When we think of on the job injuries, we frequently think of accidents that cause immediate harm to the employee. However, accidents are not the only form of on-the-job injuries. In addition to accidents, many employees suffer from musculoskeletal disorders caused by performing the repetitive job duties. Moreover, these injuries are covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA), state health and safety laws, and Workers’ Compensation just like accidents. Below we discuss musculoskeletal disorders and steps that can be taken to limit the risk of injury. If you believe you have suffered from a musculoskeletal disorder because of your work, it is recommended to contact a Workers compensation lawyer to ensure your legal rights are protected.
What are repetitive strain injuries?
Repetitive strain injuries are a type of musculoskeletal disorder. The injury occurs when an employee performs the same motion over and over without proper restrictions. The repeated motion results in damage to muscle, tendons, and/or nerves. According to OSHA, some of the common risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries include:
- Exerting excessive force. Examples include lifting heavy objects or people, pushing or pulling heavy loads, manually pouring materials, or maintaining control of equipment or tools.
- Performing the same or similar tasks repetitively. Performing the same motion or series of motions continually or frequently for an extended period of time.
- Working in awkward postures or being in the same posture for long periods of time. Using positions that place stress on the body, such as prolonged or repetitive reaching above shoulder height, kneeling, squatting, leaning over a counter, using a knife with wrists bent, or twisting the torso while lifting.
- Localized pressure into the body part. Pressing the body or part of the body (such as the hand) against hard or sharp edges, or using the hand as a hammer.
- Cold temperatures. In combination with any one of the above risk factors may also increase the potential for MSDs to develop. For example, many of the operations in meatpacking and poultry processing occur with a chilled product or in a cold environment.
- Vibration, both whole body and hand-arm, can cause a number of health effects. Hand-arm vibration can damage small capillaries that supply nutrients and can make hand tools more difficult to control. Hand-arm vibration may cause a worker to lose feeling in the hands and arms resulting in increased force exertion to control hand-powered tools (e.g. hammer drills, portable grinders, chainsaws) in much the same way gloves limit feeling in the hands. The effects of vibration can damage the body and greatly increase the force which must be exerted for a task.
- Combined exposure to several risk factors. May place workers at a higher risk for MSDs than does exposure to any one risk factor.
What are the symptoms of repetitive strain injuries?
The symptoms of the repetitive strain can manifest in pain or numbness to any part of the body that involves the repeated motion including fingers, thumbs, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, and knees. They symptoms of a repetitive strain injury includes pain, swelling, tingling, numbness, stiffness, weakness, and sensitivity to cold or heat.
What are the types of repetitive strain injuries?
The types of repetitive strain injuries come with various names usually based on the location in the body when the symptoms manifest. These injuries have mainly names including:
- Tendinitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow
- Trigger finger or thumb
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Shin splints
- Stress fractures
- Ganglion cysts
- Nerve compression syndrome
- Herniated disks
- Bursitis
- Dupuytren’s contracture
How to prevent repetitive strain injuries?
Reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries requires awareness and action. For employees who perform repetitive job duties, both the employer and employees must be aware of the risk and take to prevent injury. Employers are encouraged to do a thorough ergonomic analysis of the job duties that may result in strain injuries. By doing a thorough ergonomic analysis, an employer can establish policies and procedures tailored for a particular job as well as determine what tools and equipment employees will need to reduce the risk.
Another big part of reducing repetitive strain injuries is training. Employers should train supervisors and employee on not only how to identify the risks of repetitive injuries but actions to take once an employee identify a symptom. The training should reinforce that supervisors should not place the sense of a lack of productivity over the employee’s health when responding to an employee’s claim on injury. If a supervisor pushes an employee to continue to work even after the employee report an injury, they may end up causing more harm to the employee that may result in even more disruption to productivity.
Does an employer need to report repetitive strain injuries?
Employers may be tempted to not report repetitive strain injuries. However, because repetitive strain injuries may be the product of an employee’s work, OSHA requires employers to report the injuries in their OSHA 300 injury and illness logs and 301 reports. Also, Workers’ Compensation rules also require that employers properly report musculoskeletal disorders that result in an employee not being able to work.
Conclusion
Employers need to be aware of the job duties they are requiring their employee to perform. If the job duties including repetitive work, it is in their best interest to take steps to prevent and minimize repetitive strain injuries. In doing so, employers can prevent the injury to an employee, lost productivity, and potential legal claims.
