Health-Safety in IT and Electronics industry

WHAT IS A MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER?

Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.).

Common musculoskeletal disorders include:

•Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

•Tendonitis

•Muscle / Tendon strain

•Ligament Sprain

•Tension Neck Syndrome

•Thoracic Outlet Compression

•Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and many more

EXPOSURE TO RISK FACTORS

•When a worker is exposed to MSD risk factors, they begin to fatigue. When fatigue outruns their body’s recovery system, they develop a musculoskeletal imbalance. Over time, as fatigue continues to outrun recovery and the musculoskeletal imbalance persists, a musculoskeletal disorder develops.

•These risk factors can be broken up into two categories:

(A) Work-related (ergonomic) risk factors

(B) Individual-related risk factors.

PROACTIVE ERGONOMICS

A proactive ergonomics process identifies ergonomic risk factors and then reduces them through engineering and administrative controls before an injury occurs.

•Engineering Controls: Eliminate or reduce awkward postures with ergonomic modifications that seek to maintain joint range of motion to accomplish work tasks within the mid-range of motion positions for vulnerable joints. Proper ergonomic tools should be utilized that allow workers to maintain optimal joint positions.

•Administrative Controls: Include work practice controls, job rotation and counteractive stretch breaks.

•Work Practice Controls – Work procedures that consider and reduce awkward postures should be implemented. In addition, workers should be trained on proper work technique and encouraged to accept their responsibility to use their body properly and to avoid awkward postures whenever possible.

•Job Rotation – Job rotation and job task enlargement is a way to reduce repeated and sustained awkward postures that can lead to MSD.

•Counteractive Stretch Breaks – Implement rest or stretch breaks to provide an opportunity to counteract any repeated or sustained awkward postures and allow for adequate recovery time.

WHAT IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?

•These days, many of us have jobs that require us to stare at computer screens for hours at a time. That can put a real strain on your eyes.

•Eye problems caused by computer use fall under the heading computer vision syndrome (CVS). It isn’t one specific problem. Instead, it includes a whole range of eye strain and discomfort. Research shows that between 50% and 90% of people who work at a computer screen have at least some symptoms.

•Working adults aren't the only ones affected. Kids who stare at tablets or use computers during the day at school can have issues, too, especially if the lighting and their posture are less than ideal.

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WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME?

•Carpal tunnel syndrome, also called median nerve compression, is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand.

•It happens because of pressure on your median nerve, which runs the length of your arm, goes through a passage in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, and ends in your hand. The median controls the movement and feeling of your thumb and the movement of all your fingers except your pinky.

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A repetitive strain injury (RSI)

is an "injury to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained or awkward positions".

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES:

•Some examples of symptoms experienced by patients with RSI are aching, pulsing pain, tingling and extremity weakness, initially presenting with intermittent discomfort and then, with a higher degree of frequency.

RSIs are common and may be caused by many different types of activities, including:

•Using A Computer Mouse

•Typing

•Swiping Items At A Supermarket Checkout

•Grasping Tools

•Working On An Assembly Line

•Training For Sports