Work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

7 Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Professor Alan Hedge DEA325/651 Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (NIOSH, 1997) ! 32% (705,800) of work-related injuries arise from overexertion or repetitive motion: # 367,424 injuries due to overexertion in lifting (65% back injuries) # 93,325 due to overexertion in pushing/pulling (52% back injuries) # 68,992 due to overexertion in holding, carrying or turning objects (58% back injuries) # 47,861 shoulder injuries # 83,483 unspecified overexertion injuries # 92,576 repetitive motion injuries (including typing, key entry, repetitive hand tool use, repetitive grasping etc.) 55% affect the wrist, 7% affect the shoulder and 6% affect the back Workplace Injuries (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1998) ! Sprains and strains, by far, are the leading occupational injuries (between 30% 50% for any industry). ! Injuries most commonly occur to the back and upper limbs. ! Repetitive motions, such as typing, resulted in the longest absences from work. ! Carpal tunnel syndrome has the highest median days away from work. Workplace Injuries (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1998) ! Sprains and strains are the leading occupational injuries (34% 51% depending on the industry). OSHA "We are compelled to act. Employees are getting hurt. Workers are being sent home. People are suffering."