January 18, 2010
By: CartPro
Category: Future Trends, Material Handling, OSHA, Safety and Ergonomics, ergonomics
“Ergonomics and Reducing the Pain in Worker’s Comp” is the topic of a workshop scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20. Sponsored by the Northern Minnesota Safety Council, the workshop will be held at the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at 3801 Bemidji Ave. N, Suite 4, Bemidji, MN. Cost of the program is $25 per person; lunch will be provided. To register or for more information, visit the Center’s website at www.cri-bsu.org.
The workshop recognizes two forces that are coming together to reshape American industry: the high cost of health care and increased governmental regulation of workplace safety. With Congress on the verge of approving a national health care plan and the Obama administration in the midst of reviewing OSHA ergonomics standards in anticipation of ordering more stringent workplace safety standards later this year, the workshop should provide attendees with a more thorough understanding of the impact ergonomics can have on their business. The program will feature Joe Kapaun of Choice Therapy with expertise in onsite ergonomic systems evaluations and industrial rehabilitation.
Ergonomics has been proven to reduce workplace musculoskeletal injuries which account for the majority of worker’s compensation claims. Worker’s compensation claims cost American businesses more than $60 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The National Council on Compensation Insurance reports that more than 50% of those claims are for back injuries from lifting, pulling, pushing and straining. Ergonomically-designed material handling equipment significantly reduces worker injury from manual labor tasks, resulting in significant worker’s compensation savings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated the estimated time-lost cost per injury at $26,000 per incident. Prevention of a single injury by implementing use of ergonomically-designed material handling equipment results in an immediate savings of $26,000.Â
To find out how ergonomic material handling equipment can help you reduce worker’s compensation costs, visit the DJ Products website.Â
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September 18, 2009
By: CartPro
Category: Business Tips, Material Handling
MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, has just launched wikiMHEDA, an excellent online resource for those of us who work in material handling, our customers and people who want to learn more about the material handling industry. Think of it as Wikipedia for the material handling industry. Just like the famous online encyclopedia, wikiMHEDA is an interactive Web resource written and edited by its readers, in this case people active in the material handling industry. However, unlike Wikipedia’s broad “every subject under the sun” scope, wikiMHEDA focuses solely on the subject of material handling.
According to website information, MHEDA intends its new wiki site to:
- serve as an educational resource for and about the industry
- provide an encyclopedia of material handling industry terms
- provide a news outlet for industry events, activities and developments
- be a resource for material handling product specification sheets
- serve as a library and distribution center for industry white papers
- provide a video library of material handling equipment and accessories
- provide a directory of firms that manufacture and distribute material handling equipment and accessories
We found searching for information about the material handling industry and its players easy on the new site, but — and we’re sure this is because it has just launched — information is sketchy in some areas and distributor lists are far less than comprehensive. For example, a search for “ergonomics” brought up an abbreviated definition with a cursory overview of OSHA activity, all generally related to the manufacturing industry. Because it is a wiki site, the new site does allow users to add content, and the process is fairly simple. Creation of an account and website registration are required before editing.Â
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July 20, 2009
By: CartPro
Category: ergonomics
In the world of ergonomics sometimes words are used that may make no sense to the people who actually will benefit the most from knowing them. As a result we’ve listed several terms that may help you understand ergonomics and how it can impact your workplace.
Here’s our top ten list of commonly used ergonomic terms:
1. CTDs or Cumulative Trauma Disorders -Â here an injury is caused by repeated trauma over time to a specific body part. Several occupational disorders you may recognize might be carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, mouse finger, or even mouse arm and even lower back pain.
2. MSD or Muscular Skeletal Disorder – here an injury is of the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and even cartilage. Some disorders you may recognize that fit into this category might be a rotator cuff injury, carpel tunnel again, and tension neck syndrome.
3. NIOSH – this stands for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH is the institution that provides data on which OSHA bases its safety recommendations to businesses.
4. RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury
5. RMI - Repetitive Motion Injury
6. UECTD - Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders
7. WRULD - Work Related Upper Limb Disorder
8. OSHA 200 Log – This is the OSHA required log book that employers must use to notate and classify all work related injuries.
9. WMSD, WRMSD – this stands for work related musculoskeletal disorders. This term covers many of the previously mentioned work related stresses to the human body that can damage muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
10. Anthropometry – this is a branch of science that deals with body measurement. Much of ergonomics is actually based on the typical body measurements and reflected in tool controls and positioning found from anthropometry.
You can view the full list of terms and more at Erogweb if you want to know more about ergonomics.
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