Avoid the pains of sprains and strains
Sprains and strains are among the most common workplace injuries. Awkward positions, repetitive movements, or just standing for long periods may contribute to injuries. If you see employees shaking their arms or rolling their shoulders, those are signs that an injury could be developing.
The following examples illustrate common risk factors for sprains, strains, or musculoskeletal disorders, along with some options to reduce the risks. Use these examples to help identify high-risk tasks and ways to decrease those risks. Obtain feedback from employees to identify concerns and to evaluate potential solutions.
Risk
Prolonged standing or repetitive motions such as reaching, lifting, and manipulating items. Problems include:
- Continual standing, especially on hard surfaces such as concrete, causes muscle fatigue and pooling of blood in the lower extremities.
- Awkward neck postures from tilting the head down to a working surface, leading to neck strains and stiffness.
- Repeatedly lifting the arms or over-reaching, straining the tendons of the shoulder.
Possible solutions
- Redesign the workstation to eliminate the need for reaching.
- Provide stools or a foot rest so workers can shift weight from their feet.
Risk
Repetitive motions (such as cutting or twisting) with a bent wrist creates stress on the tendons, leading to irritation, swelling, and carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis.
Possible solutions:
- Rotate workers through repetitive tasks or allow frequent breaks to reduce exposure time.
- Restructure jobs to reduce repeated motions, forceful hand exertions, and prolonged bending.
- Select ergonomically designed tools that allow keeping the wrist straight rather than bent.
Risk
Frequently reaching for supplies can cause back and shoulder injury. Problems include:
- Rotator cuff injuries caused by working with the arms raised overhead or repeated throwing actions.
- Tendonitis in wrists, elbows, or shoulders.
- Back pain or strain.
Possible solutions:
- Provide height-adjustable tables or work stands.
- Redesign or reposition tasks so the elbows remain close to the body.
- Reposition tasks in front of workers rather than above or behind them.
Example hazard controls
Engineering controls eliminate hazards through physical changes. Administrative or work practice controls change how a task is performed, and may be used where engineering controls are not effective. Protective equipment is not as effective against ergonomic hazards.
Engineering controls
- Use mechanical devices to lift and position heavy items.
- Reduce the weight of loads to limit exertion.
- Reposition a table to eliminate a long reach.
Administrative and work practice controls
- Have two people lift heavy loads to reduce exertion.
- Rotate workers from tasks to minimize the duration of exertion, repetitive motions, or awkward postures.
- Staff “floaters” to provide periodic breaks between scheduled breaks.
Protective equipment
- Use padding to reduce direct contact with hard, sharp, or vibrating surfaces.