Work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Occupational health and safety in the rubber industry is discussed with reference to UK, US and European legislation. The review covers both natural and synthetic rubber industries. The first section outlines the laws affecting health and safety in the industry and the remainder presents specific health and safety issues of interest to employers and employees. Industrial safety is examined with reference to equipment, fire and explosions, solvents, epidemiology, NR latex allergy, skin irritations and dermatitis, dust and fume control, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, nitrosamines, 1,3-butadiene, and handling of rubber chemicals. 484 refs. 

The psychological and physiological limitations and capabilities constitute the ergonomics or human factors. It is the most important part of the occupational safety and health program. This is to evaluate personnel capabilities and improve human safety, comfort, and productivity in the workplace. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are the results of ergonomics and limitations of the human body to a sudden change or continuous working on a physical job, especially where most of the jobs are carried out manually. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors A critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremities, and low back. Centers for Disease Control (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-141. Atlanta,... 

WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY... 

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH 1997) states that musculoskeletal disorders, which include disorders of the back, trunk, upper extremity, neck, and lower extremity are one of the 10 leading work-related illnesses and injuries in the United States. Praemer et al, (1992) report that work-related upper-extremity disorders (WUEDs), which are formally defined by the Biureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as cumulative trauma illnesses, account for 11.0 % of aU work-related musculoskeletal disorders (illnesses). For comparison, occupational low-back disorders account for more than 51.0% of aU WRMDs. According to BLS (1995), the cumulative trauma illnesses of upper extremity accounted for more than 60% of the occupational illnesses reported in 1993. These work-related illnesses, which include hearing impairments due to occupational noise exposure, represent 6.0% of aU reportable work-related injuries and illnesses (Marras 1996). 

As reviewed by Karwowski and Marras (1997), work-related musculoskeletal disorders currently account for one-third of aU occupational injuries and illnesses reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by employers every year. These disorders thus constitute the largest job-related injury and illness problem in the United States today. According to OSHA (1999), in 1997 employers reported a total of 626,000 lost workday disorders to the BLS, and these disorders accounted for 1 of every 3 spent for workers compensation in that year. Employers pay more than 15-20 billion in workers compensation costs for these disorders every year, and other expenses associated with MSDs may increase this total to 45-54 billion a year. 

TABLE 21 Potential Risk Factors for Development of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders... 

The high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, has motivated the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to focus on standardization efforts. Recently, OSHA announced the initiation of rulemaking under Section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 655, to amend Part 1910 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations and requested information relevant to preventing, eliminating, and reducing occupational exposure to ergonomic hazards. 

Kuorinka, L, tmd Forder, L., Eds. (1995), Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) A Reference Book for Prevention, Taylor Francis, Ix>ndon. 

National Research Council (1998), Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders A Review of the Evidence, National Academy Press, Washington, DC., website www.nap.edu/books/0309063272/ html/index.html. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1997), Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and Workplace Eactors A Critical Review of Epidemiologic Evideiwefor Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Neck, Upper Extremity, and Low Back, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati. 

Pharmaceutical industry assembly in, 398 as process industry, 518 PHC (productive hour cost), 2314 Photoelectric sensors, 1902 Physical anthropometry, 1043 Physical automation technology, 156 Physical data independence, 116 Physical markets, 262 Physical models, 1630 Physical products, online retailing of, 266 Physical prototyping, 1288 Physical tasks, 1042-1100. See also Ergonomics Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) and anthropometry, 1043-1050 alternative design, 1049 body position, description of, 1043... 

Work-related diseases, 1082-1084 Work-related injuries, 1070, 1082. See also Occupational safety and health definition of, 1168-1170 descriptions of, 1167-1170 statistics related to, 1157, 1173-1174 Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs), 1082-1086, 1166 conceptual models for development of, 1083-1086 definition of, 1082... 

Human factors are also important in rehabilitation, where various aids for the disabled must be sized correctly, be versatile enough to accommodate special needs, be acceptable to the human user, and be socially acceptable to others. Without proper incorporation of human factors, health problems such as eyestrain, mental stress, and physical injury can result. Cumulative trauma disorder (work-related musculoskeletal disorder) comes about when working repetitively with tools under awkward conditions. Carpel tunnel syndrome is one form of this. 

As early as 1700, Bernardino Ramazzini, one of the founders of occupational medicine, had associated certain physical activities with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). He postulated that certain violent and irregular motions and unnatural postures of the body impair the internal structure [Snook et al., 1988]. Presently, much effort is directed toward abetter understanding of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving the back, cervical spine, and upper extremities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined occupational diseases as those work-related diseases where the relationship to specific causative factors at work has been fully established [WHO, 1985]. Other work-related diseases may have a weaker or unclear association to working conditions. They maybe aggravated, accelerated, or exacerbated by workplace factors and lead to impairment of workers performance. Hence obtaining the occupational history... 

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. Ergonomics programs can prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders that occur when there is a mismatch between the worker and the task. 

All employers who are subject to the provisions of the OSH Act are required to keep records regarding the causes and prevention of occupational accidents and illnesses. This includes work-related musculoskeletal disorders. 

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. 

Workplace conditions or physical work activities that canse or are reasonably likely to canse or contribnte to a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. 

Workplace Solutions Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography... 

Industry Standards for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 2003. 

Orr, G. Identifying Risk Factors for Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Homes. OSHA Directorate of Technical Support, Nursing Homes Safety and Health Training Course, OSHA Office of Training and Education, USDL, July 1996. 

---