Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder

An estimated nineteen million people each year suffer from musculo-skeletal work-related, accounting for about one third of all accidents at work and a majority of claims for workers in the United States. Today, most people work in the service sector, many of whom spend their days at a desk with computer, answer phones, reading and presentation of documents, and two dozen other small tasks. With advances in computer technology and software, many other types of companies are discovering that computer use can increase the productivity of their employees. Many think that this kind of paperwork is much less likely to cause people to develop lesions because they see the business activities as being less physically demanding activities of those who are in professions type of industry.

Occupational risk factors, including office activities, were shown to contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders related to work (DMS). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, prolonged and repetitive activities, the needs of inadequate production, excessive overtime, poor health awareness and lack of education is responsible for work-related MSDs. In 1993, over 45% of the population used computers at work, and in 1997, more than 18 million workers held jobs that required intensive use of computers, according to OSHA. The types of pain and tension in the workplace that people have experienced in these types of works are known by names such as repetitive stress injuries (RSI), repetitive motion injuries (RMI), and cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs ). People working in office-type environment may start to notice one or more symptoms related to a musculoskeletal disorder while they are at work, after returning home, or more than once during the day. During the aging process, many changes occur in the human body, especially musculoskeletal changes that affect the ways in which the function our bodies. Researchers Mikael Forsman and Stefan Thorn has conducted a study that sought to measure the types of stresses that working with computers placed on the bodies of fourteen persons. Theory known as the hypothesis Cinderella claims that these ongoing muscle activity, even at low levels, can lead to pain and discomfort, because the muscles concerned do not occur rest for long periods of time.

There are several tests that doctors use to study the DMS activities including tolerance test, range-of-motion tests, including tests and EMG. A successful ergonomic intervention can help people who may already be suffering from an injury at work to continue to be productive while at work and minimize the risk of additional injury to workers. Many studies have found significant health benefits associated with including a registered nurse in the process of ergonomic assessment and intervention. The scheduling of follow-up visits by the ergonomics, coordination of meetings between employees and management, and monitoring of daily work habits are performed by the occupational health nurse, in order to help ensure that the recommendations of the evaluation were performed correctly. The occupational health nurse is also in a good position to fulfill the responsibility to educate workers and employers to recognize potential risk factors and how to adjust your working conditions accordingly. Occupational health nurses have experience in a variety of skills, including education and training. However, much of the health and safety training is aimed at workers. Maybe instead of educating employees, would be most beneficial to educate people in management positions of ergonomics to help increase safety on the job .......