Ordinary CD players to monitor our health?

An inexpensive way to monitor health on the go ...

"Many of us, at least in developed countries, have CD players rusting in our homes. So why not turning them into something useful?A very short note by the American Chemical Society (ACS) says that Spanish researchers have adapted this now venerable technology into home health monitoring systems. This means that CD technology could be used for tests ranging from the measurement of environmental toxins to at-home disease diagnosis and even laboratory-based testing. The researchers don't give any clues about the availability of such a product, but I think they've got a brilliant idea.

... "In summary, the herein developed methodology is sensitive, versatile, portable, low cost, and easy to operate and could become a very advantageous system for a simultaneous multiresidue and real-time high-throughput technique of general application in molecular recognition-based biochemical methods at the point of need for home health monitoring or in situ analysis."    (Continued via Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends)    [Ergonomics Resources]

CD For Health Monitoring

Fusing Form Function Selecting Protective Apparel For Comfort and Protection

Making protective clothing wearable ...

"Protective clothing must protect workers, yet still be comfortable enough that they want to wear it.

The objective of protective apparel is to protect the wearer from hazards in the work environment. Unfortunately, some people charged with apparel selection may be operating under some misconceptions when it comes to matching the right protective garment to a specific task. Moreover, the issue of wearability often is not adequately considered, creating compliance issues with safe operating procedures.

Perhaps that is why 85 percent of safety professionals polled at the 2006 National Safety Congress (NSC) reported observing people in their organization not wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been. Nearly half said this had happened on numerous occasions.

About two-thirds of the safety professionals polled at the NSC said PPE compliance was an issue, with 40 percent describing it as a “major concern.” The main reason for noncompliance, according to a third of those polled, was a feeling of invulnerability (“It won’t happen to me.”). Other reasons given for noncompliance included:

* Lack of awareness of workplace hazards.
* Lack of training on how to don, doff and use PPE.
* Ill-fitting, uncomfortable garments.
* Lack of “breathability” and inadequate supplies.

While selection of task-appropriate protective garments may appear daunting – especially without an established U.S. standard for protective apparel – it does not have to be insurmountable. The key is to balance function (protection) and form (style, comfort and wearability) within the scope of a realistic hazard assessment and risk analysis."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Three Secrets to Perfect Posture

Quick tips for improving posture ...

"If you're reading this article most likely you're sitting at a computer. Take a moment to notice your posture right now.

Are your legs crossed? Is one hip forward or back of the other? Shoulders slumped forward? Upper back hunched? Head jutting forward to read the screen?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, chances are good that you don’t feel great sitting the way you’re sitting right now. You may not feel particularly bad, but the effects of poor posture are cumulative.

Our culture is more sedentary than ever before. The increase in computer use for work and play has contributed to our sedentary ways. Repetitive use injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or neck strain are on the rise. Ergonomic office and computer furniture, not to mention specialists who come to your office to fit you for the furniture – are becoming more common.

Can you lower your risk of becoming injured at your desk?

You bet you can.

Proper fit

First make sure that your work area fits you correctly...

Your chair should give you proper lumbar support and promote a comfortable up-right posture. Your feet should comfortably reach the floor directly in front of you. The height of your chair is relative to your work area and what you are doing, but as a general rule your elbows should be slightly below or up to level with your wrists, not above.

If you have an injury or condition that mandates correct posture in order for you to work without pain, have your work area checked over by someone who specializes in ergonomics to give you a recommendation on what would work best for you."    (Continued via Ezine Articles)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Take aches and pains out of your workplace

More tips on an ergonomic workplace ...

"Occupational therapist Karen Jacobs stumbled into the study of ergonomics quite by accident. She walked into her children's computer classroom in middle school and was horrified. "Everything was a mismatch," she remembers about the chairs, tables, and computers. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, they are predisposing themselves to discomfort.' "

There were a range of sixth-graders, some as tall as 6 feet and others only 4 feet, all trying to work on the same size terminals, some hunched over and others stretched to their limit. Jacobs volunteered to reconfigure the workstations. "I didn't want to see the next generation have the same aches and pains that we see today with adults," she said.

... The details

Speak to a professional: Consult an occupational therapist, certified ergonomist, or occupational health nurse who can assist you in determining what equipment you need.

Hands on: Always try the product before purchasing it and make sure you understand the return policy before leaving the store. Buy products from a reputable company that uses evidence-based research to back up its designs.

Take a break: Change your posture throughout the day and try to take a stretch break every 20-30 minutes. If you have a difficult time remembering to take a break, software such as Para Technologies' Stretch Break will intermittently remind you.

Neck smart: Instead of staring down at papers that are flat on your desk, use document holders on either side of the computer monitor to help keep your head upright, causing less strain. Likewise, don't cradle your phone with your neck; wireless headsets help keep your head in a neutral position."    (Continued via The Boston Globe)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Measuring The Workplace

Ergonomics & Common Sense - Reducing Repetitive Movements

Practical ways to reduce RSI ...

"Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do (...insert work, home, or leisure task...).
Doctor: Well, don't do that.

I've had many clients who are frustrated, having heard this, knowing that they cannot stop working or performing the activity that is painful. Although it is helpful to work with an ergonomic specialist who can show you specific ways in which to make your work less stressful on the body, a common-sense approach to activities can also make a difference.

This multi-part series will offer some common-sense tips - based on the ergonomic principles of avoiding repetition, force and awkward postures - that can help you avoid pain while working.

