job specific exercises that can be used as brief "ergo breaks" regularly throughout their work day. They are shown movement patterns that can be used to avoid some of the common ergonomic risk factors. Immediately following this instruction, the employees are observed individually performing their actual work tasks. Pointers are given for proper work technique and safe body mechanics and any questions or issues that the employee has about job task performance are addressed.

The amount of time required is minimal. Time away from the job site for the initial instruction is minimal, averaging 20-30 minutes. The one on one time for job task performance is done at the job site for 10-15 minutes with no interruption to production. The opportunity for follow up is available, based on the needs of the employer and employee.

In summary, the benefits of implementing a New Hire Training program are numerous. It sets expectations for employee compliance to proper work techniques and personal accountability. It can result in fewer injuries. It will reduce Workers’ Comp costs by reducing injuries. It will decrease employee turnover – employees will feel more confident about their job performance and experience less pain. This can save your organization a lot of time and money. There will be improved employee morale and job satisfaction. Implementing a New Hire Training program is a WIN-WIN situation for both the employer and the employee. It can also be used for existing employees that are transitioning into a different job position.

If you would like additional information on this or any of our services, please contact Jim Panozzo at CIS Onsite for more details (866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com..

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Ergonomic Risk Factors:

Lack of Arm Support

There are many obvious safety hazards in our lives that put us at risk for injury. Things like drunk driving, drug use, or even just walking on ice in the middle of winter are all behaviors that most adults understand will increase their possibility of getting hurt. But what about the not so obvious risk factors that we expose ourselves to day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year? How we choose to use our bodies each day, greatly impacts our likelihood of experiencing a musculoskeletal type injury. This is a continuation of our series covering common risk factors that the average worker does not consider.

The next risk factor to be discussed is lack of arm support. Did you know that the average human arm weighs over seven pounds? And since most of us have two arms, that is over 14# that the muscles of our neck and shoulders have to hold up! This static contraction of the muscles for long periods of time increases the muscle tension in the shoulders and neck.

This muscle tension reduces the all important blood flow to the rest of the arm as previously discussed with Forward Head Posture. Lack of arm support causes the muscles in the neck to tighten up which can squeeze the nerves and arteries as they come off the side of the neck. This is a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and can lead to symptoms all the way down the arm and makes an individual more susceptible to Musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. It is also a common cause of neck and upper back pain.

To minimize the risks associated with lack of arm support consider the following:

• Reposition the work station to allow for support of the arms. Preferably this support comes from support through the forearm and not across the base of the wrist. An example of this may be to push the keyboard farther back on the desk and raise the height of the chair to allow for support of the arms from the desk.
• Consider addition of arm rests to the chair or provide an alternate chair that would provide arm support.
• Consider padding corner of work surface to promote comfortable arm support.
• Consider job rotation that would reduce the amount of time a worker is performing tasks that do not provide proper arm support.
• Train workers about the risks associated with a lack of arm support.
• Encourage workers to provide a resting position for arms whenever possible (i.e. at breaks, while driving, on thighs during breaks in work.) Even a few seconds every hour can make a difference in the work load on the muscles of the neck and shoulder.

Stretching is also a way to balance out the wear and tear that unavoidable lack of arm support can cause. About once every one to two hours, remember to perform some stretches for 10 seconds each. As pictured below, the neck stretch and shoulder pendulum are good for reducing the effects of a lack of arm support.

Neck Stretch	Shoulder Pendulum

Whether we are at work or at home, we are confronted with situations throughout the day that may cause us posture ourselves with a lack of arm support. The biggest tool to prevent this risk factor is knowledge of both the employee and the employer.

If you would like information about services CIS onsite can provide to address Ergonomic Risk Factors within your environment, please contact Jim Panozzo at CIS onsite for more details
(866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com.

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Think Safe!

Sun and Heat Exposure

During late spring and summer many people like to spend time outside in the sun for fun or work. But overexposure to the sun can damage the skin and could cause skin cancer.

Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash are possible when your become overexerted in the heat. Put your health first in order to enjoy the summer.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and face cool. This will also provide added protection from damaging sun exposure. Baseball caps provide little protection except to the face. A hat should protect the neck, face and ears.
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt at all times. It should be light colored and loose fitting except when working around machinery.
• Carry a source of water with you. Take drinks frequently-every 15 minutes.
• Take frequent breaks in the shade or in a cool environment during the hottest times of the day.
• Adjust gradually to working in the heat over a period of 10-20 days.
• Someone suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke should be moved to a cool environment, offered sips of water, if conscious, and provided with attention from emergency medical personnel.
• Wear sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15. Make sure children are also adequately protected.

Resource: National Safety Council

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