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Fact sheet on RSIs |
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and back injuries are crippling,
disabling and expensive. Each year, RSIs force more than 600,000 workers
to lose time from their jobs, making them the nation's biggest job safety
problem. The lives of workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome,
tendinitis, back injuries or any other RSI are changed forever. Many are
crippled by debilitating wrist, shoulder or back pain. These injured
workers often lose their jobs. Many become permanently unemployed or are
forced to take severe pay cuts to continue working. Some end up on public
assistance. RSIs are common in a wide variety of industries. Nurses, cashiers,
assembly line workers, computer users, truck drivers, stock handlers,
sewing machine operators, construction workers and meat cutters are among
those most at risk. But RSIs and crippling back injuries can occur
whenever work is repetitious, involves awkward postures or requires heavy
lifting. Ergonomics is the process of changing jobs to fit workers--rather than
forcing workers to "adapt" to jobs involving an unreasonable work pace,
poorly designed equipment or too few rest breaks. Ergonomic solutions
might involve changing tools to make them more comfortable, changing work
design so workers don't have to reach over their heads or reducing the
number of motions a worker must perform. Ergonomics can prevent RSIs, but
few employers have implemented these programs. Although RSIs represent the nation's biggest job safety problem, some
employers have launched a campaign to prevent OSHA from taking action to
protect workers against these injuries. They also are moving to change
state laws to make it difficult, or impossible, for injured workers to
collect workers' compensation for these injuries. They have formed the
National Coalition on Ergonomics, an industry front group, to block a
standard for as long as possible. They do this by arguing that there is no
scientific basis for an ergonomics standard and by questioning whether
RSIs are related to workplace conditions. In fact, there is plenty of
scientific and practical evidence that RSIs are work-related and that
ergonomics can prevent injuries. That is why OSHA is moving forward to
develop and issue an ergonomics standard. The evidence includes:
The overwhelming evidence in each of these areas points to the same
conclusions:
RSIs (also known as cumulative trauma disorders, overuse syndrome or
musculoskeletal disorders/injuries) are a group of work-related injuries
that result from the overuse, or misuse, of muscles, tendons and nerves.
They often occur in the upper body. The most common body parts affected
are the back, wrists, shoulder, elbows, neck and hands. They result from
working conditions such as a fast pace, heavy lifting, repetition or
working in an awkward and uncomfortable position.
Workers and unions are mobilizing to Stop the Pain! associated with
RSIs and crippling back injuries. The fight is centered around three
demands:
AFL-CIO Department of Occupational Safety and Health |
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