Mr. Clean gets into ergonomics

"Procter & Gamble has introduced Mr. Clean MagicReach, a cleaning tool designed specifically for the bathroom and its hard-to-reach places. It quickly cleans bathroom surfaces, including in and around the sink, behind the toilet, all tub and shower surfaces as well as the bathroom wall and floor tile. Mr. Clean Magic Reach is ergonomically designed, lightweight, and features a pivoting football-shaped head. Includes both disposable scrubbing and mopping pads. The head is removable to help you attack all bathroom surfaces, and there's an extendable 4-foot pole. Mr. Clean Magic Reach will be available this month for $12.99 at grocery, hardware, variety and drugstores. Information:"

Avoiding Computer Fatigue Syndrome

"Because so many of us use computers on a daily basis and the fact that it has become engrained in our workplace, home life and extracurricular activities, almost all of us have experienced annoying physical symptoms after several hours in front of our computer.

Symptoms such as eyestrain, blurred vision, dizziness & headaches, red, dry or burning eyes, excessive fatigue, neck, shoulder, back, wrist or elbow pain are common place with those people that depend on the computer for livelihood or students spending hours in front of one doing their assignments. Those that spend hours on a computer for entertainment are not immune either. This constellation of symptoms can be bundled up in a syndrome called Computer Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

In a recent OSHA report the government organization on workplace safety stated that Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) a subset of CFS along with other overuse work related injuries associated with prolonged computer use appears to be growing rapidly. Some studies estimating that 90 percent of the 70 million U.S. workers using computers for more than 3 hours a day experience some form of computer fatigue. "

Striking a Chord with Rock Concert Goers to Reduce Hearing Loss

"A new U of T study recommends the provision of ear plugs, education at concert entrances and the reduction of music sound levels to minimize the risk of hearing loss for rock concert attendees.

The conclusions are part of a study published in the January/February issue of the Canadian Journal of Public Health, which looked at whether concert goers perceive there is a risk of hearing damage from the loud music at concerts and whether they use hearing protection at these venues. The study revealed that although 74 per cent of attendees thought it was likely or very likely that noise levels at music concerts could damage their hearing, 80 per cent said they never wore hearing protection at such events. "

Erring on the Side of Disaster

"The creation of a safety culture is a topic discussed at nearly every major occupational safety conference these days. In its simplest form, a safety culture represents the value that an organization places on safety and the actions that its employees and managers take to operate in a safe fashion. If a company treats safety as the program of the month, no employee with the title of 'safety manager' is going to find much success.

Our cover story this month examines the self-acknowledged failure by FirstEnergy Corp. to develop an effective safety culture at its Davis-Besse nuclear power plant in Ohio. In March 2002, that failure led to the discovery of a large hole in the reactor's pressure vessel head, a carbon steel plate more than 6 inches thick."

Beware the Hidden Eye Hazards

"Eye injuries in the workplace remain all too common, afflicting more than 700,000 Americans each year. Yet Prevent Blindness America says 90 percent of these injuries can be avoided with a simple and obvious expedient: safety eyewear.

If that's the case, why do so many workers and employers appear to be blind to the value of safety glasses?

Jim McKay, plant manager at McMormick and Co. Inc., the spice manufacturer based in Hunt Valley, Md., doesn't know the answer to that question, but he knows how to solve the problem. After joining the company as safety manager, he began a mandatory safety eyewear program that applied to everyone at all times in McMormick's production facilities. Serious eye injuries have been virtually eliminated."

How to Protect the Aging Work Force

"Last month, we examined the physical changes that the body undergoes with age and the steps that employers can take to ensure that their workplaces are designed to accommodate those changes and not pose an unnecessary threat of injury. As we noted, we want the brain power and the experience and knowledge that older workers provide, but not the lost work-time days, workers' compensation claims or any of the negatives associated with injuries/illnesses.

Now let's address the slowing of mental processes. 'Memory' is not a single entity or ability. Memory is a process that consists of a number of components, each controlled by various neurological systems. For the purposes of this article, the term 'memory' is used broadly to apply to all aspects of our ability to learn, retain and recall information. In addition to memory, this information can also be applied to other thinking skills, such as attention and reasoning."

Building Trust for Safety

My friend's father was a plant electrician before he got hurt. Highly skilled guy, very bright and motivated to excel at whatever he puts his hands on. But that's the problem. He can't easily put his hands on anything. He has no ability to torque/twist his wrist, due to cumulative injury to small carpal bones in his hands. After corrective surgery, he was supposed to be on light duty to heal but his supervisor changed his job title and had him work his old job. He wound up permanently hurt. His employer denied his long-term disability claim on a technicality. He ran out of savings trying to hire an attorney to fight his case. He can't work – can't even help his daughter install a fan in her new house. He feels terrible, and all his co-workers know about this and remain angry.

Controlling corporations and restoring democracy

One does not have to look far in Washington these days to find evidence that government policy is being crafted with America’s biggest corporations in mind.

