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Show March 11, 1993 3 Hilltop Times Education can prevent ergonomic injuries by Lt. Col. R. Craig Postlewaite Chief, Military Public Health "The impact of ergonomic disorders at our installation is becoming staggering and we need to turn the situation around," said Brig. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, vice commander, Ogden Air Logistics Center. During fiscal 1992, 14 Hill AFB workers were disqualified from their jobs when it became unsafe for them to return to their duties because of permanent disability, or the possibility of it. There were also 110 ergonomic back injuries in fiscal 1992. Ergonomic disorders are not only resulting in needless suffering, pain, disability and reductions in quality, but they are adding $2-- 3 million per year to Ogden ALC overhead costs, according to engineering estimates. Other 1992 statistics are equally dismal. There time were approximately 3,500 days of light-dut- y time associated with 118 and 270 days of lost-dut- y trauma disorders. Approximately 33 of these cases with a projected average cost required surgery for medical and compensation costs of $29,000 for a total of $957,000. Ergonomic disorders included acute. strains and sprains, back injuries, knee disorders due to prolonged kneeling, and cumulative trauma disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome which affects the wrist, epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and a variety of other conditions affecting the shoulder. Nearly 30 percent of Hill's ergonomic disorders occur in administrative office personnel, while the remaining 70 percent occur in the industrial work place. Occupations that are particularly hazardous include all kinds of mechanics, painters, electricians, beadblast operators and computer terminal operators who perform keyboard entry four or more hours a day. In the vast majority of cases, the reason Hill workers are experiencing such injuries and illnesses is because some tasks associated with their jobs exceed bioen-vironment- al the capabilities of their bodies. The human body is a marvelous machine capable of a wide range of motion and degrees of force it can exert, but it does have its limitations. Each time a human body exceeds its limitations due to one or more ergonomic stressors such as awkward posture, high force, repetitive tasks or prolonged exposure to vibrating tools, a small amount of trauma and inflammation develops. If the body is not allowed sufficient time to heal, then cumulative trauma in the form of damage to muscles, tendons, nerves and vessels adds up to produce pain. Pain is an indication that a worker is exceeding the capabilities of his body. And, while no one wishes to experience pain,' there is a positive side to having pain. It can serve as an early warning signal of work conditions that could cause permanent injury or illness if conditions are not changed. While a small amount of discomfort can be expected to occur when a worker undertakes a task where "new" muscles are being used, it should go away quickly. Any pain, numbness or tingling associated with the body indicates that prompt evaluation is necessary before the condition becomes serious. The earlier it is reported to the occupational medicine service, the sooner the job can be appropriately modified to reduce the stress being placed upon the body. In Hill work areas it is imperative that everyone involved workers, supervisors and management become knowledgeable about the recognition and correction of ergonomic risk factors so that ground safety and bioenvironmental engineering can identify and correct them. During the past two years, ergonomic committees were formed in many Hill organizations to perform work place evaluations and make recommendations for control of ergonomic stressors. In addition, numerous offices have received training on the recognition and correction of ergonomic stressors in the office environment. Bioenvironmental engineering, military public health and ground safety have been assisting in this effort and much has been accomplished in acquiring ergonomically designed tools and obtaining lifting-assis- t devices, but much remains to be done. Wherever possible engineering controls are used, but sometimes it isn't possible to rapidly implement them, so other courses of action need to be taken. Among the alternatives possible are job broadening, which provides the worker with a variety of tasks that involve different forces and movements; worker g to help dissipate the effects rotation; and of ergonomic stress. While awareness of ergonomic disorders has increased as a result of the ergonomic training programs, the number of ergonomic disorders has also increased. It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of these disorders probably occurred prior to the implementation of the ergonomic program in 1991, yet they are being reported now because more and more Hill workers are educated on the causes and prevention of ergonomic disorders. For more information, contact military public health at Ext. self-pacin- mum we ,f;???Hf:?fffffllffflflHHIII?H ..V m n I it ii j I ii ii i .. i.. !-- I- ; of 3ICED Cipro .- - ' - f!M QSEGSE7 M ofKlrr(:iB o S"r3iHMi Ms o(i!g)l!!Sgl ( m$ $ $ $ $ $ $ 8 & 8L 8 33fl3M3iU WSiESS? 00$$$$$$ $m $$$$$ 4 8 715 NO. MAIN LAYTON 5633 SO. 1900 WEST ROY 546-277- 8 8256445 |