Health issues in business are as critical today as they were in the mid-twentieth century. Many of the injuries and illnesses have changed but their impact is no less dramatic. The increased use of computers and job specialization have contributed to a new generation of occupational hazards, especially repetitive motion injuries, also known as cumulative trauma disorders. Please refer Figure.
Health Issues
Health issues in business are as critical today
as they were in the mid-twentieth century. Many of the injuries and illnesses
have changed but their impact is no less dramatic. The increased use of
computers and job specialization have contributed to a new generation of occupational
hazards, especially repetitive motion injuries, also known as cumulative trauma
disorders. Please refer Figure.
These are injuries caused by repetitive hand,
arm, or finger motions that cause tendons to swell and become progressively
more painful. In advanced cases, workers lose the strength in their thumb and
fingers and eventually become unable to complete simple tasks, such as lifting
a baby or tying their shoes. Cumulative trauma disorders were the most common
type of illness reported in 1997, accounting for 64 percent of the 430,000
cases of illness reported (Herington and Morse, 1995).
Every five seconds a worker is injured on the
job, and every ten seconds a worker is temporarily or permanently disabled. The
estimated cost for injuries alone is $121 billion annually (Herington and
Morse, 1995). This cost includes lost productivity and wages, administrative
expenses, and health care. In reality, these costs may be much higher. It is virtually
impossible to pinpoint exact costs due to the lack of accurate statistics on
workplace injury and illness. There is no comprehensive, integrated national
system for collecting data on occupational injury, illness, and fatalities.
Another factor contributing to inconsistent data is the reluctance of many
companies to report incidents for fear of being targeted by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration for on-site inspections.
Prevention
Employers play a vital role in the prevention
of workplace injuries and illnesses. They are responsible for evaluating
workplace injuries to discover possible causes and for developing prevention
strategies for those injuries. Other employer responsibilities include safety
and hazard training, drug testing, workstation evaluations, and enforcement of
the use of protective equipment.
Ergonomics also plays a significant role in the
prevention of workplace injuries and illness. Ergonomics is the science of
designing and arranging tools and equipment to fit workers. The overall goal is
to prevent workplace illness and injuries that result from poor workstation
design or improperly designed equipment. Workstation evaluations are an example
of an ergonomic program that many large companies employ. During this evaluation,
a health and safety professional evaluates a worker performing daily tasks at
his or her workstation. The health and safety professional observes the worker
in order to evaluate the “fit” of the workspace, furniture, and equipment to
the worker.
In the case of a worker who spends the majority
of the day at a computer, the professional would look at several factors to
determine the degree to which the workstation fits. These factors include the
height and position of the computer screen and keyboard in reference to the
worker’s body posture, the height and position of the worker’s chair, and the
types of movements the worker makes while performing tasks. From this
evaluation, changes may be made to alleviate discomfort and prevent harmful
injuries. Early intervention is the key to preventing potentially disabling
injuries. In addition to the evaluation, the health and safety professional
gives the worker advice on how to sit, how to position hands on the keyboard,
and how often to take breaks.
A final critical element in the prevention of
workplace injuries and illnesses is the development of health and safety
programs designed to train and educate workers on workplace hazards. Recommends
the following elements for a comprehensive health and safety program
Management leadership and commitment
Meaningful employee participation
Systematic hazard identification and control
Employee and supervisor training
Medical management and program evaluation
In conclusion, the prevention of occupational
injuries and illnesses is a collaborative effort involving employers,
employees, federal and state agencies and health and safety professionals. The
field of occupational safety and health is extremely broad and complex.