REPETITION

I worked recently with a graphic designer who was having pain in both arms. Working long days to complete a complicated project, a mouse-click counter showed that he was clicking the mouse between 10,000 to 15,000 times per day. The graphic designer researched available software and was able to purchase a new program that reduced his mouse clicks to 3000 to 4000 clicks per day. By the time he attended his first appointment with me, this client was already well on his way to recovery because he had intuitively related his pain to mouse use, confirmed this with the mouse-click counter, and taken steps to reduce the repetition by researching alternative software packages and changing to a program that demanded many fewer clicks.

Methods of Reducing Repetition

* Look for ways to break up the repetitive components of a job. For example, after an hour of so of typing, make a few phone calls, walk down the hall to consult with a co-worker (rather than e-mailing), stretch or get a drink of water.
* If your job requires a variety of duties, switch frequently between tasks rather than completing each one before moving on.
* Do some research and find a different tool that makes the job easier (such as the different graphic design program in the example above).
* Let the tool do the work instead of the body. Use power tools (for example, an electric screwdriver or tools with special ratchet devices) or automation when possible.
* During the work week, be open to discovering leisure activities that have different physical demands than work activities. Enjoy leisure activities with similar physical demands on the days that you do not work."    (Continued via BellaOnline)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Laptops a pain in the neck for students

The effects of bad posture with laptop use ...

"A huge increase in the number of students using laptops has raised concerns that the computers may be causing significant health risks.

Of particular concern is the habit of many students to use laptops on the floor, in bed or on their laps, rather than at a desk or table.

Research conducted by University College London for The Ergonomics Society found that 57 per cent of students had experienced aches and pains owing to laptop use, and seven per cent were experiencing pain "a lot of the time".

Some 21 per cent of respondents complained of aches and pains in the neck and shoulders, followed by wrist pain (16 per cent), back ache (15 per cent) and eye strain (10 per cent).

The Ergonomics Society warned that many students were not aware that they could be damaging their health by using their laptops on the floor, in bed or on their laps, rather than at a desk.

"University students use their laptops quite differently from school pupils, " said ergonomist Rachel Benedyk, of the UCL Interactive Centre, who led the research.

"They want the portability and flexibility of a laptop, but they use them highly intensively in a complex and variable environment.

"We have shown that this raises ergonomic risks, and we are seeking funding to extend and develop our research in this area."

Students use their laptops for an average of almost five-and-a-half hours a day, which would be considered 'extensive' in a risk assessment, according to Benedyk.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that 42 per cent of students use their laptop on their laps, 29 per cent in bed and 13 per cent on the floor."    (Continued via Infomatics)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Laptop Posture

Ergonomics & Common Sense - Reducing Repetitive Movements

Reducing repetition in your work environment ...

"Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do (...insert work, home, or leisure task...).
Doctor: Well, don't do that.

I've had many clients who are frustrated, having heard this, knowing that they cannot stop working or performing the activity that is painful. Although it is helpful to work with an ergonomic specialist who can show you specific ways in which to make your work less stressful on the body, a common-sense approach to activities can also make a difference.

This multi-part series will offer some common-sense tips - based on the ergonomic principles of avoiding repetition, force and awkward postures - that can help you avoid pain while working.

REPETITION

I worked recently with a graphic designer who was having pain in both arms. Working long days to complete a complicated project, a mouse-click counter showed that he was clicking the mouse between 10,000 to 15,000 times per day. The graphic designer researched available software and was able to purchase a new program that reduced his mouse clicks to 3000 to 4000 clicks per day. By the time he attended his first appointment with me, this client was already well on his way to recovery because he had intuitively related his pain to mouse use, confirmed this with the mouse-click counter, and taken steps to reduce the repetition by researching alternative software packages and changing to a program that demanded many fewer clicks.

Methods of Reducing Repetition

* Look for ways to break up the repetitive components of a job. For example, after an hour of so of typing, make a few phone calls, walk down the hall to consult with a co-worker (rather than e-mailing), stretch or get a drink of water.
* If your job requires a variety of duties, switch frequently between tasks rather than completing each one before moving on.
* Do some research and find a different tool that makes the job easier (such as the different graphic design program in the example above).
* Let the tool do the work instead of the body. Use power tools (for example, an electric screwdriver or tools with special ratchet devices) or automation when possible.
* During the work week, be open to discovering leisure activities that have different physical demands than work activities. Enjoy leisure activities with similar physical demands on the days that you do not work."    (Continued via BellaOnline, Marji Hajic)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Is Work the Cure for Back Pain and Other Ailments

Working-out those aches and pains ...

"Instead of ordering employees with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to stay home all day, the best thing doctors can do to improve their patients' health is to send them back to work, according to a recent report published in the United Kingdom. According to the report, returning to work will increase the emplooyees' chances of recovering more quickly.

Researchers from the Work Foundation – a U.K.-based non-profit organization that released “Fit for Work: Musculoskeletal Disorders and Labor Market Participation” – suggest that the mental health benefits for workers suffering from musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, back pain, work-related upper-limb disorders and other health-related problems outweigh staying home to recuperate. In addition to helping injured employees, returning to work would help boost productivity and reduce the 2.6 million people in the United Kingdom who are on disability.

“There is overwhelming evidence that worklessness is, itself, bad for health,” the report stated.

According to the report, people affected by an MSD also are likely to have mental health problems as well. The chances of a swift return to work after an MSD-related absence increases if employees have a positive attitude and support from employers and family.

