Essay Example on Sharp Edges at Work: Risk of Injury & CTS

Introduction

Contact stress presents the main risk factor for potential injuries while working with sharp edges or workbench. When sensitive body parts accidentally or persistently encounter these sharp edges of the workbench, too much pressure will result in decreased blood flow, and consequently affect the efficient movement of muscles, tendons and nerves. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome exhibits an ergonomic injury of the soft tissues while resting the wrist on sharp edges and resulting in constant pressure (Jensen, 2012). Such pressure compresses the tendons and nerves on the wrists to create discomfort and chronic pain.

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Effects of Hand-Arm Vibrations

The extensive use of power tools for a period exposes workers to constant hand-arm vibrations. With extensive vibrations, the blood vessels in fingers and arms undergo repetitive strain, to cause a condition also referred to as Raynaud's syndrome (Thomsen, et al., 2007). The syndrome causes numbness and tingling, which may be associated with a lack of oxygen flow to the fingers. Consequently, the fingers may lose sensation and control to an extreme end. If vibrations continue persistently for too long, workers may substantially develop restrictions on manual tasks.

The solution to Back Pain

For employees working in environments with less physical demands such as office, persistent sitting posture can be a predisposal factor for back pain. They, therefore, have to adopt measures to relieve the body of constant pressure that may result in chronic back pain. One of the basic measures to stop the risk of back pain is to stretch the body regularly (Alperovitch-Najenson, et al., 2010). This serves a precautionary and therapeutic recommendation since as it relieves the body before and after the occurrence of back pain. By stretching, the body gains flexibility, while loosening tightened muscles. In addition, employees should take regular breaks out of workplace schedule to reinvigorate the muscles and reduce mental fatigue. The resulting increased blood and oxygen circulation enables efficient coordination of muscles in the body. It is also important to consider proper feet support to reduce too much stress on the back. For employees exposed to a standing posture, they need to wear cushioning footwear to enhance the stress reduction on feet towards the back joints. An employee working as a cashier, who needs to retain seated posture while serving customers constantly must adopt a motion to prevent chronic back pain. They could adopt rotatory positions on workplace chair to avoid repetitive positions, as well as create regular time for breaks.

Hazards in Pneumatic Impact Wrenches

Ergonomic hazards in a vehicle maintenance facility can be very diverse and cover multiple workstations. An employee may have to attend their tasks in various positions, including sit, stand, lay or lean to complete customer needs. While shifting positions constantly, workers go through many repetitive movements under awkward positions. Considering a worker in automobile repair company whose role is change oil, rotate tires, check fluids and maintain chassis. They must constantly walk in and out of the automobile, with heavier tasks to the extent of using an auto lift or floor jacks to elevate cars. With such a task, body vibrations are a constant risk factor and ergonomic hazards, which may result in possible Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) (Vandergrift, et al., 2012).. For employees exposed to a standing posture, they need to wear cushioning footwear to enhance the stress reduction on feet towards the back joints.

References

Alperovitch-Najenson, D., Santo, Y., Masharawi, Y., Katz-Leurer, M., Ushvaev, D., & Kalichman, L. (2010). Low back pain among professional bus drivers: ergonomic and occupational-psychosocial risk factors. IMAJ-Israel Medical Association Journal, 12(1), 26.

Jensen, R. C., (2012). Risk-reduction methods for occupational safety and health. John Wiley & Sons.

Thomsen, J. F., Mikkelsen, S., Andersen, J. H., Fallentin, N., Loft, I. P., Frost, P., ... & Overgaard, E. (2007). Risk factors for hand-wrist disorders in repetitive work. Occupational and environmental medicine, 64(8), 527-533.

Vandergrift, J. L., Gold, J. E., Hanlon, A., & Punnett, L. (2012). Physical and psychosocial ergonomic risk factors for low back pain in automobile manufacturing workers. Occup Environ Med, 69(1), 29-34.