Repetitive motion disorders

The low perception of injury risks among financial records and other clerical workers are exceptions. In a private conununication, Elaine McCrate has raised the possibility that women in these Jobs may not yet be informed of the risks of repetitive motion disorders and the possible hazards of VDT use. 

Ergonomics has become a major element of safety. About one-third of all worker compensation claims involve repetitive motion disorders or cumulative trauma disorders. Some estimate that such claims wUl cUmb to one-half of all worker compensation claims. 

Symptoms of repetitive motion disorders have been described as appearing in three stages (Chatterjee, 1978). 

A work-related musculoskeletal disorder is an injury to the muscles, tendons, and/ or nerves of the upper body either caused or aggravated by work. Other names used to describe work-related musculoskeletal disorders include repetitive motion injuries, repetitive strain injuries, cumulative trauma disorders, soft tissue disorders, and overuse syndromes. Work-related musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) affecting the upper body and limbs are now recognized as one of the leading causes of worker pain and disability. 

On the construction worksite, ergonomic principles are being used to help adapt the job to fit the person, rather than force the person to fit the job. Redesigning the job to fit the worker can reduce stress and eliminate many potential injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of muscles, bad posture, and repetitive motions. Also referred to as biotechnology or human engineering, it is intended to maximize productivity by reducing worker fatigue and discomfort. 

Figure 13-1. Pictorial representation of the anatomy related to carpal tunnel syndrome. Nerves both left and right views), blood vessels (right view), tendons and tendon sheaths (right view) pass through the carpal region of the wrist. The large ligament over the carpal region helps keep tissues in place during wrist articulation. V arious forms of inflammation and disorders in the wrist and hands can result from repetitive motions.

Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), also referred to as repetitive-motion injuries, result from excessive use of the hand, wrist, or forearm. As with overexertion injuries, the frequency and costs of CTDs are growing to epidemic proportions. Some of the most common cumulative trauma disorders are carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and tenosynovitis. 

As part of the tracking process, a company must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration s (OSHA s) recordkeeping requiranents for occupational injuries and illnesses. Any occupational illness that has resulted in an abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to environmental factors, which may be acute or chronic due to inhalation, absorption, ingestion or direct contact with toxic substances or harmful agents, and any repetitive motion injury is to be classified as an illness. All illnesses are recordable, regardless of severity. Injuries are recordable when... 

Results from the 2010 Healthy People objectives indicated that skin disorder more than met the goals. The goals for oveiexertion, repetitive motion, and workplace stress met approximately 50 percent of the goal. The results for pneumoconiosis and blood lead level were less favorable. Data for noise-induced hearing loss is not yet available. 

CTD) A disorder of the musculoskeletal and nervous system that may be caused or aggravated by repetitive motions, forceful exertions, vibration, mechanical compressions, sustained or awkward postures, or by exposure to noise over extended periods of time. 

When the word ergonomics is mentioned most employers and many others will tend to make derogatory comments and act as thongh ergonomics is some kind of contrived problem. However, from my experience of visiting many types of industries and workplaces, it is not at all unusual for me to talk to a person who has had live surgeries related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), or repetitive motion injuries (RMls). In this chapter these terms will be used interchangeably. 

The focus of ergonomics is on the work environment and includes factors such as design of workstations, controls, displays, safety devices, tools, and lighting to fit the employees physical requirements and to ensure their health and well-being. Many times a restructuring of the work environment helps to reduce the stressors that cause cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) and repetitive motion injuries (RMIs). 

Conveyors Workers can be injured when they are caught in pinch points or in the in-going nip points, are hit by falling products or develop musculoskeletal disorders associated with awkward postures or repetitive motions. 

Poor Ergonomics improper lifting, repetitive motion or poor design of operations can lead to musculoskeletal disorders in workers. 

Other task considerations dealing with the content of the task that ate related to the physical requirements include the pace or rate of work, the amount of repetition in task activities, and work pressure due to production demands. Task activities that are highly repetitive and paced by machinety rather than by the employee tend to be stressful. Such conditions also diminish an employee s attention to hazards and the capability to respond to a hazard due to boredom. These conditions may produce cumulative trauma disorders to the musculoskeletal system when the task activity cycle time is short and constant. Tasks with relatively low workload and energy expenditure can be very hazardous due to the high frequency of muscle and joint motions and boredom, which leads to employee inattention to hazards. 

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