Computer usage taking a toll on young India's health

CRI requires examination of several variables ...

"Nitin and Gitika are victims of Computer Related Injury (CRI) that’s wreaking havoc on young India’s health. It’s caused when muscles, tendons or nerves are compressed for a long period, resulting in severe pain, numbness and a tingling sensation. Generally, neck, back, shoulders, elbows, arms or wrists are affected.

It’s also known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

As more people get hooked to laptops, mobiles and even playstations, incidence of CRI has become common. Earlier, wrist pain or numbness in the hand would be common among older people, but in the last few years, it’s the young (20-30 yrs) who’ve been suffering from it. Even schoolchildren are reporting it.

"Youngsters today are spending a lot of time on computers. I get at least 8-10 cases of neck and back pain every week," says Vikas Gupta, consultant, hand and upper extremity surgery, Fortis Group.

"I have seen nearly 56 youngsters suffering from RSI in the last few years," says Dr Deepak Sharan, medical director, RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, Bangalore. "Incorrect use of iPods, playstations and mobiles have resulted in the disorder."

For the last seven years, Sharan has been conducting a study among IT professionals in Bangalore. The ongoing study on 30,000 professionals has found that 75% showed musculoskeletal symptoms related to work.

In nearly 60% cases, it was the neck and upper back which were affected, in 40% it was the lower back, while 30% had pain in the upper extremity.

In 20%, it was a generalised disorder associated with constant pain and numbness. Gupta, too, is doing a study on CRI in the Capital. Wrong postures and insufficient knowledge of ergonomics at workplace are two of the main causes.

Most companies blindly follow ergonomics recommendation from American or European countries, ignoring the fact that an average Indian is at least five inches shorter than his western counterpart. Also, most often, the postures are incorrect, with people either slouching or using the laptop sitting on the bed.

Yet, as Sharan says, CRI is a multi-factorial disorder. "It is not always to do with long hours in front of the computer. Many get it inspite of just checking emails on their laptops," he says. Psycho-social factors also play a big role, he says. Many times, stress, too, can worsen the situation."    (Continued via The Times of India)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Combating Workplace Sleep Deprivation

Effects of sleep deprivation on productivity ...

"Hectic work schedules and busy personal lives cause many people to occasionally – or regularly – sacrifice a good night’s sleep. But according to this sleep science expert, not getting enough rest can lead to some serious safety and health consequences in the workplace.

James Herdegen M.D., the medical director of the Sleep Science Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, spoke to OccupationalHazards.com about how sleep deprivation is a problem more common than most people realize.

“Probably half of our population, perhaps even more, is not obtaining sufficient sleep on a daily basis,” he said.

According to Dr. Herdegen, “sufficient” sleep amounts to approximately 8 hours a day. Getting less than that can lead to impaired math skills, thought processes or memory, which can create serious hazards for workers operating forklifts, driving trucks or performing other at-risk duties.

In fact, Herdegen said, sleep-deprived workers may have had a role in major events such as several Amtrak train derailments, the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Three Mile Island accident. Whether those events were influenced by sleep-deprived employees or not, workers performing their jobs on inadequate amounts of sleep can run a higher risk of being injured, making mistakes or otherwise compromising workplace safety.

For example, Herdegen pointed to clinical studies examining sleep deprivation among medical profesionals, such as emergency room residents who work at night and have a higher rate of motor vehicle accidents or near misses. Other effects might include improper documentation, prescribing medications incorrectly or giving incorrect verbal orders to nursing staff.

Health Risks

While sleep-deprived impairment can pose grave safety risks for workers operating machinery or driving vehicles, their health also is affected in less immediate ways.

Shift workers, Herdegen pointed out, often are at a higher risk for a number of health problems, including peptic ulcers, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, and also face an increased risk of making workplace errors. Working night shifts may disturb employees’ circadian rhythms or even cause them to get less sleep overall.

“Shift workers in general tend to get an hour less of sleep per day than day workers,” Herdegen said.

Not getting enough sleep also can lead to obesity or weight gain, as sleep-deprived individuals often increase their caloric intake. “Research suggests that a person sleeping 4 hours is hungrier despite receiving the same amount of calories as someone sleeping 8 hours,” Herdegen added.

Obesity can then lead to diabetes, hypertension or other health problems, as well as decreased productivity and increased absenteeism. Workers who do not get enough sleep therefore must be diligent about making healthy eating choices and getting enough exercise.

Tips for Better Rest

According to Herdegen, the most common cause of sleep deprivation is periods of insufficient or poor sleep. This could include transient insomnia or life stress events that keep people from getting enough restful sleep. Other conditions can also lead to sleep deprivation, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome or the comparatively rare narcolepsy.

Herdegen explained that sleep-deprived workers can take steps to regain a normal sleep schedule and improve safety and productivity:

* Gain family support. Nigh shift employees must ensure they have a restful environment at home during their sleep hours. “They have to have accommodations from family members to maintain a quiet atmosphere during non-traditional sleep times rather than having a chaotic household at 10 o’clock in the morning,” Herdegen said of night shift workers.
* Schedule sleep periods. Herdegen added that some workers should realize that realistically, they won’t be able to sleep 8 hours at once. But that doesn’t mean they should function without enough sleep: those 8 hours can be split into two sleep periods. For example, if workers can only get a solid 6 hours of sleep at a stretch, they should schedule a two-hour nap at a later time during the day.
* Nap. Taking a short nap can lead to a significant recovery of function. “There’s evidence that naps are quiet productive in restoring functionality. It only takes about an hour of napping to restore about 4 hours of high-level functioning,” Herdegen said."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Tools should pass the 'feel test'

Selecting the best gardening tools for you ...

"Gardeners with painful disabilities needn't have such a tough row to hoe.

About 46 million U.S. adults have arthritis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. So it's not surprising that scores of ergonomic toolmakers target this group.

Bruce Butterfield, research director for the National Gardening Association, said most gardeners are older than 55 and "looking for garden tools that are easier to use and help prevent aches and pain."

A great many garden tools are marketed with the word ergonomic on the labels, meaning they're intended to maximize the efficiency and quality of someone's work.

But claims are one thing and performance is quite another, said Bob Denman, a blacksmith, tool designer and consultant from Boring, Ore.

"Some garden tools are developed without a great deal of study," Denman said. "The manufacturer builds in a bend here and incorporates a twist there and calls it ergonomic."

There are several factors to consider in choosing a proper tool. First, you should know that grip strength declines an average of 15 percent by a person's early 50s, said Jeffrey Hoyle of the Ergonomics Center of North Carolina, a research and consulting arm of North Carolina State University.

And while women are about two-thirds as strong as men in general, studies indicate that their grip strength is about half that of men.

