This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Early Intervention

Why is it that when a warning light comes on in our car or truck, we immediately pick up the phone and call our mechanic? Are you maintaining your car better than you are maintaining your body?

Musculoskeletal symptoms are our body’s warning lights. Discomfort, pain, numbness, tingling, a reduction in the ability to move, or swelling are a few of the most common indicators that tell us that we should change our direction.

One of the main reasons that MSIs are important to understand is that these types of injuries can slowly or quickly escalate from minor discomfort to serious symptoms that impact all aspects of your life. In as little as 6 weeks, MSI symptoms can progress from signs or symptoms to structural changes in your soft tissue.

That’s why putting your hand up early and getting help on (supervisor, safety) or off the job (family physician, physical therapist), will help ensure that your symptoms are temporary and that you can keep your body on the road.

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Use it Right

Regardless of the workstation layout, we must treat our body well. Every day, each of us makes many decisions as to how we get the job done.

You wouldn’t overload your car like the owner in this picture just to speed up your home renovation – so why would you do this to your back or shoulder on the job?

Consider your own personal physical limits when planning your work each day.

• Plan and make sure you have the right tools for the job – where and when you need them.
• Ask for help when needed.
• Plan your work and recognize when the primary risk factors (high force, awkward postures, static postures or repetition) may occur. Then, talk to your workmates and find a better way.
• If you think that something isn’t feeling right – tell someone. You’re probably not the only one.

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Ergonomics Defined

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) has the following definition “Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”

What does it mean for you?

• It means we need to look at the whole system (your tools, the materials that you handle frequently, your work schedule and work flow) to help make sure there is a match between the job demands and the abilities of the workforce.
• Good work design reduces musculoskeletal injury (MSI), errors, and enhances productivity.
• Good work design also ensures anyone (large or small) can do the job without increased risk of injury.
• Making sure that your work fits you well (environmental changes) is important but it is just as important to make sure you use your tools and body properly (behavioral changes)!

This article was
written by ErgoRisk

Be Pro-active with Your Pain.

We love Ben Franklin’s definition of insanity, “… doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

Many of us ignore the gradual aches and pain, expecting them to magically disappear. You need to change what you are doing if you want to improve that ache, pain, tingling, numbness or reduced range of motion.
If you hear someone in your workgroup or workplace talking about their pain, try and help point them in the right direction.

There are lots of ways to get help:

Tell them to talk to their supervisor or site safety representatives.
Encourage them to have their work habits and workstation layout assessed.
Encourage them to talk to a practitioner familiar with musculoskeletal disorder development (physio, athletic or massage therapists, sports medicine doctors – Chiropractor or GP).
What’s MOST IMPORTANT is that your co-worker put their hand up and do something. Discomfort and pain can lead to more serious and long term conditions.