For example, the Bush administration’s 2006 budget cuts the enforcement budgets of almost all the major regulatory agencies. If the gutting of the ergonomics rule, power plant emissions standards and drug safety programs was not already enough evidence that OSHA, EPA and FDA are deeply compromised, the slashing of their enforcement budgets presents the possibility—indeed, probability—that these public agencies will become captives of the private corporations they are supposed to regulate.

Take team approach to preventing costly injuries

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' Most everyone has heard this statement.

I am going to apply this statement to help you avoid or eliminate on-the-job injuries to your employees' musculoskeletal systems and save you some health-care dollars. These musculoskeletal injuries are repetitive motion disorders (tendinitis), carpal tunnel and spinal injuries to the back and neck with or without injuries to the disc and spinal nerves."

Education of your work force is very important in preventing injuries. Many of your employees find medical terminology confusing. They will not understand many of the different medical diagnoses. Educate your work force on basic anatomy and how these tissues may become injured. For example, most people do not know what a tendon is or what causes tendinitis. They may believe that once you get tendinitis you have it for life.

What the educators are saying

"Concern about medical errors has resulted in increased regulation of trainees' hours in the United States and Europe. To begin to quantify the effect of these changes on patient safety, trainees were randomised to a 'traditional' work schedule that included extended shifts (at least 24 hours) or a schedule that did away with extended shifts and cut the number of hours per week. During 2203 patient days involving 634 admissions, trainees on the traditional schedule made almost 36% more serious errors than those on the reduced shift, leading to a 22% increase for the entire critical care unit. Of particular note, the number of unintercepted errors for the traditional work schedule increased by more than 56%. Eliminating extended shifts and reducing the working week can improve patient safety. "

Several related articles ...

Finnish study shows handset radiation within limits

"A Finnish survey of some of the world's most popular mobile phones found the amount of radiation they emit is well below agreed limits and largely in line with data published by manufacturers.

The annual survey by Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) covered 16 new models made by top handset makers including Finland's Nokia, Motorola of the United States and South Korea's Samsung Electronics. "

A computer chair and workstation that transcends traditional ergonomic office furniture.

The adjustable Stance angle chair and the Plasma2 computer monitor and computer keyboard positioning unit combine new technology, thoughtful design, and precise comfort controls into an integrated computer workstation. The Plasma2™ System is ideal for any computer user mindful of functional comfort, proper back alignment, and wrist and lumbar support. Our computer chair, the Stance® angle chair, is made to complement any work environment, from a home office or cubicle to an executive office suite.

ZigBee "Panic Button" Calls For Help

Lusora has developed a nifty new twist on solving the "I've fallen and I can't get up" problem. The company rolled out its LISA pendant, and a series of monitors, which use the new Zigbee low-speed mesh network to provide security to elderly people who want to live at home, and their family.

The LISA system – which stands for Lusora Intelligent Sensory Architecture – includes a wearable pendant, an in-light switch video camera, sensors and receivers create a low-power home monitoring system that will help an aging population stay in their homes.

The pendant, which is worn around the neck, includes an array of accelerometers, buttons on the front and back, and a low-power Zigbee radio. If a rapid acceleration is detected (such as when someone falls over), or the two buttons are pressed in tandem, the pendant connects to an intelligent controller – which then contacts one of four alerting and monitoring companies, or contacts a family member directly.

Anatomy dictates efficency of underwater propulsion

"The biomechanics of diving mammals, whose bodies reflect their environment, offer lessons for human divers."

Diving mammals are able to propel themselves through the aquatic environment very efficiently. Humans can become good swimmers, but human swimming feats can hardly be compared with those of diving mammals. Techniques for surface swimming, without diving gear, and for breath-hold diving among humans are quite different than those of the mammalian breath-hold divers.
Movement through water requires a propulsion system and energy to drive the system. The mechanics of moving a body through water is achieved through the musculoskeletal system, with the skeleton providing the structural support and lever arms for muscle movement. The skeletal system is divided into two main sections, axial and appendicular.

The axial skeleton includes the bones in the center of the body, namely the spine, rib cage, and pelvis. The appendicular skeleton includes the bones that support the extremities. The anatomy of the axial and appendicular skeletal systems of diving mammals has advantages for movement as well as for heat and energy conservation in the aquatic environment.

Revisiting exercise and scoliosis management

"As physical therapists specializing in the treatment of spinal conditions, we were pleased to read a physiotherapeutic perspective on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis featured in the BioMechanics supplement, Scoliosis Management (September).

In the article by Richards and Cassella ('Exercising Options,' page 14), the authors review two studies that examined the effects of exercise and a complement of other interventions for the reduction of curve progression in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. An important omission from this brief overview is the work of Vert Mooney, MD, and colleagues who have demonstrated in two peer-reviewed articles the effectiveness of exercise in the management of the scoliotic adolescent.

Importantly, this research challenges the closing statements by Richards and Cassella in which the authors conclude, 'Existing evidence does not suggest that exercise alone can prevent curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Designing a study involving exercise alone, therefore, would be ethically questionable.' "

Braces' joint effects spur research surge

"How a joint articulates between bones has researchers and clinicians taking a closer look at the interdependence of joints in the context of bracing. The effect of ankle bracing on the knee, for example, has received the most attention in the literature.