It might seem logical, then, to focus on the tool's grip. But weight and power make a tool truly ergonomic, said Olavi Linden, chief designer for Fiskars Garden & Outdoor Living.

"Handles are actually a very small part of the equation," Linden said. "More power is what helps you avoid tendinitis. Extra long lightweight handles help prevent back pain."

Gardeners shopping for ergonomic tools can weed out a lot of discomfort and expense by "feel testing" in stores before they buy.

"I've spent a lot of time watching people shopping for garden tools, and most are bewildered," said Denman, a consultant for tool manufacturer Corona Clipper."    (Continued via The Columbus Dispatch)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ergonomic Tools

Ergonomics Help Elderly Age in Place

Ergonomics help elderly live at home ...

"Certified Aging in Place Specialists and product designers are developing ergonomically designed homes and appliances that will allow the 78 million aging U.S. baby boomers to “age in place” (live independently in their own homes for longer periods of time) rather than moving to retirement communities or assisted living facilities.

Mark Baskinger has been working with GE Appliances on developing a line of products that will make daily activities easier to perform for the elderly. "The key in designing products for the aging population is to make things extremely usable, readable and accessible."

A recent article published by the Wall Street Journal expands on this theme. New technology is enabling manufacturers of appliances and bath fixtures to design for the senior surge (Designing for the Senior Surge – Makers of Appliances, Bath Fixtures Target Aging Boomers; Cooking for the Forgetful; April 25th, 2008; Sara Lin).

To simulate some of the disabilities typically associated with aging, product evaluation may require testers to plug their ears with cotton to simulate hearing loss, wear goggles that blur their vision to simulate visual loss, and use gloves to impede coordination and sensation to simulate arthritic joint changes or nerve damage.

Traditional changes in home construction to accommodate seniors and those with disabilities have included:

* The use of grab bars and wheelchair ramps.

* Wider halls and doorways that accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.

* Placing master suites and laundry facilities on the ground floor so that stairs are avoided."    (Continued via BellaOnline, Marji Hajic)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Cure for notebook backache

Dealing with back pain from carrying notbook computer ...

"Q: About a year ago, I got a notebook computer as a replacement for my aging desktop PC. My problem is that lately my neck and back have been suffering from being constantly hunched over the notebook. Can you recommend anything to improve the ergonomics for notebook users?

A: If your notebook computer stays on your desk all the time, you should treat it like a desktop computer. Get yourself a computer keyboard and a mouse. They can be USB devices or wireless - either way will work with your notebook. (Wireless keyboard-mouse combos start at under $50.) Then raise the computer (but not the keyboard) so that the top of the screen is at eye level. You can do that by placing it on a nice thick coffee-table book or two. As an alternative, you could buy one of Logitech's Alto keyboards, which include a stand that raises the notebook screen. The Alto lists for $100 and comes in USB or cordless models.

By the way, make sure the rest of your workstation area is ergonomically friendly. You should be able to sit up straight while you work with your upper legs and forearms just about parallel to the floor. And you shouldn't have to stretch to use the mouse.

Q: My smart phone, which runs Windows Mobile 6, keeps track of words I use in search boxes and forms. It adds those words to its built-in dictionary of commonly used words. When I type the first few letters or a word, the entire word appears in a pop-up list that includes other words beginning with the same letters. I can then select the word I want, hit enter and the word will be entered into the search box or form. Unfortunately, the lists also include words I have only used once and words I have misspelled. Is there a way to delete words I don't want - or, lacking that, a way to erase all words I have added?

A: No, you can't selectively delete words from the Autocomplete list in Windows Mobile. Yes, you can clear the list of words added to the system's standard dictionary. Go to the Start menu and choose Settings. Open the Input icon, then tab over to Word Completion. You'll see a big button labeled "Clear Stored Entries." Push the button, and your words are history.

Q: What is the safest and best way to clean smudges, fingerprints, scratches, etc. from a notebook display?

A: Two notebook questions in the same column - it's the daily double! Notebook computers use LCD screens - just like cell phones, PDAs, DVD players and of course many of today's big-screen televisions. Since they're basically the same, you can use the same techniques to clean all of them (and plasma TVs as well).

There are two ways to go: You can buy something like Klear Screen or PixelClean, which are designed specifically for the task. These products come in liquids and in wipes (sort of like moist towelettes for your screen). They start at about $12. A second option, which is a whole lot cheaper and just as effective, is to use a solution of 50 percent distilled water and 50 percent isopropyl alcohol. Do not use ammonia or other strong household cleaners - they can ruin the screen.

Before resorting to a cleaning solution, wipe the screen with a very soft dry cloth- an old T-shirt or, better yet, a microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses and camera lenses. That may be enough to remove the dust that typically accumulates on a screen. If it's not, dampen the cloth with your cleaning solution and gently wipe the screen in straight lines, top to bottom. Then let it dry. By the way, turn off the device before you clean the screen."    (Continued via SF Gate, David Einstein)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Construction Ergonomics Paper Among 2008 Hamilton Award Winner

Ergonomics in construction industry wins award ...

"NIOSH on May 1 announced the winners of the 2008 Alice Hamilton Awards, a high honor named for the woman who is considered one of the founders of occupational health as a discipline.

"Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers" (www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-122/pdfs/2007-122-full.pdf) was published in August 2007 and was written by James T. Albers of the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology and Cheryl F. Estill of the NIOSH Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies. It notes that construction is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, with back injuries occurring at a rate 50 percent higher than the average for all other U.S. industries in 1999. Sections of the document cover simple solutions for typical construction activities that cause MSDs, such as tying rebar for road construction, hand drywall finishing, overhead work, smoothing wet concrete, lifting windows and panels into place, lifting heavy loads, hand-wearying tools, moving concrete-filled hoses, cutting sheet metal, and using tools that require stooping. Each section includes costs, benefits, and resources for more information.

Other 2008 Hamilton winners were:

Biological Sciences Category: "Inhalation of Toluene Diisocyanate Vapor Induces Allergic Rhinitis in Mice," authors Johnson VJ, Yucesoy B, Reynolds JS, Fluharty K, Wang W, Richardson D, Luster MI, Journal of Immunology 179: 1864-1871, 2007; "Effect of Short-Term Stainless Steel Welding Fume Inhalation Exposure on Lung Inflammation, Injury, and Defense Response in Rats," authors Antonini JM, Stone S, Roberts JR, Chen B, Schwegler-Berry D, Afshari AA, Frazer DG, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 223: 234-245, 2007.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Category: "Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines," authors Zipf RK Jr., Sapko MJ, Brune JF, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-144.

