Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) can occur in any industry, but especially so for those in the healthcare industry. Nurses, doctors, sonographers, and other healthcare professionals spend their days handling equipment, dealing with patients, and staying on their feet. All of these factors can lead to back and shoulder pain and, eventually, WRMSDs.
Thankfully, there is a way to prevent this. Ergonomics can help protect healthcare workers while ensuring they provide us with the care we need.
How work-related musculoskeletal disorders occur in the healthcare industry
We don’t often think of the physical risks associated with the healthcare industry, but they’re a real thing. There are several ways that a healthcare professional can get injured on the job. These include the following:
Awkward Postures: Healthcare professionals may have to use awkward postures for a sustained period in order to operate some equipment.
Patient Handling: Healthcare professionals often have to lift and handle patients, which can cause muscle and ligament strain, tears, inflammation, and more.
How to prevent WRMSDs
To protect our healthcare workers, we need to find ways to prevent WRMSDs. Thankfully, there are many ways to do so:
Conduct an ergonomic evaluation: Before you can start preventing WRMSDs, you first need to know what, exactly, is causing it. This will involve an ergonomic evaluation where a professional will determine what kind of ergonomic stressors your workers are being exposed to.
Provide training programs: Training programs can educate healthcare workers on the dangers of WRMSDs and help them find ways to prevent them.
Install ergonomic equipment:Ergonomic equipment can help reduce strain which will, in turn, reduce WRMSDs.
Businesses that seek to be successful always must manage a variety of work costs, such as supplies, labor, bookkeeping, inventory, and more. One area that is often overlooked is the cost of workplace injuries. According to a news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016 alone, there were more than 2.9 million nonfatal workplace and illnesses.
Workers are always carrying out tasks that create constant stress and lead to musculoskeletal disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome as well as other ailments. Workers can also experience fatigue which cause depreciating accuracy, efficiency, and productivity. These issues undoubtedly increase business costs. By making an ergonomic work environment a priority, workers will experience less injuries and in turn, cost businesses less money.
Reduce Work Compensation Claims
Ergonomics can help reduce the amount of worker compensation claims. Business costs often go up when workers begin dealing with work-related health issues as they make medical claims. However, with the implementation of proper ergonomic safety precautions, training, and equipment, you can easily bring down running costs.
Streamline Processes
Ergonomics can help save money through streamlining of the processes. Simple changes such as reducing repetitive motions, cutting down steps, and limiting exertion can result in process changes that boost workflow and save more time.
With improved processes and business operations, you can accomplish more for far less cost. In addition, there may be improvements in the quality of products and services, further boosting the value your business offers.
Decrease in Turnover
It is costly to interview and train new employees constantly, which disrupt business services. It is also vital that employees remain healthy and are working at their highest levels. Creating an ergonomic environment will encourage employees to continue working as they believe that the company, they work for takes care of them and prioritizes comfortable working conditions.
To make your workplace more ergonomic for your employees, it is important to hire a Specialist. At Accredited Rehabilitation Consultants, we can evaluate your current workspace, find ways to make it more ergonomic, and then provide and install the necessary equipment to do so. To learn more, contact us today!
If you’re on the shorter side, you know full well how hard it can be to find the right office equipment. Chairs are too tall, not allowing you to place your feet on the floor, while desks are too high, forcing your wrists to type at an awkward angle. However, it’s not impossible. Here, we provide our top three ergonomic tips so that you can work in comfort.
Get an office chair of low to medium height
The biggest complaint that people have about their office chairs is that they’re too tall. For short people, this is especially true. Your office chair should allow your feet to touch the ground. You can accomplish this with a chair that is of medium height or less. Additionally, getting an office chair that has an adjustable height will allow you to lower it to the right level for you.
Get a keyboard tray or desk converter
Even if your office chair is the right height, your desk may not be. Many people find that with their shorter chair, their feet may touch the ground, but they’re too low to make typing comfortable. This is where a keyboard tray comes in. You can place your keyboard and mouse on top of it so that it is at a comfortable height. A desk converter can also accomplish this by lowering your keyboard below your desktop.
Adjust your screen monitors
If you’re straining your neck upwards to look at your computer screen, you will soon wind up with neck problems. Instead, adjust your screen monitors so that it is 15 degrees below the horizontal line (or, where your eyes are positioned). This way you are not craning your neck up too high or too low.