Employers Need to Understand MSD Worker Pain

“Work can be both cause and cure,” says Michelle Mahdon, senior researcher with the Work Foundation. “It may cause or aggravate symptoms of MSDs, but evidence is amassing that with the right support arrangements, work can also be part of the recovery by contributing to a person’s self-esteem and sense of being productive.”

What needs to change, says Mahdon, is the misconception that an employee suffering from an MSD needs to be 100 percent well before returning to work. “Too many [employers] see only incapacity rather than capacity,” she says."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Save Your Eyesight at the Computer

Tips for improving eyesight at the computer ...

"First, what does computer work have to do with eye health?

* For one, computer-induced eyestrain could damage your vision. When your eyes get accustomed to focusing for long periods of time at the same distance, the eye muscles become less flexible, and your vision can worsen, creating the need for stronger and stronger glasses.

* Focused computer work is a major cause of stress. Studies show that when people are concentrated on their screen, they stop breathing as much as they need to and blink about half as often as they should.

* Poor body positions create poor circulation, which means your eyes are getting less oxygen and nutrition than they need to stay healthy. The eyes and brain consume a third of the oxygen, and a quarter of the nutrients our body takes in.

* Computer eyestrain could cause the need for reading glasses in middle age. Especially if you are in your 30s and 40s, doing the exercises below can actually prevent or slow down middle-aged vision loss, or presybyopia, that causes mid-lifers to need reading glasses. People with reading glasses or bifocals have a difficult time at the computer, and often end up with chronic headaches and backaches. Reading glasses and computer work are a bad match.

So spare yourself the trouble by following these simple measures:

* Seven body positions. Most of us know these seven ergonomic Dos, but here they are, for review: (1) Line of sight should be 6 inches above the computer screen; (2) screen should be 18-24 inches from eyes; (3) feet flat on floor, no crossed legs; (4) knees slightly below hips; (5) shoulders down and relaxed; (6) wrists slightly below elbows; (7) fingers slightly below wrists.

* Use your lap. If your desk is too high and your shoulders scrunched, an easy way to give yourself relief, even if you don't do it all the time, is to put your keyboard directly on your lap. For most people, this will place their elbows, wrists, and fingers in the correct position. Remember: even doing this sometimes is better than never."    (Continued via Ezine Articles)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Stand tall, get a grip

Teaching kids good ergonomic habits ...

"Students at Kennebunk Elementary School are being told to sit up straight, get a grip and lose the weight in their backpacks.

For the second year in a row, every one of the 454 students at the K-3 school is being evaluated to make sure they fit their desks, hold pencils for maximum efficiency and are hauling around no more than 15 percent of their body weight in their book bags and knapsacks.

Ergonomics -- the science of designing work and living space to conform to the human body -- is moving out of the office cubicle and into the classroom. A few schools in Maine, such as Kennebunk Elementary and Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth, are leading an effort that some experts hope will result in fewer aches and pains.

"Schools are looking more at ergonomics as being something that needs to be thought about," said Karen Jacobs, a professor of occupational therapy at Boston University and past president of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

One indicator of lower-back problems in adulthood is lower- back pain in childhood, Jacobs said. Teaching children how to sit straight and to take frequent breaks away from their computers will pay off, she said.

In 2001, some 7,000 children were seen in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to backpacks, according to the association, which is promoting National School Backpack Awareness Day today.

At Kennebunk Elementary this month, every student is being ergonomically evaluated.

On Tuesday, 14 of the 18 children in Stacey Schatzabel's third- grade class discovered they were not holding their pencils in the "preferred pincer grasp," or the "mature dynamic tripod grasp" as it is known among ergonomic experts.

School occupational therapist Tracy Mason told the children the best way to practice holding their pencils is to imagine their fingers as a family driving in the car.

The index finger and thumb gripping the pencils are the mother and father sitting in the front seat. The three other fingers are the children sitting in the back seat.

"You don't want Mommy sitting in Daddy's lap or Daddy sitting in Mommy's lap, and you definitely do not want everyone sitting in front," she said, eliciting giggles around the room."    (Continued via Portland Press Herald)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ergonomic Pencil Grip

Cell Phones May Cause Hearing Loss, But Some Experts Still Not Convinced

Possibility of hearing loss with cell phone use ...

"Long-time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss, researchers say.

"Our intention is not to scare the public," says Naresh K. Panda, MS, DNB, chairman of the department of ear, nose, and throat at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and researcher for the study. B The study, he tells WebMD, is preliminary and small. "We need to study a larger number of patients."

He presented the findings Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery in Washington.

His team found that people who had talked on cell phones for more than four years and those who talked more than an hour daily were more likely to have these high-frequency losses. These losses can make it difficult to hear consonants such as s, f, t and z, making it hard to understand words.

But another hearing expert familiar with the study says there is as yet no cause for alarm."    (Continued via CBS News)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Cell Phones and Hearing Loss

Dem White House hopefuls would resurrect OSHA rule

Ergonomics legislation may get back on the table ...

"Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are promising to revisit a controversial workplace safety regulation that the Republican-led Congress overturned in 2001.

Every Democratic White House hopeful, except for Sen. Joseph Biden Jr. (Del.), is promising to resurrect a similar version of the Clinton administration’s ergonomics rule, which sought to reduce work-related injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, adamantly opposed the rule, claiming it would cost industry billions to comply. They also argued that it was impossible for the government to determine which so-called musculoskeletal injuries were work-related.