Evidence suggests that ankle supports may transfer loads to other joints, putting them at risk for injury, according to a literature review by Brent Arnold, PhD, an associate professor of exercise science at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Conventionally aligned ankle foot orthoses increase demand on the knee extensor muscles that can be ameliorated by realigning a device to account for shoe heel height, according to a study at Northwestern University in Chicago."

Spring 2005 The National Health, Wellness & Prevention Congress

"Are you ready to take advantage of the latest developments in Wellness and Fitness?"

2005 NATIONAL HEALTH, WELLNESS & PREVENTION CONGRESS Located at the Hyatt McCormick, Chicago, IL, May 4th - May 6th, 2005

Attendees will learn about the most innovative initiatives for wellness, disease and injury prevention/management, nutritional supplements, health and fitness regimes, technology, equipment, techniques, new products and promotions.

Accord may help assess cell phone risk

A global standard-setting organization said Wednesday that it had brokered an accord to help authorities assess the potential health risks facing mobile phone users.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), whose standards are used in 100 nations, said its new guidelines would make it easier for phone manufacturers and officials to compare research done in different countries on mobile phone radiation.

"Scientists are still debating the long-term effects of this, particularly in the brain," said IEC.

A new market for floating hotels

Luxury liners offer many of the same amenities as old folks' homes: meals and housekeeping, laundry and hair-dressing services, and even an escort to dinner. They have handgrips in the toilets and walk-in showers. And they also provide plenty of things that land-based facilities do not—such as premium-grade ozone, nightly entertainment and round-the-clock access to medical care.

“Cruise ships could be considered as a floating assisted-living facility,” says Lee Lindquist, a geriatrician at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She first took a cruise last year and was struck by the untapped potential. She has now proposed a new model for old-age living, which she calls “cruise-ship care”, to be published in November's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Memory Mirror

"There are particular household items that people use for one specific task (e.g. taking a pill, feeding the cat) that usually is simple and short to do. However, these tasks become difficult to remember doing when they are repeated often enough but not in a strict routine, so the memory confusion arises between the repeated episodes. Did we do this already today or was that yesterday or the day before or do we still need to do this today? A similar confusion arises between multiple care-takers. Is it my turn today to do this or is it your turn or has this already been taken care of?

Memory mirror reflects a period of time (e.g. 24 hours of a day). As we use an item, it is visually posted to the mirror as shown in figure 1, and is recorded in a history log. If we had already used an item, an episode mirror reflects details of the previous number of usages. The memory mirror also warns of possibly lost items that have yet to be returned.

The memory mirror system uses RFID (radio frequency identification) technology which is available yet expensive today. Each household item (e.g. medicine bottles, food containers) has a RFID tag on the bottom, and the designated storage area (e.g. medicine cabinet, key tray) has a RFID reader on the top. Each item is photographed and entered into the system's inventory. With this setup, the memory mirror system tracks the removal and return of each differently tagged object to and from the storage area."

The RinG-Pen ergonomic ball point pen

"Pens were created by the ancient Arabians in the Middle East towards the end of the slushee era before even paper had been invented. Thousands of years have since passed, and every great mind in recorded history has held one, yet most pen-related innovation has concentrated on the tip of the pen: fountain pens from Waterman, ball point pen from Laslo Biro, rollers from Japan. During the last century there have been approximately 150 patents granted connected with pens and improving the writing process. The shape of the holder though has remained the same, looking kind of familiar ... like the stick it was derived from. Until now that is, cos now there's the ergonomically-designed RinGPen."

Laptop Stands For Serious Road Warriors

"We always enjoy your reviews. There is another Portable Laptop Stand category that you might write about - it is that category of laptop users who work away from their desk (or any desk) in an upright seated posture.

That's an excellent suggestion, and indeed this is a category of laptop stand that can prove very useful to serious road warriors, and well as folks who do presentations from a laptop, or even find a portable workstation convenient in their office or home."

The essential feature of these stands is that they get the laptop off your lap, which gives them a more secure platform, allows the machine to cool more efficiently, prevents singed thighs with today’s hot-running portables, and facilitates much more healthy ergonomics.

Stave off the aches and pains of sewing

"Dr. Colleen McDonough of Salem, Oregon, is a chiropractic physician who specializes in ergonomics and biomechanical rehabilitation. She also happens to love quilting."

A few years ago, McDonough discovered some of the aches and pains experienced by sewers and quilters. They stem from arthritis, repetitive motions and from sitting for a long time. She initiated simple changes to help people in their surroundings, and found a few helpful tools, too.

Here are some examples:

Oh baby: Chiropractic advice for mothers-to-be

"As many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress placed on the body by the baby, can result in severe discomfort. "

The American Chiropractic Association recommends the following tips for pregnant women:

Updated - Ergonomics.Events

New event announcements for 2005.