Human Studies Category: "Follow-Up Study of Chrysotile Textile Workers: Cohort Mortality and Exposure-Response", authors Hein MJ, Stayner LT, Lehman E, Dement JM; "Development of a Fiber Size-Specific Job-Exposure Matrix for Airborne Asbestos Fibers," authors Dement JM, Kuempel E, Zumwalde R, Smith R, Stayner L, Loomis D.; and "An Epidemiologic Study of the Role of Chrysotile Asbestos Fiber Dimensions in Determining Respiratory Disease Risk in Exposed Workers," authors Stayner LT, Kuempel E, Gilbert S, Hein M, Dement J."    (Continued via Occupational Health & Safety)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Sleep deprivation is not a badge of honor

Lack of sleep hurts workforce productivity ...

"Forgoing sleep is like borrowing from a loan shark. Sure you get that extra hours right now to cover for your overly-optimistic estimation, but at what price? The shark will be back and if you can’t pay, he’ll break your creativity, morale, and good-mannered nature as virtue twigs.

Now we all borrow occasionally and that’s okay if you fully understand the consequences and don’t make it a habit. I did that the other night. We pushed an update to OpenBar, which had me working until 1:30 AM. That wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t because I got woken up at 5 AM to help deal with an issue that arose. But the costs the following day were typical, numerable, and expensive:

* Stubbornness: When I’m really tired, it always seems easier to plow down whatever bad path I happen to be on instead of reconsidering the route. The finish line is a constant mirage and I’ll be walking in the desert for much longer than was ever a good idea.

* Lack of creativity: What separates programmers who are 10x more effective than the norm is not that they write 10x as many lines of code. It’s that they use their creativity to solve the problem with 1/10th of the effort. The creativity to come up with those 1/10th solutions drops drastically when I’m tired.
* Diminished morale: When my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders, it loves to feed on less demanding tasks. Like reading my RSS feeds for the 5th time today or reading yet another article about stuff that doesn’t matter. My motivation to attack the problems of real importance is not nearly up to par.
* Irritability: If you encounter someone who’s acting like an ass, there’s a good chance they’re suffering from sleep deprivation. Your ability to remain patient and tolerant is severely impacted when you’re tired. I know I’m at my worst when sleep deprived.

These are just some of the costs you incur when not getting enough sleep. None of them are desirable. Yet somehow it seems that the tech industry has developed a masochistic sense of honor about sleep deprivation. At times it sounds like bragging rights. People trying to top each other. For what? To seem so important, so in need, so desired that humanity requires you to sacrifice? Chances are you’re not that special, not that needed, and the job at hand not that urgent."    (Continued via 37 Signals)    [Ergonomics Resources]

More Pain For Those On Lower Incomes And Less Educated

Lots of people live with pain ...

"A novel study that attempts to paint the most accurate and detailed description yet of how Americans experience pain has found that a significant portion of the population -- 28 percent -- are in pain at any given moment and those with less education and lower income spend more of their time in pain. Those in pain are less likely to work or socialize with others and are more inclined to watch television than the pain-free.

The study, which appears in the May 3 issue of The Lancet, was prepared by Alan Krueger, a professor of economics at Princeton University, and Arthur Stone, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stony Brook University. The work is the first of its type, according to the authors, to quantify a "pain gap" in American society, with the "have-nots" suffering a disproportionate amount in relation to the "haves."

"To a significant extent, pain does divide the classes," said Krueger, the Bendheim Professor in Economics and Public Policy. "And just how the levels of pain vary among people and across activities -- that has never been found before until now."

Participants with less than a high school degree were found to report twice the average pain rating throughout the day as did college graduates. The researchers also found the average pain rating to be twice as high for those in households with annual incomes below $30,000 as for those in households with incomes above $100,000.

"People in households making less than $30,000 a year spend almost 20 percent of their time in moderate to severe pain, compared with less than 8 percent for those in households with income above $100,000 a year," Krueger said.

Pain imposes considerable costs on the health care system and economy. Americans spend billions of dollars each year on painkillers, more than on any other type of medication. And, when workers are suffering, the resulting lost productivity costs business more than $60 billion annually.

Yet, according to Krueger, the phenomenon of pain -- who is in pain and when -- is not well understood.

The authors constructed a new approach in which participants, a representative group of 4,000 Americans, reported their activities and the occurrence and intensity of pain in a diary survey over a 24-hour period. From the data, the researchers could tie the participants' pain to certain activities, demographic characteristics and times of the day. Pain tended to be more frequent when people received medical care or cared for adults."    (Continued via Medical News Today)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Americans Get Physical After a Good Night in Bed

New research shows better sleep results in better performance ...

"While weary, overextended Americans are turning to "quick fixes" like caffeine and performance-enhancing supplements, which claim to improve everything from their daily workout to their sex lives, they are losing sight of what experts say is essential to improved performance: a good night's sleep.

According to the 2008 Better Sleep Month (BSM) national survey, sponsored by the Better Sleep Council (BSC), those respondents getting nine hours of sleep or more are more likely to engage in higher-intensity workouts, including biking, running and/or weight lifting. Yet an alarming seven in 10 (70 percent) report that they are not getting the recommended amount of sleep needed each night (7 1/2 hours or more) to perform at their best each day.

"Sleep deprivation impacts us physically, which can negatively affect our coordination, agility, mood and energy," says Dr. Bert Jacobson, professor and head of the School of Educational Studies at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the lead author of the new study Grouped Comparisons of Sleep Quality for New and Personal Bedding Systems. "Research shows that sleeping better and longer leads to improvements in athletic performance, including faster sprint time, better endurance, lower heart rate, and even improved mood and higher levels of energy during a workout."

One out of three survey respondents agrees, stating that the best thing about getting a good night's sleep is improved physical performance. However, the BSC explains that better sleep and/or improved physical performance is not just a result of getting one extra hour of sleep a night. "Getting a better night's sleep is about making a larger investment in sleep overall, including taking a closer look at your sleep surface and surroundings. Improving sleep quality is just as important as quantity," adds Dr. Jacobson.

A New Mattress Does a Body Good

The survey also reveals that respondents who report getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night (7.5 hours is optimal) are more likely to be sleeping on a newer mattress (one to four years old). Additionally, findings reveal that those sleeping on a newer mattress are significantly more likely to engage in physical activities than those who sleep on older mattresses:

Type of Physical Newer Mattress Older Mattress
Activity (one - four years old) (eight -10 years old)
Running 59% 6%
Weights 54% 8%
Aerobics 57% 9%

The same survey found that 81 percent of Americans report waking up with back, neck or shoulder pain in the past year, with nearly half (46 percent) of respondents reporting that they frequently (at least a few times a month) wake up with these types of pain that limit their physical performance.