In a crushing blow to the AFL-CIO, the House and Senate voted to overturn the regulation under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and it was subsequently signed by President Bush in March of 2001. The Bush administration then issued voluntary guidelines on ergonomics.

Peg Seminario, director of the AFL-CIO’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health, said unions want an administration that will firmly address ergonomics by appointing competent heads of the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “We need to be strong and thoughtful in proceeding on this issue because it will continue to be a big political fight,” she said.

Under the CRA, the exact ergonomics rule that was overturned cannot be reinstated, though a similar regulation could be."    (Continued via TheHill.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

LCC issues backpack message

More backpack tips ...

"Pack it light and wear it right.That's the message Laredo Community College occupational therapy assistant students will be sending to students of all ages in observance of National School Backpack Awareness Day on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

LCC students enrolled in the two-year OTA program will offer informative presentations in some college classrooms and at various schools around town to raise awareness on the issue of school backpacks and health.

The observance is led nationally by the American Occupational Therapy Association to educate children, parents, teachers, and communities about the serious health problems that may arise from wearing backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly.

"Every year, we're seeing more children with stooped shoulders, sore necks, and aching backs from carrying school backpacks, and we can't afford to put our children at risk for a lifetime of problems," AOTA Executive Director Frederick P. Somers said. "Our children's future well-being is in jeopardy."

More than 40 million children in the United States carry school backpacks, and more than half of them may be carrying too much weight.

Children carrying overloaded backpacks and improperly worn packs, according to U.S. and international studies, are likely to experience neck, shoulder, and back pain; adverse effects on posture and the developing spine; and compromised breathing and fatigue.

The U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission estimates that more than 7,000 emergency room visits in 2001 resulted from injuries related to backpacks and book bags - half of those occurred among children between the ages of 5 and 14, the ages of elementary and middle-school students.

The growing awareness of potential long-term problems to children has resulted in increased medical research and proposed legislation in at least two states to address the issue of backpack weight in relation to student health.

Some valuable tips from AOTA for loading and wearing backpacks:

* backpacks should weigh no more than 15 percent of body weight (15-pound pack on a 100-pound child);

* load heaviest items closest to the child's back;

* wear both shoulder straps for an evenly balanced load;

* adjust shoulder and waist straps to distribute the burden more evenly along the child's back; and
* suggest that teachers consider the total weight of each day's assigned class work - not only in content, but also in terms of textbook weight."    (Continued via Laredo Morning Times)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Illinois Hospital Creates a Safe Lifting Team Reduces Injuries by 30 Percent

Making lifting safe ...

"OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill., has substantially reduced lift injuries while boosting staff satisfaction with the creation of a new lift team department that provides patient transfer and mobility assistance. Details of the program are available in a white paper titled "Illinois Hospital Reduces Lift Injuries, Staff Satisfaction Soars with Lift Team Department and Liko Lifts."

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill., has substantially reduced lift injuries while boosting staff satisfaction with the creation of a new lift team department that provides patient transfer and mobility assistance. Details of the program are available in a white paper titled “Illinois Hospital Reduces Lift Injuries, Staff Satisfaction Soars with Lift Team Department and Liko Lifts."

The case study describes how the new safe lifting department originally was created to curtail increasing lift injuries and growing worker’s compensation costs. It then evolved into a dedicated patient lift team department that provides 24/7 lifting assistance to the staff and patients in all areas.

Implementing the program at Saint Francis, a 616-bed, Level I, trauma facility, has reduced staff injuries associated with patient handling activities by 30 percent, slashed more than 1,200 restricted work days and generated an estimated $400,000 in savings that has been re-invested back into St. Francis’s safe patient handling program and lift team department.

The case study details the design, development and implementation of the comprehensive program, including the tracking of injuries, rating and selection of lifting equipment, extensive training of staff to become “Lift Team Technicians,” education of patients and caregivers and measurement of patient and staff satisfaction."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Why posture is important

The role of posture in good ergonomic health ...

"We often hear that good posture is essential for good health. We recognize poor posture when we see it formed resulting from bad habits carried out over years and evident in many adults. But only few people have a real grasp of the importance and necessity of good posture.

What is posture? Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and associated muscles, we would simply fall to the ground.

Normally, we do not consciously maintain normal posture. Instead, our muscles just do it for us. Several muscle groups, including the hamstrings and large back muscles, are critically important in maintaining good posture. While the ligaments help to hold the bones together, properly functioning postural muscles prevent gravity from pushing us over, as well as help maintain our posture and balance during movement.

Why is good posture important? Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and function in positions placing the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and other activities. Correct posture can help keep bones and joints in correct alignment so muscles are used correctly, decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces resulting in degenerative arthritis and joint pain. It can reduce stress on ligaments holding joints together, minimizing the likelihood of injury. By allowing muscles to work more efficiently, the body is able to use less energy and potentially prevent muscle fatigue. In addition, good posture can help prevent overuse disorders, some neck and/or back conditions, or even sprain/strain injuries.

Maintaining proper posture requires adequate muscle flexibility and strength, normal joint motion, as well as efficient postural muscles that are balanced on both sides of the spine. In addition, postural habits must be addressed and corrected at home and in the workplace."    (Continued via Marion Star)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Mobile Phones Risks: True Dangers Of Cell Phone Radiation

A good overview of the problem and where we are on the issue ...

"When it comes to cell phones possible dangers I keep hearing the same story: "They are OK, man... there's nothing really harmful about them... yeah, you may want to avoid keeping them close to your head for too a long periods of time but other than that there is nothing harmful when utilizing mobile phones."

