Workplace Stress and Repetitive Strain Injuries
Being aware of repetitive strain injuries or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is very important during challenging economic times. With International Repetitive Strain Injury Day taking place on Saturday, February 28, 2009, employers and employees should take this opportunity to become more aware of a growing problem in workplaces, MSDs. MSDs account for 40% of all lost-time claims in Ontario workplacesi, yet when discussing MSDs most of the focus is on physical hazards such as posture, repetition, force, and vibrations that lead to injuries and pains. But there’s another crucial element that needs to be considered when discussing MSDs and that’s the psychosocial environment. Worrying about potential job losses and being overworked are examples of psychological stressors that can inhibit your productivity and affect your physical well-being.
Psychosocial risk factors contribute to MSDs as they can affect your behaviour and make you more prone to physical hazards. Examples of psychosocial risk factors include stress from excessive work demands, lack of support from supervisors and co-workers, lack of control at work, too much or too little communication, and feelings of being unappreciated at work. To illustrate this point, psychological stress affects how you perform at work and the work environment you work in. If you’re feeling stressed, you may not pay attention to your posture or continue doing the same task over and over without taking a break. When experiencing stress, there’s more tension in the neck and shoulders - these same muscles may already be affected by awkward reaching or prolonged work with the neck bent, which are common to many office and manufacturing tasks.
Here are some tips to help you address psychosocial hazards that can lead to MSDs:
- People may feel stressed and helpless because of the turbulent economic climate. Involving staff to identify possible solutions to address the ergonomic issues is one way of increasing their sense of control over their health and safety. Employers should avoid forcing solutions onto staff without consulting them. To truly engage and empower staff, collaborate and use their skills and talents to resolve problems.
- Create a support network where you can discuss work and personal issues. Being mindful of your own well-being and those of your colleagues also means ensuring that everyone continues to follow all workplace health and safety procedures.
- Be proactive in your communication. Identify potential problems, communicate, and address them promptly. Keeping staff informed of issues leads to a more connected workforce. Plus, staff will feel more engaged, which is especially important during tough economic times.
- Recognize employees during challenging times. Staff often feel forgotten as they go about their day to day tasks. A simple “thank you” brightens a person’s day and shows that they are appreciated by their employers and peers.
- Take a break. Stepping away from a stressful situation and taking a few deep breaths will help rejuvenate you. And it also provides a physical break from repetitive activities.
- Learn to take care of yourself. Personal wellness takes a back seat during stressful times. But taking some time for yourself whether it be spending time with the family or playing a sport goes a long way in reducing stress and potential injuries.
Don’t put health and safety on the backburner during challenging times. Continuing to address the health and safety needs of staff demonstrates that employers care about their well-being - not just the bottom line. Learning to prevent incidents in the workplace benefits everyone as it will result in a healthier and productive workforce.
i Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB). Statistical Supplement to the Annual Report 2006. 2007
5 Common Myths about Pains and Strains in the Workplace
International RSI Awareness Day takes place on February 28, 2009. The day focuses on Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs), also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and creates awareness on how to prevent them. Here’s a quick backgrounder on the myths and realities of MSDs.
Myth # 1: MSDs only develop in the hands, arms, and shoulders.
Reality: MSDs can affect almost any part of the body. The most common area is the back.
Myth #2: Only aging workers suffer from MSDs.
Reality: MSDs affect workers of all ages, which is why it’s important to be aware of all risk factors. Although there are some disorders, such as degenerative disk disease, that are associated with the aging process it’s also possible for people to have a healthy body as they age, if they have properly taken care of themselves. Regardless if you have been in the workforce for two years or 20 years, you need to be mindful of your work practices and environment.
Myth #3: Rotating jobs will reduce injuries.
Reality: Rotating jobs may lead to more injuries if they require repetitive use of the same muscle groups. For instance, going from a job that involves heavy lifting to one that requires pushing and pulling can lead to injury. Performing a variety of jobs that use different muscle groups (i.e. moving from heavy lifting to doing paper work) reduces the chance of MSDs.
Myth #4: Stretching before work will reduce injuries.
Reality: In the workplace, it’s better to take short stretch breaks throughout the work day not just at the start of the day. Taking a few minutes to stretch not only benefits you physically but psychologically as well.
Myth #5: Doing the same job over a number of years will lead to an MSD.
Reality: It’s possible for some people to perform the same job over a number of years and never experience a repetitive strain injury. The term MSD is used is because it takes into account other risk factors, such as awkward postures and excessive force, that when combined with repetition can lead to injury.
How IAPA Can Help
In partnership with CCOHS, IAPA has launched a series of e-Learning courses. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs): Awareness is offered at no cost to promote awareness of this important issue.
The key to preventing and controlling injuries is applying ergonomic principles to your workplace. Our specialists can assist you with office and industrial ergonomics assessments, physical demands analysis (PDAs), and job task analysis.
IAPA has a wealth of free downloadable material that you can access, including documents that you can use to perform your own ergonomic assessments.