Facts
American Society of Hand Therapists - California Chapter

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 38% of all reported fireworks-related injuries from June 22-July 22, 2001, were to fingers, hands, and arms. These injuries included burns, lacerations, fractures, and traumatic amputation.

Of the finger, hand, and arm injuries, the majority of injuries were caused from accidents involving firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers three firework-types most often used in a backyard environment. Accidents involving firecrackers, bottle rockets, and hand-held sparklers totaled 57% of all fireworks injuries (source: American Pyrotechnic Association).

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), emergency rooms treat more than 400,000 outdoor garden-tool-related accidents each year. With proper safety techniques, you can stay away from the hospital and avoid becoming a statistic.

Each year, more than 74,000 small children, adolescents and adults are injured by rotary, hand and riding power mowers due to the improper handling of lawnmowers.

Video games encompass 80 percent of entertainment in American homes, and children will spend hours in front of the television and computer monitor this summer playing video games.  While the dominance of video games may diminish backyard bruises, scrapes and broken bones, the hours children spend engaging in gaming activities can lead to over use injuries of the hand and upper extremities.  The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) has issued a national education alert for parents and offering injury prevention tips to help the millions of children/young adults playing video games avoid hand and upper extremity problems later in life.

Ergonomics Programs Prevent Injuries, Save Money
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
July 1998

In March, 1998, OSHA produced a video featuring the stories of four companies whose successful ergonomics programs changed the way they did business. "Ergonomics Programs That Work" can be purchased from the National Audio Visual Center (telephone 703-605-6186) for $55.

Navistar
Melrose Park, Illinois

When employees at Navistar's diesel engine plant, with 1,210 employees, complained of wrist, hand and back injuries, the union negotiated with management to create an ergonomics committee.

Management hired consultants to investigate the causes behind the problems and to develop ergonomic training programs. With employee input and involvement, and complete management support, Navistar established an effective program. Using educational seminars to prevent and correct musculoskeletal disorders (MSD's), Navistar reduced injuries, workers' compensation claims, and lost work time to below the national average. The ergonomics program led to a 66 percent reduction in workers' compensation costs, from $514,000 in 1991 to $176,000 in 1997.

Russell Corporation
Alexander City, Alabama

At Russell Corporation, management encouraged employees to report work-related pain or discomfort. After analyzing workers' requests, management and workers investigated ways to improve working conditions.

They found that small changes, such as new, adjustable tables and chairs, combined with adequate ergonomic training, made a huge difference. Russell experienced a 50 percent decrease in the number of injuries over a six-year period, and employee satisfaction and production rose significantly. Ongoing evaluations provide a way for Russell to ensure that improvements are constantly made.

Woodpro Cabinetry
Cabool, Missouri

When both management and employees at Woodpro Cabinetry realized how painful and debilitating MSD's are, the company created safety teams to study ergonomic issues.

Management relied on employee comments to determine what improvements needed to be made and then implemented employee recommendations.

New practices, such as switching workstations to give muscles a rest, and new equipment to help lift cabinets enabled employees at Woodpro to adjust their work environment to their physical needs. Woodpro saved $42,000 in workers' compensation costs by changing conveyor levels and adding additional conveyors to reduce worker lifting.

Sequins International, Incorporated
Queens, New York

Employees at Sequins International, Inc. implemented similar changes when health and safety specialists saw a direct link between worker posture and increased rotator cuff and carpal tunnel injuries. Consultants, workers, management and the union viewed videotapes of employees working and then discussed ways to improve conditions.

Sequins, International replaced old, straight-backed chairs with new, ergonomically correct chairs and footrests. New tables adjust to the height of each user.

The company used an extensive educational program to share ergonomic techniques to prevent and correct MSD's. Today, Sequins International, Inc. has cut workers' compensation costs from $96,000 to $4,500, and employee production and satisfaction have increased significantly.

 

 

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