Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) account for about 20% of lost-time injuries for health care personnel. Although the effect that OR layout and equipment choices have on STF risk has not been specifically addressed in the literature, STFs in the perioperative suite are of particular concern because of their potential to cause adverse patient consequences. Increased renovation of ORs to include equipment for minimally invasive procedures intensifies the importance of examining best practices in OR layout and equipment choices to reduce the potential for STFs.

No abstract

The computer mouse is now present in virtually every office environment because of the recent adoption of the graphical user interface. However, Karlqvist et al. (1994) pointed out that there still remains a paucity of work on the musculoskeletal problems associated specifically with computer mouse use. Likewise, there have been no published data on the magnitude of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders associated with computer mouse use. In order to ascertain this magnitude, claims data from the Liberty Mutual Group were reviewed for the years 1986 to 1993, inclusive. Count, total cost and average cost per claim for all claims associated with computer use and computer mouse use were determined for the years in question. It was concluded that although there are few claims related to computer mouse use, it appears to be a growing problem, and therefore, perhaps, deserves more research and intervention attention. However, the present magnitude is less than for other musculoskeletal disorders.

The increasing trends of cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremities (CTDUEs) in US industry is well established; however, systematic examination of potential reasons for these trends has been lacking. Data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and from Liberty Mutual Group workers' compensation claims were used to count CTDUEs. The proportions of all Bureau of Labor Statistics' cases and Liberty Mutual Group workers' compensation claims that resulted from CTDUEs were estimated for the years 1986 to 1993. The proportions by occupation (job classification code), gender, potential video display unit use, and in the meat-packing industry are described. Both data systems show a steady increase in cases and claims from less than 1% in 1986 to about 4% in 1993. Women and specific occupational categories are over-represented with respect to CTDUEs. A shift to service industry work and video display unit use do not appear to be strongly related to the increased reporting of CTDUEs, whereas increased productivity, an increased number of women in the work force and general awareness of CTDUEs in the media and health care system may be related. Coding and definition problems still limit these conclusions, however.

Despite automation and improved working conditions, many materials in industry are still handled manually. Among the basic activities involved in manual materials handling, lifting is the one most frequently associated with low-back pain (LBP). Biomechanical analysis techniques have been used to better understand the risk factors associated with manual handling, but because these techniques require specialized equipment, highly trained personnel, and interfere with normal business operations, they are limited in their usefulness. A video based lifting technique analysis system (the VidLiTeCTM System) is presented that provides for quantifiable non-invasive biomechanical analysis of the dynamic features of lifting with high inter-coder reliability and low sensitivity to absolute errors. Analysis of results from a laboratory experiment and from field-collected videotape are described that support the reliability, sensitivity, and accuracy claims of the VidLiTeCTM System. The VidLiTeCTM System allows technicians with minimal training and low-tech equipment (a camcorder) to collect large sets of lifting data without interfering with normal business operations. A reasonably accurate estimate of the peak compressive force on the L5/S1 joint can be made from the data collected. Such a system can be used to collect quantified data on lifting techniques that can be related to LBP reporting.