Musculoskeletal Disorders In Higher Education

In our generation today, people are most likely to be dependent on computers. For students, computers and other gadgets are useful specially on data gathering and for finding very specific information. On other hand, computers are also a huge factor why students are slacking off.

Adjustable workstations are increasingly becoming a main benefit for organizations using them. When using computers at the workplace, employees typically sit down for longer periods without adjustable designed workstations. Such situations can lead to regular back injuries, stress injuries and other forms of injuries. All these injuries result in lost work time and reduced productivity. Using adjustable workstations reduces employee fatigue, makes them comfortable and helps them avoid standing or sitting in awkward postures. Adjustable designed workstations lowers the rate of suffering from tunnel syndrome injuries, which improves both employer and employee morale. This is characterized by improved productivity, reduction in employee absenteeism and minimal workplace complaints (Washington (State), 2009).

The assembly line workers should be more cautious about their hand/wrist as they are of highest frequency when examining WMSDs due to repetitive tasks. For office workers, they should take care of their muscles as that is of greatest concern for them. In order to strength muscles of the hand/wrist, neck, as well as other muscles, a physiotherapist should be visited. Honda Canada Inc. has two physiotherapists on site for associates to use, as well as a rec center with trained professionals.

Step 4 (Wrist Twist) was scored as a +1 because minimal twisting action were required. For step 5, the precious scores were plotted in Table A of the RULA guide which resulted in an overall score of 4. Step 6 and step 7 both resulted in a +1 score due to the repetitiveness of the process and the weight of the objects handled by the employee. Step 8 consisted of adding the values of steps 5-7 (4+1+1 respectively) to indicate an overall wrist/arm score of 6. Step 9 (Neck Position) resulted in a +2 because the employee’s neck primarily stayed within the 0-20 degree range. Step 10 (Trunk Position) in a +3 because the individual was bent forward at a 20-60 degree angle. Step 11 (Legs) resulted in a +1 because the employee’s legs were stable and supported. Using Table B (Trunk Posture Score) resulted in a score of 4 for step 12. Steps 13 and 14 both resulted in a +1 score because the of the weight of the objects handled and number of repetitive tasks. Step 15 indicated a final score of 6 for the neck, trunk and legs. Plotting the final scores while using Table C of the RULA guide resulted in a final score of 7. This result indicates that major ergonomics risk factors were prevalent at this workstation and significant engineering and administrative controls are needed. (Stack, Ostrom, & Wilhelmsen, 2016)

Various methods can be used to assess risks associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), including self-reports, observational methods, and direct measurement (Li & Buckle, 1999). Observational methods have often been used to identify the risk factors of WMSDs due to various reasons because it minimally interferes the observation object’s body and it requires simple tools such as paper a pen during the assessment process. In addition, Winkel & Mathiassen (1994) also describe that this kind of methods have been considered to be cheaper and easier to use than the direct measurement method.

When it comes to ergonomics, engineering is the best tool to use. The company can use many different resources that can help them to eliminate the stresses causing MSDs (musculoskeletal Disorders). The NIOSH article publication Manual Material Handling (Ergonomic guidelines for manual material handling (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 2007-191) gives some great example for engineering control of ergonomics when it comes to the work place. Examples from the article include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, providing or replacement tools, and equipment to name a few (NIOSH

To identify and manage work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), ergonomics programs across organizations and corporations tend to differ with regards to design and implementation. The difference is mainly dependent on the needs, structure, and operational objectives of the organization. Despite of these differences, ergonomics programs must consist of some

The Workers Compensation Board-Alberta (2007) claimed that many office jobs consist out of repetitive motions to fulfil the duties of the position. With their research they also concluded that “RSIs are the most common type of injury found in the office. Tendons are common sites of RSI pain and discomfort, but workers may also experience pain in other areas of the body depending on the tasks performed” (p. 3), showing all employers how important their employees individual ergonomics

Incorporating ergonomics in the organisation is important because it helps the employees to protect themselves from harming their bodies. According to the University of Michigan (2015) “ergonomics is a field of study that attempts to reduce strain, fatigue, and injuries by improving product design and workspace arrangement. The goal is a comfortable, relaxed posture” (Why computer ergonomics? para. 2). If ergonomics is implemented in the correct way, there would be minor cases of repetitive strain

Employee exposure to work related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) from ergonomic stressors that have not been effectively identified and addressed in a facilities safety and health program.

As stated earlier, the focus of this paper is to concentrate on the factors of ergonomics resulting from office and computer work. One reason is because the world has been faced with an explosion of computer technology. As more and more work, education and recreation involves computers, everyone needs to be aware of the hazards of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), also referred to as Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD), to the hands and arms resulting from the use of computer keyboards and mice. This can be a serious and very painful condition that is far easier to prevent than to cure once contracted, and can occur even in young physically fit individuals. “Most CTD’s are preventable and curable if caught early. The key is to notice trouble when it starts – and do something about it. Early signs may include persistent pain, tingling, numbness, burning, or aching. The signs may be constant or may occur mostly after certain activities. The drastic cures --- such as surgery --- are not reliable and should be a last resort. Nevertheless, a health professional should be consulted when you are concerned about possible early signs.” (http://www.office-ergo.com/alternat.htm). There are also factors concerning who is more likely to get a CTD than others. “Some people

Many achievements have been accomplished in recent decades in almost every area of technology in connection to engineering, computer science, manufacturing, medicine, and etc. In today 's current times, technology impacts individuals directly or indirectly from laptop to smart phones usage for personal use, at work, home and school. College students have been directly influence by the new technology in their studies since now day’s personal laptop is a requirement for certain classes, assignments are now being posted and answers submitted on online, there is an increase demand for online courses, many of the research is now online base, many courses now offer online books and so forth. Technology has now become a second nature in current environment do to the many benefits it offers. Technology is far advancing from in class and books to increasingly shifting to online base, offering students various kind of experience and North Carolina State University is one of the colleges that incorporates new technology in the curriculum. Many of the online applications used by North Carolina State University (NCSU) students are Webassign, Moodle, V-python, Clicker (student response system), and Maple.

The computer is essential to facilitate workers to work with high efficiency. In all of the workplace, it is the wide widespread use of computer technology. Accountants use soft wares to audit the company’s book that without hand computation also can get a correct result. The functions of computers are diversified that including calculation, painting, design and writing. Secretaries could write and print reports on computer which saves working time and help boss to absorb it carefully. Lawyers could research law provision with computer instead of books. In addition, computer can help developers to tidy numerous files. Computer could help workers to manage files according to time, location or

Secondly, computers are used to learn in the classroom via video conferencing. The United States of America use video conferencing in classroom to begin lesson. Besides that, students can also organize their work in the classroom by using computer and they can search information in the internet while in the classroom.

Computer technology has been a great help to the improvement of one’s life. Most establishments, corporations and institutions had developed their own use of such technology to help themselves work more efficiently with less time and effort, resulting in better production, profit, and a more satisfied clientele.