There's good news, however, for the majority of people suffering with limited mobility due to back and neck pain. According to Dr. Jacobson's study, published in the Journal of Applied Ergonomics, sleeping on a new mattress can significantly improve sleep quality during the night and reduce physical pain during the day. In fact, when sleeping on new bedding systems, study respondents on average reported significant improvements in:

* lower back pain (62.8 percent),
* shoulder pain (62.4 percent),
* back stiffness (58.4 percent),
* sleep quality (64.4 percent), and
* sleep comfort (69.6 percent).

"Like your favorite pair of athletic shoes, your mattress can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide your body with the comfort and support it needs," said Karin Dillner, BSC spokesperson. "And just as we need the proper equipment to get the best workout, we also need the proper equipment to get the best night's sleep -- most importantly, a quality mattress."

The BSC recommends that consumers evaluate their current mattress by asking themselves four basic questions to determine if it's time for a mattress upgrade:

* Is your mattress five - seven years old or older?
* Do you wake up with stiffness, numbness, aches and pains?
* Do you get a better night's sleep somewhere other than your own bed(such as a hotel)?
* Does your mattress show visible signs of overuse (sags, stains, etc.)?

The BSC's E.A.S.E. Method provides consumers with easy steps for finding and purchasing the mattress of their dreams. For more information, visit http://www.bettersleep.org/ease."    (Continued via PRNewswire)    [Ergonomics Resources]

New Ergonomics Society President promotes ergonomic approach to usability

Overlap in fields of interest ...

"Tom Stewart, joint Managing Director of System Concepts Ltd (www.system-concepts.com), one of the largest independent usability and ergonomics consultancies in Europe, has recently been appointed as President of the Ergonomics Society(http://www.ergonomics.org.uk/).

A well known international expert on standards in usability and ergonomics, Tom has been enthusiastically promoting the importance of a user centred approach to the design of technology for over 30 years.

“In my role as President, I want us to work closely with other professional groups interested in how people use computer technology to encourage an ergonomics approach to usability. In this way we can try and make sure that technology improves our lives and reduces stress rather than contributing to it” explains Tom.

“Although taking usability seriously has become more widely recognised as essential to our successful use of technology, many people confuse it with simply trying to make websites easier to use. A usable product or system is one which is effective, efficient and satisfying for its users.”

Tom argues that an ergonomist’s approach to usability has three distinct features:

1. We are interested both in computer software and hardware and in the interaction between these and the user.

The Apple iPhone is a good example where the usability of its navigation comes from the way the physical properties of the touch screen interact with the interface software to provide a compelling user experience.

2. We recognise and value the importance of individual differences in task performance and preferences.

Understanding and recognising that everybody is different, means that to make a system usable we must design for the whole range of potential user capabilities, not the average, the easiest, or the ‘one just like me’. In this way accessibility for all users is integral to our approach to design, not just an afterthought or something that can be add on later.

3. We are task focussed.

Interfaces designed by marketers and graphic designers can look fantastic and make a great first impression, but unless they also allow you do what you want to do efficiently and effectively, this effort is largely wasted. An ergonomics approach makes sure you first understand what people really want to do and that they can do it which, in combination with great design, will produce a satisfying experience for the user.

Tom brings a wealth of experience to the Ergonomics Society. He started his ergonomics career as a founder member of Brian Shackel's Human Sciences and Advanced Technology Research group at Loughborough University in 1970. After several research and consultancy positions he joined System Concepts Ltd in 1983 and became MD in 1986.

Chairing the British Standards Applied Ergonomics Committee (PH9) and the sub-committee (TC159/SC4) of the International Standards Organisation which is responsible for the ergonomics of human-system interaction (including ISO 9241 and ISO 13407), he is also Convenor of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN TC122 WG5) working group on VDU ergonomics."    (Continued via E-consultancy.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Estimating the Elbow Carrying Angle With an Electrogoniometer: Acquisition of Data and Reliability of Measurements

A scientific paper on the lifting capacity of the elbow ...

"The carrying angle of the elbow is defined as the angle formed by the long axis of the arm and the long axis of the forearm in the frontal plane.1 The carrying angle value and its pathologic variations are important in the management of elbow fractures2,3 and in the diagnosis of diseases of the lateral and medial epicondyles.4

Based on the theory of general rigid body motion, in 1976, Morrey and Chao1 computed the carrying angle by isolating the 3-dimensional rotation occurring at the elbow joint in 2 cadaveric specimens. They obtained 10° in full extension of the elbow and observed a linear decrease of the carrying angle with flexion. Since then, several authors have measured the carrying angle in vitro using mechanical instrumentations, hinged boards, or goniometers rigidly attached to the humerus5; kinematics or geometrical computations6; or radiographs,7 thus obtaining results not always in agreement with those reported by Morrey and Chao.1 The main reasons for this are differences in the definition of the angle and variations in the measuring instruments.

Few investigators have studied the carrying angle in vivo. Paraskevas et al8 measured the carrying angle in full extension in 600 adults using a special goniometer and compared these values to measures obtained radiographically. Yilmaz et al9 adopted a universal standard goniometer to estimate the full extension carrying angle in healthy volunteers.

Van Roy et al10 adopted a protractor goniometer and an electromagnetic tracking device to estimate the carrying angle in full extension and also during flexion of the elbow joint. They noted the carrying angle is an important anatomic feature when restoration of the elbow’s function is required. In clinical practice, the carrying angle generally is assessed in full extension by radiographs or by a standard goniometer to evaluate reduction of distal humerus or radial head fractures.11,12

This study examined a noninvasive method for evaluating the carrying angle in vivo in full extension by using a digitizer suitable for orthopedic applications to acquire easily identifiable anatomical landmarks on the arm and forearm. An experimental analysis of reliability was performed by comparing repeated acquisition by the same operator and also by 2 different operators with varying levels of expertise. The major advantage of this method, other than its simple derivation, is the possibility of being adapted to a commercial digitizer and easily being used in computer technologies for assisted medical treatment during practical clinical application by providing a graphic display and qualification of anatomic and functional features of the joint.
Materials and Methods

This study received approval from the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The right and left arms in 37 adults (17 men and 20 women) were measured. Patient age ranged from 41 to 81 years (mean age, 60.5±12.1 years). In 2 adults, only right arms were measured, obtaining a total of 72 measurements. All participants were healthy and had no symptoms or signs of relevant pathologies affecting the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints."    (Continued via Ortho Supersite)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Landmark Points

Neck pain common ailment

Neck pain on the rise ...

"Q: While not debilitating, the pain in my neck is becoming, well, a real pain in the neck. I don't know what I did to bring it on, but is there anything I can do to make it go away?