And while I have covered the issue of mobile phone risks here before, this is clearly a topic that no-one wants to hear too much about. Even us, the users, are now so sold to this technology that have stopped thinking critically and asking relevant questions when it comes to understand the true dangers of such a popular and widespread technology.

"Yet the government and a well-funded cell phone industry media machine continue to mislead the unwary public about the dangers of a product used by billions of people. "

What is the real truth about mobile phones radiation risks? Are we being told the truth by mobile phone companies and operators? Do we really need to worry about the use we make of these everyday indispensable geek extensions?

Sue Kovach has done an excellent in-depth research on this topic for Life Extension magazine, unearthing a lot of useful information that you will not easily find elsewhere. If you truly care about understanding whether or not this is an issue to worry about or just another conspiracy-like paranoia to discard, take the time to look at the info and decide for yourself.

The Hidden Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation

Every day, we’re swimming in a sea of electromagneticradiation (EMR) produced by electrical appliances, power lines, wiring in buildings, and a slew of other technologies that are part of modern life.

From the dishwasher and microwave oven in the kitchen and the clock radio next to your bed, to the cellular phone you hold to your ear - sometimes for hours each day - exposure to EMR is growing and becoming a serious health threat.

But there’s a huge public health crisis looming from one particular threat: EMR from cellular phones - both the radiation from the handsets and from the tower-based antennas carrying the signals - which studies have linked to development of brain tumors, genetic damage, and other exposure-related conditions (see references at the end 1-9).

Yet the government and a well-funded cell phone industry media machine continue to mislead the unwary public about the dangers of a product used by billions of people.

Most recently, a Danish epidemiological study announced to great fanfare the inaccurate conclusion that cell phone use is completely safe (10).

George Carlo, PhD, JD, is an epidemiologist and medical scientist who, from 1993 to 1999, headed the first telecommunications industry-backed studies into the dangers of cell phone use. That program remains the largest in the history of the issue.

But he ran afoul of the very industry that hired him when his work revealed preventable health hazards associated with cell phone use.

In this article, we look at why cell phones are dangerous; Dr. Carlo’s years-long battle to bring the truth about cell phone dangers to the public; the industry’s campaign to discredit him and other scientists in the field; and what you can do to protect yourself now."    (Continued via Robin Good)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Cell Phone Radiation

Designing for the elderly: Targeting the wallet of the voice of experience

Universal design will help elderly and everyone ...

"Some demographers estimate that half of the girls born since 2000 will live to see the next century. Parts designers are well advised to give a thought to the fastest growing segment of society—the elderly.

... How to design for this burgeoning group of consumers? Well, don’t, at least not specifically, recommends Davin Stowell, CEO of product design firm Smart Design (New York). He says designers should not limit themselves to products specifically marketed to the aged or elderly, except for extreme products. “We’re becoming a more youthful society,” he notes, not in terms of average age but with reference to how people perceive themselves.

His recommendation: think in terms of ‘universal,’ or better yet, ‘inclusive’ design. Using lighter materials, combining materials with greater contrasts to make products easier to see or for backlighting, and using of soft-touch or other easily handled grips: all are examples of design aspects that appeal to seniors but also offer benefits to most other users, too. “If you design it for everyone, then it’s not stigmatized” as a strictly senior product, he notes. The economics of such inclusive designs also appeal to original equipment manufactures, as not limiting a product enables a processor to manufacture in higher volumes.

One example he cites of inclusive design is door handles, which in the U.S. usually are knobs to be turned, but in Europe are almost always levers. “You don’t think of it as anything special, it’s just better,” he says of the levers, noting that they are easier for children and seniors (and others) to grasp, and also can be easily manipulated even if a person has his hands full. “For the most part, products that work well for the elderly also appeal to others,” he notes. Plus, he notes, what used to be considered traditional for the elderly has changed dramatically. “We’re finding that the tastes of recent retirees is much more similar to that of 30-year olds,” he says."    (Continued via Modern Plastics)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Senior-friendly but Child-resistant Lid

How to avoid mouse arm

Tips for avoiding Mouse Arm ...

"All of a sudden your arm feels heavy as lead and starts to tingle. You tend to drop objects more frequently than you used to. If you're a frequent computer user, mouse arm may be the culprit.

"Mouse arm is a modern form of classical tennis elbow," says Jan Bernholt, an orthopaedist from Duesseldorf. Small movements that are constantly repeated can lead to ailments in the upper and low arm. An ergonomic workspace can help prevent this.

Mouse arm is a manifestation of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and can be caused not only by working with a mouse but also through other actions that overload the hand and arm area. "Your arm feels funny, the muscles cramp or you feel a pull or prickling in the arm," says Professor Hardo Sorgatz from the Institute for Psychology at the Technical University of Darmstadt.

The monotonous stress first causes small tears and strains in the fibres, although these then regenerate quickly, Sorgatz explains. If the work situation is not improved, however, tendonitis, permanent loss of strength and chronic pain when moving - or even remaining still - can follow. At that point it is crucial that a new movement patterns be introduced.

"And the brain needs to learn that those movements are not marked by pain," Sorgatz notes.

Anyone who sits tensed up in front of the PC, repeating the same motion again and again, is not using a broad range of motion.

