An educational approach to an epidemic of repetitive motion injuries among office workers
Among office workers, repetitive motion injuries such as tendonitis, muscle fatigue, and nerve irritation (caused by poor posture and arm/hand positioning while performing repetitive tasks) are a fairly new phenomenon. Office workers and their managers are not prepared to respond properly to the identification and treatment of these injuries. We found an unusually high incidence within one department at a large research facility--the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory--and developed an educational approach to reduce the frequency and severity of these injuries. Our approach was to inform the workers and managers about the origins and severity of repetitive motion injuries and their effect on the work force. Classes in ergonomic adjustment of video workstations were scheduled for all personnel who had jobs that required heavy keyboard use. The individual's responsibility in reporting any symptoms of repetitive motion injury was emphasized. We stressed to management the seriousness of the problem, the desirability of obtaining improved equipment workers may need, or the possibility of arranging a lighter workload for those showing symptoms of repetitive motion injuries. We followed these classes and briefings with additional videotaped material and written guidelines, pamphlets, and articles for further study and discussion. Early results indicate that informed workers in a supportive environment detect symptoms earlier, and therefore recover more quickly; managers who understand the problem and are able to respond positively gain better labor relations as well as lower injury rates. 4 refs., 2 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6556498
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-97868; CONF-8811121-1; ON: DE89003894
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. international conference on musculoskeletal accidents and injuries in the workplace, Bangkok, Thailand, 7 Nov 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
INJURIES
MITIGATION
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
EVALUATION
CLERICAL PERSONNEL
EDUCATION
INTERACTIVE DISPLAY DEVICES
MODIFICATIONS
MOTION
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
DISPLAY DEVICES
MEDICINE
PERSONNEL
570000* - Health & Safety
550600 - Medicine