A: Doctors estimate that 70 percent of us will be troubled by neck pain at some point in our lives. One in 10 adults hurts right now, and in some cases, the pain is bad enough to limit work and play.

Sometimes a single event such as getting rear-ended in a car crash is to blame, but usually the neck begins to ache after years of overuse or even a brief misuse of muscles and ligaments.

Today's computer-dominated workplace can be especially tough on necks because so many of us sit with shoulders slumped and heads extended toward monitors.

Why is neck pain, which often spreads to the shoulders, so common? Your neck not only supports a heavy weight, your head, but it also allows you to tilt, turn and nod. This feat requires a combination of strength and flexibility, which is provided by a complex network of muscles, bones, tendons and nerves. All of those moving parts are vulnerable to strain and injury.

There is no magic bullet for neck pain. But take heart. Neck pain is rarely a serious medical problem, and in most cases, you can manage it yourself with a combination of patience, exercises and mild pain relievers. But if you have warning signs such as arm weakness or numbness, fever, weight loss or difficulty swallowing, get medical help.

When your neck hurts, even simple movements can be painful. Although you may feel like keeping your head and neck as still as possible, start gentle neck exercises. At first, you may find it best to move your neck gently while standing under a warm shower. When that's comfortable, you can move on to specific exercises that help people break free from neck pain.

Studies suggest that exercises to strengthen neck muscles may be more effective at reducing pain than other types of activity.

A 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at female office workers with chronic neck pain who followed different exercise programs.

Those who did neck strengthening exercises reported less pain than the women who stretched and did aerobics. Those who took part in even more intensive strength training, using elastic bands to provide resistance during exercises, reported the least pain and disability. They also improved their strength and range of motion.

In January 2008, Danish researchers reported similar results: A randomized trial of 48 women concluded that work-related neck pain can be relieved by regularly performing exercises that strengthen neck muscles. General workouts, by contrast, reduced the pain only slightly.

The scientists recruited women who had chronic neck pain and tightness in the muscles that run down the back of the neck and fan out toward the shoulders for more than a month during the previous year. They worked mainly on computers at banks, post offices, administrative offices and an industrial facility.

Researchers randomly assigned participants to one of three groups. One group received strength training focused on neck and shoulder muscles. The second group worked on their overall fitness by riding an exercise bike without holding on to the handlebars. The third group was counseled on workplace ergonomics, diet, health, relaxation, and stress management. The two exercise groups worked out for 20 minutes three times a week for 10 weeks.

On average, the women in the strength-training group experienced a 75 percent decrease in pain. General fitness training resulted in only a short-term decrease in pain that was too small to be considered clinically important, although the researchers did suggest that even a little reduction in pain severity could encourage people to give exercise a try. Women assigned to health counseling experienced no reduction in pain."    (Continued via Charleston.net)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Space and self management

The ergonomics of police car design ...

"Ergonomics can be defined as the applied science of equipment design. In short, the science of why your computer keyboard is at the angle it is or why that chair lump juts into your lower back. Ergonomics can be understood by knowing the reasons why someone decided to put a button in one place and not another.

Three factors — comfort; convenience and safety — form the idea of good ergonomics for each tool and piece of equipment. These factors are also considered in police vehicle design. No matter how much one fiddles with his Blackberry while driving, not many people use their vehicle as a mobile office more than law enforcement officers. For this reason, officers must spend their days in vehicles with a well thought out ergonomic design. Fortunately, patrol vehicle manufacturers study ergonomics with the law enforcement official in mind.

"Since the vehicle is essentially a mobile office, we want officers to be comfortable," says Sgt. Keith Wilson of the Michigan State Police and test driver for the Michigan State Police Vehicle (MSP) Vehicle Tests. "That consists of comfortable seating, room for their equipment, easy access to instrumentation, easy view of instrumentation and enough room to install equipment such as radars, cameras, computers, guns and things of that nature."

The comfort of officers and the twisting involved in using mobile office equipment are both a concern for vehicle manufacturers. "While different departments use laptops for different things … there is an ergonomic problem from having a computer at a 45-degree angle to the driver," says Michael Blackmer, special vehicle engineering supervisor of Ford Motor Co. "This forces the driver to twist his body [to use the equipment] even though his legs stay forward. These are all considerations that come into play when making a vehicle into a mobile office."

Officers must be able to reach equipment such as laptops, monitors and printers comfortably and safely. When ergonomics is not considered in vehicle design or in the installation of this technology, accessing this equipment causes officers to uncomfortably twist their upper body, putting pressure on the ligaments of the lower back.

"The body is not designed to twist like that," says Dr. Cheryl Mittelstedt, a Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin-based chiropractor with 22 years of experience. "However the body is designed to make corrections every time you move." She continues to explain that keeping one body segment stationary while moving the rest creates unnecessary strain. Constant wear and tear can weaken the thin ligaments in the lower back, allowing the discs to shift. This altered biomechanical state can place pressure on or cause irritation to the nerves that create the sciatic nerve.
Ergonomics issues in the mobile office

The officer keeping his watchful eye on traffic driving by values his vehicle's ergonomics more than the placement of controls and where equipment can be mounted.

Lt. Brian Moran, fleet manager of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and head of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Police Vehicle (LASD) Vehicle Tests, views ergonomics as it relates to comfort: how the officer can get in and out of the car, how comfortable it is to work in, and whether it lends him the ability to do his job effectively.

"The concern is not always how comfortable it is to sit in, but whether the vehicle provides the ability to accelerate in order to respond in an emergency traffic situation," Moran adds.

Considerations also arise over the equipment officers wear on their duty belts. When a right-handed officer wears his weapon on his right side, the holster can interfere with the seat belt. This can cause the holster to become unsnapped or entangled in the belt when exiting the vehicle.

However, the officer is backed by vehicle manufacturers, which respond to common design faults and complaints from law enforcement officers. For instance, Ford previously designed a seat with the padding carved out from the bottom of the seat back, providing additional room for the officer's weapon and handheld radio. "An important thing we can do for [officers] is to keep them comfortable, because they are sitting in that seat so much," Blackmer stresses.

The vehicle's ergonomic design becomes more complicated with the addition of communications, computer and accessory mounts. Knowing that each agency sets up its patrol vehicles differently, vehicle manufacturers face challenges when it comes to balancing efficient communications and smart ergonomic design. "When an agency or department purchases a laptop mount, this creates a couple of problems and some risk," explains Blackmer. "When it's opened, it could block out the radio, which might be bothersome. It could block the trunk-release button, the climate control, ashtray, cup holders or anything on that center stack." Ultimately, since the mount is an aftermarket purchase, departments installing any additional equipment should weigh access to communications and accessories versus the convenience of the mount.