"Frequent breaks are important, at least every two hours," Bernholt, says. "The essential thing is movement at your workspace," says Gregor Mertens from the Institute for the Promotion of Occupational Health (BGF) in Cologne. "That means standing up once in a while when working or breaking up all the sitting by visiting with colleagues or going to the printer."    (Continued via theage.com.au)    [Ergonomics Resources]

OSHA Issues Draft Ergonomics Guidelines on Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries in Shipyards

Drafting ergonomic guidelines ...

"New ergonomics guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) could help employers and their employees in the shipyard industry prevent musculoskeletal injuries. The draft guideline, Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders: Guidelines for Shipyards.

(http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/shipyard-guidelines.html), was released today by the agency. The public is invited to submit comments to the draft guidelines until Nov. 13, 2007.

"These new guidelines, when finalized, will help us continue to meet OSHA's commitment to publish industry-specific ergonomics guidelines." said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "Many shipyards have made substantial proactive efforts in recent years to address work-related musculoskeletal injuries. These guidelines will be another resource to help them succeed in those efforts."

Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that in 2005, the injury and illness rate for the shipyard industry was 10.9 per 100 employees compared to an injury and illness rate of 4.6 per 100 employees for all private industry. In 2005, 31 percent of injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work for shipyard employees involved musculoskeletal disorders.

When finalized, the new guidelines will provide practical recommendations for employers to reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries in their facilities by identifying, evaluating and controlling hazards and using best practices that have been successful in shipyards.

In April 2002, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced a comprehensive plan to reduce ergonomics-related injuries through a combination of industry or task-specific guidelines, enforcement, outreach and assistance, and research. The new guidelines will be the fourth in a series. In 2003 and 2004, OSHA published the final ergonomics guidelines for nursing homes, retail grocery stores and poultry processing industries."    (Continued via Earth Times)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Work Is 'Cure As Well As Cause' Of Major Workplace Illnesses, UK

New report on MSD ...

"'Musculoskeletal disorders' (MSDs) - an umbrella term that covers over 200 different ailments including arthritis, back pain and damage to joints, muscles and tendons - affect twice as many people as 'stress', account for up to a third of all GP consultations, cause 9.5 million lost working days, and cost society £7.4bn a year*.

These are the main findings of a new report from The Work Foundation into the economic and social impact of MSDs - by far the most prevalent cause of work-related illness in the UK.

The report argues that early intervention and an emphasis on keeping sufferers in work wherever possible are likely to boost national productivity and help reduce the 2.6 million people claiming Incapacity Benefit. 'There is overwhelming evidence that worklessness is, itself, bad for health,' the report says.

The government needs to urgently rethink how health agencies co-ordinate treatment of MSDs, offer greater support to small businesses, and give a higher priority to understanding the labour market impact of MSDs as part of its Work, Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the report recommends.

MSDs affect all kinds of industries and occupations - in particular health and social care, the construction and building trades, transport and machine drivers, process plant and machine operatives, and caring personal service occupations. However, people affected by an MSD are also likely to have mental health problems as well. The chances of a swift return to work after an MSD-related absence is increased if people have positive mental health and support from employers and family.

Michelle Mahdon, senior researcher at The Work Foundation, said: 'Stress hogs headlines, but in terms of people affected, MSDs are the bigger problem, affecting more than a million people a year - and, of course, their families.

'Work can be both cause and cure. It may cause or aggravate symptoms of MSDs, but evidence is amassing that with the right support arrangements work can also be part of the recovery by contributing to a person's self-esteem and sense of being productive. What urgently needs to change is the attitude of many GPs and employers that an MSD sufferer must be 100 per cent well before any return to work can be contemplated. Too many see only incapacity rather than capacity.'

The onset of an MSD may harm a person's work performance by affecting stamina, concentration, mood, mobility and agility.

However, the report urges GPs and employers to look beyond immediate physical symptoms in their management of MSDs. The 'biopsychosocial model' of health - which emphasises the interplay between biological (eg. disease, strain, joint damage), psychological (eg. disposition, anxiety) and social (eg. work demands, family support) factors - represents a 'helpful' way of assessing causes and planning treatment and rehabilitation."    (Continued via Medical News Today)    [Ergonomics Resources]

A Helmet That Detects Hard Hits

Ergonomic design yields biomechanic data ...

"There is a growing awareness that football players, from the high-school to the professional level, can suffer permanent brain damage from repeated concussions, even relatively minor ones. The impact of these blows often causes trauma to the brain that goes undetected by athletes, coaches, and medical personnel: athletes tend not to report potential injuries, while football staff often miss the signs of a concussion. Playing through such injuries puts an athlete in danger of sustaining further, more severe brain damage.

Now Riddell, a sporting-equipment manufacturer based in Rosemount, IL, is equipping its new line of helmets with sensors that measure the magnitude, location, and direction of a hit. The collected data can then be uploaded to a user's computer and analyzed with a Web-based application. The helmet system will be sold to individual consumers for the first time this fall.

The whole point of this technology is to measure the severity and location of head impacts, especially those that would otherwise go unnoticed, so that we can better understand when a concussion has occurred," says Rick Greenwald, CEO of Simbex, a research and product-development company based in Lebanon, NH. The company specializes in biomechanical feedback systems and originally developed the technology, which was acquired by Riddell in 2004.

Riddell already sells similar sensor-equipped helmets to football teams like Virginia Tech, the University of Minnesota, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of North Carolina. The helmets sold to teams, like the helmets that will be sold to individuals, are equipped with sensors that receive impact data, but for teams, this data is continuously and wirelessly transmitted to a sideline laptop, where medical staff can monitor it. The team product includes a sideline response system so that if a player takes a hit above a certain predetermined threshold, an alert will be sent to a pager worn by a trainer.

