Ideas offered to lessen seniors’ injuries in falls

Practical tips for reducing injuries from falls ...

"Injuries from falls -- a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths of seniors -- can be prevented with environmental changes and training on how to fall safely, health officials say.

"A big problem is the home itself or the furnishings -- low chairs impossible to get out of," said Rosemary Bakker, gerontologist, certified interior designer and research associate in gerontologic design and medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Bakker addressed more than 300 participants at a statewide conference, "Reducing Falls by Design," sponsored by the state Health Department on Tuesday at the Pacific Beach Hotel."   continued ...   (Via StarBulletin)

Types of Falls.

Report Recommends Ways To Protect Workers From Injuries

Government trying to get a handle on musculoskeletal injuries ...

"The Ontario government is reviewing a report by the Ergonomics Advisory Panel to find ways to protect workers from musculoskeletal injuries, Labour Minister Steve Peters said today.

"I thank the panel members for their expert advice on this important topic," said Peters. "We are now reviewing their report to help us implement strategies to protect workers from the effects of ergonomics-related injuries."

According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, there were 41,670 musculoskeletal injuries resulting in lost time at work in 2003. This represents over 40 per cent of all lost-time injuries in Ontario workplaces. These injuries can develop as a result of the cumulative effects of repetitive, stressful or awkward movements that wear down bones, joints, ligaments and other soft tissues."   continued ...   (Via CNW Group)

Ontario Government.

Leadership and Communication Skills for the EHS Professional

Good rules for an effective EHS professional ...

"Most EHS professionals are not trained in the so-called "soft skills" such as basic leadership, written and oral communication and listening. I can vouch for that. I accumulated three science-oriented degrees (B.S., M.S. and Sc.D.) and was well prepared in the technical aspects of occupational health and safety, but terribly wanting in the soft skills or "sales skills" I needed to leverage my technical expertise. I was well-positioned to work and communicate with my EHS peers, but not well-equipped to work effectively with my customers, such as labor reps, workers, plant managers and general management.

This article is intended to discuss the non-technical skills so essential in optimizing our effectiveness. Our technical skills give us the right to succeed, but it is our personal leadership and communication skills that provide the way we succeed."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

EHS Professionals.

Report: 96,282 Died in United States from Workplace Diseases in 2001

Accidents are not the only workplace hazard - disease is another factor ...

"For every U.S. worker killed at work by an injury, more than 10 die from work-related diseases, according to the most recent estimate by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

"One of the biggest challenges we face is the relative under-emphasis of occupational health in relation to safety," asserted Jukka Takala in an interview to discuss the results of the ILO's report on global workplace injuries and illnesses. Takala is the director of ILO's SafeWork program and played an important part in putting together the data.

Every 3 years, ILO issues a report on global occupational injuries and illnesses. The most recent figures, released at last month's World Congress of Safety in Orlando Fla., go through the year 2001.

The ILO figures for the annual death toll of work-related illnesses are roughly double estimates by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), according to Takala. The ILO estimates that in 2001, 6,643 U.S. workers died in fatal accidents, 728 more than the official BLS number."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Asbestos.

Devices help the blind cross tech divide

Special gadgets to help the visually impared stay connected ...

"Jerry Swerdlick runs a 15-employee company that resells computers and devices that aid people with visual, hearing, learning and other physical disabilities.

Business is really booming these days, Swerdlick said, as more and more manufacturers are building so-called assistive technology gadgets to address a wide range of special needs groups.

And while he takes bigger and bigger orders from his clients, the mere fact that he is able to spend many hours on the computer is a testament to how far assistive technology designs have come in recent years.

That's because Swerdlick is legally blind."   continued ...   (Via CNET)

Keys-U-See.