scholarly journals Work - Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Case Study of Sawmill Workers in Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-345
Author(s):  
Md. Sumon Rahman ◽  
Abid Hossain Khan ◽  
Md. Shohanur Rahman ◽  
Baishali Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Sawmill Workers

Sawmill workers in Bangladesh are increasingly at risk of emerging work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Their jobs involve awkward manual handling tasks such as lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. These are identified as risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. The aims of this study are to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and assessing the postural risk level among sawmills workers. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 254 workers from 60 sawmills at the southern part of Bangladesh. The overall 70.1% of sawmills workers were suffering musculoskeletal disorders in at least one body part for the last one year. The average Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score of four main tasks (Pushing, Pulling, Lifting, and Carrying the timber) was 9.25, which is high risk for MSDs symptoms. The main reasons behind these MSDs are lack of knowledge about workplace safety, working postures and the settings of the workplace. We have recommended to the management to apply the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting and Manual Material handling techniques; arrange OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) ergonomic training to the workers. Also, suggested designing the working table and workplaces in ergonomically to mitigate the musculoskeletal disorders.

Updates on NORA Musculoskeletal Health Cross-Sector Council Activities

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1279-1281
Author(s):  
David M. Rempel ◽  
Scott Schneider ◽  
Sean Gallagher ◽  
Sheree Gibson ◽  
Susan Kotowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Musculoskeletal Health ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a research framework for the nation and for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The NORA Musculoskeletal Health Cross-Sector (MUS) Council focuses on the mitigation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Two projects have been chosen by the MUS Council for disseminating existing information on ergonomic assessment methods and interventions. The first project involves collaboration with the AIHA Ergonomics Committee on the latest update of the AIHA Ergonomic Assessment Toolkit. The second project aims to post all-industry information on ergonomic solutions/interventions/guidelines in collaboration with the International Ergonomics Association (IEA). The MUS Council plans on leveraging the collaborative efforts for promoting widespread adoption of evidence-based workplace practices for the prevention of WMSDs.

Recent Developments in Health Law

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
The United States ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Bloodborne Pathogens ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Safety And Health

In American Dental Association v. Martin, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed a challenge to a rule of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In December, 1991, OSHA passed a standard to protect health care workers from viruses transmitted by blood—bloodborne pathogens—including the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the human immunodeficiency virus, the virus known to cause AIDS. Three health care organizations, whose members are dentists, medical personnel firms, and home health employers, petitioned the court to review OSHA's rule.The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed to assure employees that they would have as safe and healthy a working environment as feasible. Congress sought to ensure this by vesting the Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health with the authority to promulgate mandatory safety and health standards. In promulgating standards concerning toxic materials or harmful physical agents, the secretary sets rules that most adequately assure that an employee will not suffer a material impairment of health or functional capacity while performing work-related duties.

scholarly journals The Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 50: Protecting Workers in a Changing Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Michaels ◽  
Jordan Barab
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Work Injuries ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Setting Process ◽  
Changing Economy ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 brought unprecedented changes in US workplaces, and the activities of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have contributed to a significant reduction in work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses. Despite this, millions of workers are injured annually, and thousands killed. To reduce the toll, OSHA needs greater resources, a new standard-setting process, increased civil and criminal penalties, full coverage for all workers, and stronger whistleblower protections. Workers should not be injured or made sick by their jobs. To eliminate work injuries and illnesses, we must remake and modernize OSHA and restructure the relationship of employers and workers with the agency and each other. This includes changing the expectation of what employers must do to protect workers and implementing a requirement that firms have a “duty of care” to protect all people who may be harmed by their activities. Only by making major changes can we ensure that every worker leaves work as healthy as they were when their work shift began.

A Study of the Use of a Wrist Splint to Prevent WMSDs at a Sprout Grower

2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (26) ◽  
pp. 225-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela M. Perez ◽  
Bryan O. Buchholz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Grip Force ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Anterior Deltoid ◽  
Wrist Splint

Awkward postures and repetitive forceful motions have been implicated as risk factors for the development of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The use of wrist splints in the work environment has been adapted by some employers in an effort to control at least one of these risk factors. The hypothesis follows that if workers wear wrist splints they can avoid awkward wrist postures, which may reduce their risk for the development of WMSDs. The affect of the wrist splint on the amount of force exerted by the workers is unknown. This study was undertaken at a sprout grower to analyze the relative force exerted by workers with and without a splinted dominant wrist during two hand intensive jobs. It was found that the ability to exert peak grip force was significantly impaired with the use of the wrist splint. In addition, extrinsic flexor electromyography (EMG) and anterior deltoid EMG were relatively higher while subjects worked with splinted wrists as compared to working without a wrist splint. This preliminary data suggests that a wrist splint may limit awkward wrist postures at the expense of increasing the force required to perform hand intensive tasks. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Work-related injuries, postural stress, and musculoskeletal disorders among the railway track maintainers in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banibrata Das
Keyword(s):  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Posture Analysis ◽  
Work Related

The main aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate work-related injuries (WRI) and the self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among 742 railway track maintainers. The second aim of this study was to investigate the potential factors related to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in track maintainers. This study also tried to do planning and implementing ergonomic intervention programs to improve track maintainer’s health. Modified Nordic questionnaires were administered to assess the prevalence of MSDs. Detailed posture analysis by rapid entire body assessment (REBA) method was performed to assess the risk level of concerned postures. The injury data for 12 months were collected by conducting a survey and personal interviews with the affected railway track maintainers. To assess the prevalence of MSDs, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were computed along with critical χ 2 values. Analysis of variance was performed to determine significant differences between the MSD present and absent among the track maintainers of the Indian railway. The result of this study showed that neglect of safety precautions is the main reason for injury, followed by slipping and falling and lack of awareness. Sprain injury is one of the main injuries, followed by cut, snakebite, abrasion, and fracture. Low educational levels of workers are also reasons for WRI. In conclusion, the prevalence and severity of MSD, particularly in the low back, knees, wrist, and shoulder and WRI were found to be very high among the track maintainers. The recommendations of this research are ergonomic interventions, such as track maintainers proper training, following the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health -recommended weight limit for manual material handling, modification in hand tools, job rotation, performing stretching exercise, and avoiding awkward and static posture are needed.

scholarly journals Biological risk assessment: A challenge for occupational health and safety practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Carlos Carvalhais ◽  
Micaela Querido ◽  
Cristiana C. Pereira ◽  
Joana Santos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Biological Risk ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Medium Risk

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. METHODS: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. RESULTS: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.

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