To shed light on the biomechanical causes of concussions, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently funding a five-year study using data from the football teams at Virginia Tech, Brown University, and Dartmouth College. But the team system is "pretty expensive--$60,000 to $70,000. And with the individual helmet, you can receive the same type of data for about $1,000," says Thad Ide, Riddell's vice president of research and development."    (Continued via Technology Review)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Revolution IQ Hits Helmet

Small clicks can cause great pain - how to avoid mouse

More on RSI in the workplace ...

"All of a sudden your arm feels heavy as lead and starts to tingle. You tend to drop objects more frequently than you used to. If you are a frequent computer user, mouse arm may be the culprit. "Mouse arm is a modern form of classical tennis elbow," explains Jan Bernholt, an orthopaedist from Duesseldorf. Small movements that are constantly repeated can lead to ailments in the upper and low arm. An ergonomic workspace can help prevent this.

Mouse arm is a manifestation of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and can be caused not only by working with a mouse but also through other actions that overload the hand and arm area. "Your arm feels funny, the muscles cramp or you feel a pull or prickling in the arm," says Professor Hardo Sorgatz from the Institute for Psychology at the Technical University of Darmstadt.

The monotonous stress first causes small tears and strains in the fibres, although these then regenerate quickly, Sorgatz explains. If the work situation is not improved, however, tendonitis, permanent loss of strength and chronic pain when moving - or even remaining still - can follow. At that point it is imperative that a new movement patterns be introduced.

"And the brain needs to learn that those movements are not marked by pain," Sorgatz notes.

Anyone who sits tensed up in front of the PC, repeating the same motion again and again, is not using a broad range of motion. "Frequent breaks are important, at least every two hours," Bernholt, says. "The essential thing is movement at your workspace," says Gregor Mertens from the Institute for the Promotion of Occupational Health (BGF) in Cologne. "That means standing up once in a while when working or breaking up all the sitting by visiting with colleagues or going to the printer."

There are also specific exercises to loosen up the hands, lower arms and shoulders: "Stretch out your arms and make a fist and then release. Spread and the close your fingers and shake out the hands, which promotes circulation," Mertens says."    (Continued via Earth Times)    [Usability Resources]

Impact of musculoskeletal disorders on labour market must be given higher priority by government

UK government focusing on musculoskeletal disorders ...

"The government needs to give a higher priority to the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on the labour market, according to a new report from think-tank The Work Foundation.

MSDs is an umbrella term that covers more than 200 different ailments, including arthritis, back pain and damage to joints, muscles and tendons.

MSDs affect twice as many people as stress and cause 9.5 million lost working days, according to Health and Safety Executive figures.

The Fit for Work: Musculoskeletal Disorders and Labour Market Participation report argues that early intervention and an emphasis on keeping sufferers in work wherever possible are likely to boost national productivity and help reduce the 2.6 million people claiming incapacity benefit.

Michelle Mahdon, senior researcher at The Work Foundation, said: "Stress hogs headlines, but in terms of people affected, MSDs are the bigger problem, affecting more than a million people a year.

"What urgently needs to change is the attitude of many GPs and employers that an MSD sufferer must be 100% well before any return to work can be contemplated. Too many see only incapacity rather than capacity."

The report calls for:

* Partnerships between patient, employer and GP to achieve a balance between an individual's need for respite and the need to work.
* Better job design: managers can change the ways work is organised – from adjusting working time and altering task allocation, to improving ergonomics.
* Enhanced measurement of direct and indirect costs of MSDs: much better mechanisms to assess and monitor the social and work impact of MSDs are needed."    (Continued via PersonnelToday)    [Ergonomics Resources]

New Technologies and the Ergonomic Risk to Users

How new technologies impact our ergonomic health ...

"Are new technologies part of a technology nirvana or newly identified ergonomics risk factors?

We have entered the modern world of new communication devices, microtechnologies and nanotechnologies. A new challenge has arisen out of these technologies: the ergonomic challenge to the technology users.

Companies are investing in the new technology and communication infrastructures for better productivity and quality. These technologies allow for the sharing of information from one facility or employee to another with clear and concise communication that reduce errors.

Development of a corporate culture and shared values can facilitate the adoption of such technologies and communication and investment in advanced technologies may produce the anticipated results. However, employees might become overloaded and intimidated by the need to be in constant contact with others, causing unnecessary stress.

The Spread of Technology

Lost anywhere in the United States with nothing but a camera phone? You now are able to snap a picture of a nearby building or monument, send the photo to a database and soon receive a map and information about where you are. Increasingly sophisticated mobile phones are becoming popular devices to use for search for directions and other information. Easier still is the global positioning system (GPS), portable devices or software that can be installed in PDAs and phones or into vehicles. The problem with GPS is that you unknowingly can be tracked. Some companies track the movements of their employees for efficiency purposes or just plain “spying.” This could cause increased stress for employees.

PDA-like cell phones used by many professionals offer a host of functions: e-mail, text messaging and Web browsing, among them. They were purchased by 16 million people worldwide in 2004; 4 million more than traditional PDAs. More than 2.2 million people have bought a BlackBerry since they came on the market, helping it to corner the top end of the wireless communications market. There were 200 million total phones sold globally in 2006.

