Authors
Oregon Worker Illness and Injury Prevention Program
Source
Putting Data to Work. Portland, OR: Oregon Department of Human Services, 2009 Jun; :1-10
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) -- sometimes called repetitive motion, ergonomic or overuse injuries -- are a broad group of conditions affecting the connective or "soft" tissues of the body. The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines MSDs as injuries and disorders to muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and rotator cuff syndrome. Ergonomics is the study of the "fit" between an individual and his or her workplace. An ergonomic assessment might include questions about daily work activities and an individual's work environment. The aim is to find the best fit between the individual and the job conditions. When an individual's work activities, workstation or work environment is not adjusted to the individual's body, an MSD may occur. MSDs have the potential to affect a person’s productivity at work and quality of life, both on and off the job. Therefore, tracking and preventing these types of injuries in Oregon is very important to improving worker health, safety and productivity.
Keywords
Injury-prevention; Safety-education; Work-operations; Traumatic-injuries; Risk-analysis; Repetitive-work; Cumulative-trauma-disorders; Musculoskeletal-system-disorders; Muscular-disorders; Carpal-tunnel-syndrome; Arm-injuries; Ergonomics; Age-factors; Warehousing; Transportation-industry
Contact
Oregon Department of Human Services, Public Health Division, Office of Environmental Public Health Toxicology, Assessment & Tracking Services Section (TATS), 800 NE Oregon Street #640 Portland, OR 97232
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008472
Source Name
Putting Data to Work
Performing Organization
Oregon Department of Human Services