Major vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford, Chrysler and General Motors Corp., employ police advisory boards to act as a liaison and a resource for other law enforcement agencies. According to Moran, a member of all three manufacturer advisory boards, officer safety has also been discussed as it pertains to airbag deployment and the relationship of different mounts and equipment."    (Continued via Officer.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

AFL - CIO Report Workplaces Not as Safe as OSHA Claims

Not quite as good as we thought ...

"While OSHA has stated that workplaces are safer than ever and that fatality, injury and illness rates are on the decline, a new AFL-CIO report contradicts these claims, suggesting that workplaces may not be as safe as the agency professes.

AFL-CIO’s 2008 Death on the Job report, which was released in anticipation of the 20th annual Workers Memorial Day on April 28, points out that the latest figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that there were 5,840 workplace deaths due to traumatic injuries in 2006, an increase of 106 over the 5,734 deaths reported in 2005. These numbers reflect the final BLS fatality data and are higher than the preliminary numbers released in August 2007.

On an average day, 153 workers lose their lives as a result of workplace injuries and disease, and another 11,233 are injured, the report read. AFL-CIO emphasized that these figures are telling of the weaknesses in the country's workplace safety laws and penalties. OSHA's lack of sufficient resources, the report said, fails to protect workers adequately as few inspectors and low penalties make the threat of an OSHA inspection hollow for many employers.

According to the report, there are 2,094 OSHA inspectors (821 federal and 1,273 state inspectors) for the approximately 130 million U.S. workers. At this rate, federal OSHA inspectors are only able to inspect workplaces, on average, once every 133 years, and state OSHA inspectors on average once every 65 years, the report stated.

In addition, the report concluded that in FY 2007, the average OSHA penalty for employers who allowed "conditions creating a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to workers" was $909. It also found that the average national total penalty in fatality investigations was $10,133.

"Our nation's system of rules and enforcement has fallen embarrassingly short of its goal of ensuring workplace safety," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "America's workers simply can't afford four more years of Bush administration-style cuts, rollbacks and opposition to new safety protections.”
Nurse Laments Lack of Safety Protections

Rebecca Rhoades, a nurse from Cedar Rapids, Mich., is an example of a worker affected by this apparent dearth of safety protections. Rhoades hurt her back several times while lifting patients at the hospital where she worked. After her first injury, she said OSHA did not ensure her future safety either by requiring the hospital to offer lifts or mandating training in safe patient handling.

When Rhoades hurt her back a second time and reported the injury to the hospital, they placed her under working restrictions for only 6 weeks. She was then ordered to assume her original duties, which continued to weaken her back."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Workers Battle Over The Office Thermostat

Yes, they are still arguing about office temperatures ...

Forget international summits on environmental policy. An ugly war against climate change is probably being waged in your workplace.

The scene is the same in many an office: Sally in Accounting shivers at her desk bundled in a wool sweater, while Tim in Human Resources sweats through the 10 a.m. meeting. The thermostat is set at 70 degrees, but both workers are getting hot under their white collars.

Extreme office temperature consistently ranks as a pet peeve among office workers in informal surveys. Finding a climate that makes everyone happy is next to impossible, because individuals can experience the same temperature differently. Factor in old buildings with outdated heating and cooling systems, and you've got a widespread workplace woe.

"My fingers get so cold when I'm working, I can barely type on my keyboard," said Robin Clay, a project manager at a bank in Belfast, Maine. She sometimes wears her coat in the office, which is chilly year-round, she said. "I don't know which makes me crankier, freezing in the winter or freezing in the summer," she said.

But more than just workers' moods are affected by uncomfortable temperatures, according to recent research. Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University, is completing his third study into the effects of climate on worker productivity. Using software that records the keystrokes of about 30 workers in a New Jersey office, Hedge found that performance dropped and errors rose when conditions were perceived as too cold.

"If you are thermally comfortable, then you actually do better than if you are freezing to death in the building," Hedge said.

Women tend to run cooler than men, thanks to lighter clothing, less body hair and a tendency to move around less, he said.

A temperature range of 72 to 76 degrees is ideal, Hedge said. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 68 to 74 degrees in the winter and 73 to 79 degrees in the summer should suit 80 percent or more of a building's occupants. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends a range of 68 to 76 degrees.

Building designs and occupancy estimates often inaccurately account for the heat generated by personal computers, one of which can produce the warmth of a human body, Hedge said.

Doug Melton, a communications and control technician at Spectra Energy in Knoxville, Tenn., deals with that reality every day. A thermostat in his company's 1960s-era building controls both a conference room and an adjoining room housing networking equipment that must be kept cool to function properly. When employees crank up the heat and forget to turn it back down, the risk of equipment shutdowns and damage rises right along with the mercury."    (Continued via Courant.com)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Earth Day Going Green in the Office Just Got Easier

Workers care about making their office green ...

"According to recent national survey commissioned by Smead, 77 percent of office workers said buying paper office products made from trees grown and harvested in a sustainable manner was important to them.

The Smead survey found that while environmental considerations do play a significant role in corporate purchasing decisions and many companies large and small are adopting green initiatives, the interest in green-at-the-office appears largely driven by the individual. Among those surveyed from large employers (500+ employees), 42 percent said their companies have green corporate guidelines and 69 percent said their companies switched brands to get greener products. Among those surveyed at small companies (under 500 employees), only 26 percent said their companies had green guidelines, yet 54 percent had switched brands to obtain greener products.

The survey also found that 66 percent of office workers agreed that they could be more green in the workplace, and 73 percent indicated that they planned to increase their purchases of green products in the coming year. Additionally, nearly 80 percent of those surveyed make a point to recycle paper at their workplace and 40 percent of respondents said they purchased an office product because it was made from recycled material.

To meet the growing consumer demand for green filing products, Smead, a leading supplier of office filing products and records management systems, has been certified as a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified Sourcing Program. The SFI program provides rigorous environmental standards and performance measures that integrate the protection of our environment with the perpetual, sustainable growing and harvesting of trees.

Smead is the only manufacturer of filing products to have received this certification, which guarantees that the paper used to make Smead products comes from forests that are grown and harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner.

“Our customers increasingly value environmental stewardship and sustainability,” said Sharon Avent, Smead president and CEO. “We take great care to implement practices and procedures that are right for the environment and right for our customers.”

Smead's participation in the SFI program is a new component of its environmental stewardship initiative, which started in 1989 with the introduction of post-consumer waste into its paper products and has evolved over the past 20 years to include a line of 100 percent recycled products as well numerous internal initiatives to reduce, reuse and recycle in every aspect of its business."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ergonomics Risk Assessment Determining When Why Who and How You Should Perform One

Why and when you should do risk assessments ...