The proliferation of broadband has more users moving more data across more networks. All that motion has made users come to expect the ability to connect from anywhere at any time in any country.
The Risks of Technology

The physical cost of such technology can be high, however. More and more cases of “BlackBerry thumbs,” repetitive motion injuries and awkward posture risk factors are found in our fast-paced, multitasking society.

John Napier said, “The hand without a thumb is at worst nothing but an animated spatula and at best a pair of forceps whose points don’t meet properly.” The prime importance of the thumb is well-shown in compensation schemes for its injury. In AD 616, King Aethelbert in England established the equivalent of a 30 percent compensation for loss of a thumb but only 10 percent for loss of a finger. Things are not greatly changed today, although total loss of a thumb now rates as a 40 percent loss of the hand. The total loss of an index or long finger is only 20 percent of the hand."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ergonomically correct

A basic article on musculoskeletal injury in the workplace ...

"A long day at work can take a toll on the body, which is where ergonomics, the science of adapting working conditions to the needs of workers, comes into play.

While most people would think those who do heavy lifting on a regular basis would experience more back problems than office workers, that’s not necessarily true, say local chiropractors: Chronic pain due to poor posture and repetitive motions often affects those who work in an office environment.

“There’s no question — computers,” said Dr. Robert W. Levine of the Levine Clinic Chiropractic in Farmington Hills in regards to the biggest culprit of chronic pain that he treats.

Sitting for long hours, twisting to reach the keyboard or phone, looking up or down at the computer monitor and slouching are just a few of the culprits that can cause chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, not to mention headaches, fatigue and general discomfort.

“The most common causes of musculoskeletal injury in the workplace, including neck and low back pain, are poor seating, standing and lifting postures. This can be due to poor workstation setup, including desk arrangement, computer arrangement and non-adjustable seating,” said Dr. Aaron Lundgaard of Total Health Systems in Clinton Township.

Many of these aches and pains can be alleviated by simply making the workspace more conducive to proper posture, starting with sitting properly.

“Sitting is the biggest culprit of back pain that most people are not aware of. … One of the worst things is sitting wrong. When we sit, we lose posture, we slouch, the head goes forward — this throws off the biomechanics of the spine,” said Dr. Mary Wlodyga Frye of 1st Chiropractic Life in Warren, noting that sitting produces almost three times more pressure on the lower back than standing.

“Sitting is more strenuous than standing. In other jobs people get taught how to lift properly— there are no instructions on how to sit,” said Frye."    (Continued via C&G Newspapers)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Normal and Abnormal Spine

Anything Is Possible: Like Actually Enjoying A Good Digital Read

Better ergonomics for digital books ...

"If the Jetsons have taught us anything, it's that in the future, paper will be a thing of the past and everything we read will be on a computer screen.

This isn't just about work. That future is already here, thanks first to word processing and then to the Internet. It's about reading for pleasure, too, the sort now done sprawled on the couch with a favorite book or magazine and a cat on the lap.

Most people beyond a certain age would regard reading for pleasure on a computer an oxymoron. The machine is associated with the office, and nothing quite takes your mind off a detective novel than having an email alert pop up. The ergonomics are all wrong, too; the eyes get tired, and even an Aeron chair has nothing on a good recliner. No wonder most people still print out anything long they need to read carefully.

All this, though, is slowly starting to change. There are new ways to read old things.

... Even better than a laptop for casual reading, at least for books, would be a digital reader the size of a book itself. Alas, there have been so many failed attempts at these e-books that they've acquired a reputation as, like in the old joke, a technology of the future -- that always will be.

But in the past year, there has been another go at digital readers, thanks to an innovative screen technology from a Cambridge company called E Ink. This display is monochrome, and reflects ambient light rather than being back lit like an LCD. While you need to be in a fairly bright room for the screen to be easily readable, you can also take it outside in the bright sun, where it looks its best.

Its resolution is much higher than on a desktop monitor, resulting in smooth text without any jaggy edges. And since you aren't staring into a bright light, your eyes don't get as tired."    (Continued via Wall Street Journal)    [Ergonomics Resources]

SteelSeries Announces SteelSeries Ikari Optical And Laser Professional Gaming Mice

The ergonomic research behind new gaming mouse ...

SteelSeries, a leading manufacturer of innovative professional gaming gear, today announced the SteelSeries Ikari Optical and SteelSeries Ikari Laser professional gaming mice. The new, ergonomic right-handed multi-grip mice mark the company's entry into the market for gaming mice. Adding the gaming mice line compliments an existing portfolio of professional gaming gear that consists of headsets, keyboards, surfaces, accessories and security software designed for competitive gamers.

The SteelSeries Ikari mice are the result of 15 months extensive research of ergonomics, technology, shape, motion, hand grip and play styles by gamers. The SteelSeries Ikari mice sets a new industry standard for input, research and co-development with professional gamers for ing mice. The shape, materials and specifications of the SteelSeries Ikari mice are based on input from professional players from Team 3D, compLexity, mousesports, SK Gaming, Team NoA and other world-class gaming organizations, who collectively represent the world's most accomplished gamers in Counter-Strike and other gaming disciplines. The development of SteelSeries Ikari was also driven by community input and feedback from more than 5,000 gamers from the competitive gaming segment.

The SteelSeries Ikari chassis is shaped to accommodate the three predominant methods of grip utilized by gamers today: Swipe, Claw, and Palm. The chassis features five buttons with high quality gaming grade contacts. The SteelSeries Ikari mice also have an anti-sweat and slip-resistant surface coating to improve mouse control during intense gaming sessions. The SteelSeries Ikari m