November 2002
Workplace
Safety Tips
Prevention
is in Your Hands
Hand and
Wrist Safety: The importance of ergonomics in the workplace
In the spring of 2002, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) released a plan to help reduce workplace repetitive motion
injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. OSHA's new plan stresses
voluntary compliance by companies in all industries.
To help, we have compiled some simple ergonomic "fixes"
you can use to limit stressful, sometimes injury-producing motions
on-the-job:
Reduce repetitions-Have your employees avoid repeating
actions as much as possible. Or, if several different work activities
are possible, have them switch from one to another from time to
time.
Take a break-Encourage your employees to take breaks to
give their bodies time to recover from repetitive motions. Allow
them to adjust their pace to prevent extreme fatigue. Encourage
them to stand up and stretch from time to time.
Pad work surfaces and use cushioned tools or other devices-Softening
the contact between body tissues and a hard surface helps make the
work more comfortable-and injury less likely.
Have your employees follow all safety procedures-Don't
let anyone use shortcuts or neglect the use of safety equipment.
Look at - and adjust if necessary - the height of the chair
and keyboard or the level of the work surface-Even a slight change
in angle, height, or distance can make a major change in the amount
of stress on the body.
Keep the elbows at right angles. Adjust the chair or work
surface so that elbows form roughly a 90-degree angle. This produces
less stress on tendons and nerves.
Keep the wrist as straight as possible-A bent wrist, especially
when combined with pressure, increases stress on wrist tendons and
can possibly lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Change positions-Frequent changes in posture or work position
help reduce stress in a single area of the body.
Watch for symptoms of possible injury-and, if necessary,
refer employees for medical attention. The sooner you care about
your worker, the sooner your worker will seek treatment, and the
sooner the injury will be addressed. Studies have shown that the
earlier repetitive motion injuries are treated, the better the prognosis
will be and the earlier the employee can return to work.
Increase work gradually when returning an employee to work-The
body needs to get accustomed to new movements. Allow your returning
employee to get back-to-work slowly, gradually building his or her
speed and workload.
Suggest changes in activities outside of work, too-Many
repetitive motion
injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, can actually be caused
or worsened by what employees do
off-the-job.
What
employers can do to help control the cost of a possible claim
for CTS
1. Don't ignore your employee or the situation when the
employee first experiences hand or wrist pain. Take care of your
worker. Get him or her to a quality medical provider ASAP. The
earlier the treatment, the lower the cost of the claim and the
less pain for your worker.
2. Help provide information for the claim investigation.
Know your employees, and please let your claims adjuster know
about any pre-existing conditions or off-the-job hobbies and activities
that may have contributed to your employee's CTS injury.
3. Have in place a modified duty position for the employee
when he/she is able to return to work. Work with the physician
and nurse case manager to accommodate any restrictions or modifications
to the employee's job duties.
|