"As ergonomics increasingly becomes a core component of safety programs around the country, the methods used to evaluate and define the ergonomics risk present in a job develop into a critical element of the ergonomics process. When a company begins to look at ergonomics and how to implement an effective process, the basic job analysis is often the starting point, and the point that defines how a company will approach the analysis and abatement of ergonomics risk.

Identification of ergonomics stressors that are linked with the development of musculoskeletal disorders is a key element of any ergonomics activity. In most cases, stressors successfully can be identified using observational and checklist-driven techniques. The detection of ergonomics risk does not require advanced tools or techniques.

This observational approach often the most efficient method of gathering data on the stressors in the working environment, but the density of this data is limited. There is no measure of exposure, risk or any data that will provide a quantitative measure that can be tracked (i.e. improvement of process). The positive characteristics of this type of stressor identification process are the ease in which it is performed, the low cost of the assessment and quick turnaround times. A simple observation approach often can be used to feed a quick fix of an obvious ergonomics stressor. As the situation becomes more complicated, intricate or costly, the need for a more sophisticated approach may present itself.

When a company is interested in advancing its ergonomics job analysis process, the next level of assessment involves the use of risk assessment tools. Now, the term “tool” is used lightly, in that ergonomics risk assessment methods largely are paper-based, with some methods computerized for ease of use. There seldom are complicated pieces of equipment involved, except for a force gauge in some situations. Prior to using an ergonomics risk assessment tool, a company should ask four simple questions:

* Why should we use an ergonomics risk assessment tool?
* Who will be performing the assessments?
* How do we use the risk assessment tool correctly?
* When should we use a specific ergonomics risk assessment tool?

This paper will walk through these four questions to provide a guide to adding ergonomics risk assessments to a safety or ergonomics program.

Why and When Should You Perform an Ergonomics Risk Assessment?

Where ergonomics is concerned, there are often three questions asked:

* Which jobs pose the greatest risk?
* How much is too much?
* How can I show improvements were made?

One of the first steps in ergonomics evaluations is to identify the stressors present in the jobs. This identification usually is accomplished with a subjective evaluation. The evaluator may identify such things as high repetition, high force and/or extreme posture as being present in a job without any measurements. While this type of evaluation may be effective for determining which jobs may need further investigation, the severity of the identified stressors often is difficult to express and/or document. Furthermore, it is difficult to compare different jobs or tasks within a job to determine a prioritization of ergonomics efforts. This leads to the question: “Which jobs pose the greatest risk?”

Ergonomic interventions may not completely eliminate the stressors. They may be reduced but still be present. Additionally, as long as humans are involved in the workplace, there will be ergonomic stressors placed on those individuals. Therein lays the question: “How much is too much?”

Some interventions may address a stressor identified in the original evaluation and create another stressor. Therefore, once interventions are in place they should be evaluated to ensure they eliminated or reduced the stressors identified in the original evaluation without creating another hazard. This begs the question: “How can improvements be shown and evaluated?”

Some answers to these questions may be found through the use of ergonomics risk assessment tools. The use of quantitative or semi-quantitative evaluation tools provides the evaluator with numeric output with which they may evaluate the risk for the development of MSDs for a given job. This output also may allow them to compare relative risk of multiple jobs or tasks, thereby identifying the jobs or tasks that pose the greatest risk. This may assist the evaluator in the prioritization of ergonomics efforts.

These tools also may provide the evaluator or designer with recommended limits to the stressors present in a job, task or job design. These limits may be used to assist in reducing the risk to safe levels. Furthermore, the results may be used to compare the same job or task before and after an intervention is put in place."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Neck Pain After Extended Computer Use

Stretch those muscles ...

"You sit down at your computer, ready to put in a full day's work and make some serious headway on your projects. You know you'll easily be spending 8 to 10 hours sitting in front of the computer.

You've set up your computer workstation as effectively as you can figure. Your keyboard is appropriately placed in front of you and your monitor is directly in front of you at eye level. So why will your neck start to hurt? Why will your effectiveness be destroyed by the nagging, aggravating neck pain that seems to show up more and more frequently?

If you are regularly spending a lot of time in front of a computer, you have to realize that your body is going to begin to change and adapt to take on this frequent activity. Your front neck muscles are slowly growing shorter and tighter, while the muscles in the back of your neck are growing longer and weaker.

The back muscles are also growing full of spasm and knots while they are forced to hold up your ten pound head for hours at a time. You would think they would grow stronger from having to hold your head up all the time, but it just never seems to work that way. As they get longer, they are growing weaker, and the job of holding up your head becomes increasingly difficult.

The best options are to do exercises and activities that will counteract the extended computer usage. The rule of thumb is to spend time stretching the front of your neck and strengthening the muscles in the back. This same rule applies to anyone looking to improve posture.

To stretch the front of the neck, turn your head slightly to one side, about forty-five degrees. If you turn your head to the right, you are stretching the left and vice versa. Place your right hand on left side of your chest and pull down gently as you tilt your head back. Stop immediately if you feel sharp pain or any dizziness.

To strengthen the back of the neck, the easiest route would be with a neck exercise machine. Some health clubs have them, but they are more of a specialized device. You can also fold up a towel and place it against a wall. Put the back of your head against the towel and push into it. Hold for a few seconds and release. This is an isometric contraction.

If you are unable to complete some of these movements, or you find that you can't painlessly move your head backwards, it may be time to visit a chiropractor. The chiropractor will perform a spinal adjustment and restore the normal movement of your spine.

Your neck shouldn't hurt just because your sitting in front of your computer. You've got to work and pain can be a nuisance, but it doesn't have to be there with a little effort."    (Continued via Ezome Articles)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Making sure your boss is your only pain in the ass at work

Tips for creating a pain free workplace ...

"Work has been a real pain the ass lately. But it’s not for the reasons you might think. It’s my chair. Or maybe it’s the fact that I sit in it for eight hours a day.

If you spend any time at a computer (and who doesn't these days), then you need a lesson in ergonomics. Whether you are an occasional Internet surfer or a full-time desk jockey, you have probably felt a twinge in your wrist or throbbing in your lower back commonly associated with repetitive motion injuries and/or sitting for prolonged periods. Follow these helpful tips to enhance comfort and productivity and avoid injury.

Posture: Ensure you are sitting up straight in a position that keeps your spine in neutral alignment. Knees, elbows and hips should maintain 90 degree angles (or greater). If you are mindful of how you sit and find that your work station is preventing correct posture, read on.

Work Station: Take inventory of your working environment, starting with your chair. It should give you adequate support and allow you to make adjustments. Monitor, keyboard and mouse locations should allow for working close to the body while maintaining those 90 degree angles. Frequently used items (such as the telephone) should be in easy reach.

Lighting: Overhead lighting should be as natural as possible. Your monitor screen should be relatively free of glare (glare shields are an inexpensive alternative). Task lighting closer to your work should be comfortable on your eyes.

Breaks: Frequent breaks are really key. Every hour (at least), you should get up, move around and stretch. There is a great software program called RSIGuard (www.rsiguard.com) and among its many tools to reduce repetitive strain injuries is a feature called BreakTimer, which analyzes your work intensity and encourages stretching by demonstrating 31 stretches right on your screen.

Ergonomic Products: Once you have analyzed your work station and assessed your needs, you might consider some of these products if your budget allows:

Logitech Thumb Wheel Mouse — I had some very bad habits with my mouse and was unable to keep my wrist straight while mousing, so I started to get some wrist pain. After I picked up this product for just $39.99 at Staples, the problem was solved.

Kensington Expandable Articulat-ing Keyboard Platform — I love this product, which easily mounts right under your work surface. It allows for multiple adjustments and then tucks neatly away when you are not using it. $250 at Staples.

Plantronics Cordless Headset — I am a multi-tasker, and as such, frequently type while talking on the phone. Tucking the handset into the crook of my neck for several years caught up with me and gave me unrelenting pain in my neck and shoulder. This device was a life saver for me! There are various models available at Staples starting at $199.

Herman Miller Aeron Chair — this is currently on my wish list. Hailed as the holy grail of desk chairs, the Aeron’s PostureFit technology has become the gold standard in ergonomic seating. The mesh seating provides great support and allows air to pass through, keeping the sitter cool and comfortable while minimizing pressure. Retailing for $749 and up, it ain’t cheap, but can sometimes be found on Craigslist or eBay for much cheaper."    (Continued via Ventura County Reporter)
[Ergonomics Resources]   [Visit Ergonomics Store for products mentioned]

Culture Leadership Critical to Reducing Workplace Injuries

Lack of leadership can lead to lack of workplace safety ...

"A behavioral safety expert, who testified during the April 1 Senate Employment and Workplace Protections Subcommittee hearing on the dangerous patterns of workplace safety violations, spoke to OccupationalHazards.com and emphasized that organizational leaders can drive company culture to make workplace safety a priority.

Carmen Bianco, an executive consultant with Behavioral Safety Technology (BST), asserted that company leaders significantly can influence the effectiveness of injury reduction programs through the cultures they create. If the culture only focuses on productivity, for example, there isn’t much room for safety, Bianco said. But when companies successfully communicate that productivity cannot exist without safety, they can better reduce on-the-job injuries.

“[Company leaders] communicate their message through the things they focus on, setting the right vision, challenging and inspiring the workforce,” he said. “They really get around and embrace that vision, to build the team and collaborative environment where everyone's voice is heard.”

These leaders, he added, are “building a culture in which they value every employee and what they bring to the table.”

Bianco was hesitant to presume that the companies named during the April 1 hearing – BP, McWane and Cintas, for example – were at fault because the company CEO or other organizational leaders were not effectively communicating a culture of safety throughout the company. Without conducting an assessment of these specific companies, he said, “it's difficult to tell what has been going on there.”
Initiating Safety Culture

According to Bianco, studies of more than 150 sites in North America show that companies reduce injuries more effectively with comprehensive employee-engagement approaches than with traditional safety programs alone. Companies in the study group achieved an average 25 percent reduction in injury rates after the first year, increasing to an average 65 percent improvement after five years, he said.

In Bianco’s experience, he said some companies are willing to place safety at the highest priority, but are uncertain how to do so or how to make the corporate culture fully supportive of safety.

He added that in many of the companies he has worked with, company leadership may drive the culture of safety in the right direction, but certain subcultures within the same organization are weak in communicating the message.
The Effect of Fragmented Departments

As an example, Bianco set up the following scenario: Company A, an organization of 1,000 people, has a standard leadership team comprised of a CEO and various departmental leaders. BST completes an assessment and determines that the corporate level is supportive of safety. But when examining each of the company's departments, the analysis finds that some leaders haven’t earned the trust of their workers, are controlling or don't appear to respect others' opinions.

“So you now have work group that is fragmented,” he said. “They aren't working together, they aren't bringing good or bad news to the boss, and are not reporting injuries because they are scared to."    (Continued via Occupational Hazards)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Sign language interpreters at high ergonomic risk

Sign language interpreters at high ergonomic risk ...

"Sign language interpreting is one of the highest-risk professions for ergonomic injury, according to a new study conducted by Rochester Institute of Technology. The research indicates that interpreting causes more physical stress to the extremities than high-risk tasks conducted in industrial settings, including assembly line work. It also found a direct link between an increase in the mental and cognitive stress of the interpreter and an increase in the risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.

The research, conducted through RIT’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, is one of the first to catalog the effect of signing on interpreters and show a correlation between mental and cognitive stress and increased ergonomic risk. The results of the study are available in the March 2008 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Ergonomics and were also presented at the 2007 biennial conference of the Registry of Sign Language Interpreters.

“The impact of repetitive stress in industrial and office settings has been well documented, but there is less data on the risk of ergonomic injury to sign language interpreters,” says Matthew Marshall, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering at RIT and a leader of the research group. “Our findings indicate that interpreters may actually be at a higher risk of injury than other professions.

Marshall notes that the impact of injury on interpreters and its effect on retention is a major issue in the deaf community because any reduction in the interpreter population would have an adverse effect on the full societal participation of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

“Gaining a better understanding of the factors contributing to interpreter injury can show us ways to intervene and reduce the risks,” adds Steve Nelson, director of access services for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. “Informed intervention can help drastically reduce injuries and keep much-needed skilled interpreters at work."    (Continued via PhysOrg)    [Ergonomics Resources]

Ergonomics Risk Assessment Determining When Why Who and How You Should Perform One

Ergonomic risk assessments ...

"In Part I of this two-part series, the author examines why and when ergonomics risk assessments should be performed.

As ergonomics increasingly becomes a core component of safety programs around the country, the methods used to evaluate and define the ergonomics risk present in a job develop into a critical element of the ergonomics process. When a company begins to look at ergonomics and how to implement an effective process, the basic job analysis is often the starting point, and the point that defines how a company will approach the analysis and abatement of ergonomics risk.

Identification of ergonomics stressors that are linked with the development of musculoskeletal disorders is a key element of any ergonomics activity. In most cases, stressors successfully can be identified using observational and checklist-driven techniques. The detection of ergonomics risk does not require advanced tools or techniques.

This observational approach often the most efficient method of gathering data on the stressors in the working environment, but the density of this data is limited. There is no measure of exposure, risk or any data that will provide a quantitative measure that can b