Preventing Workplace Soft Tissue Injuries and Cal/OSHA Requirements

If a company has experienced more than one diagnosed repetitive motion injury (RMI) within a 12 month period and the injured employees were conducting “identical” or even “similar” work, Title 8, Section 5110 of  California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) requires specific actions be taken. These actions include:
 

1. Developing and implementing a written program designed to minimize RMIs,
2. Conducting employee training,
3. Conducting worksite evaluations and
4. Controlling hazards identified by the evaluations.

 
Cal/OSHA’s Section 5110 addresses “repetitive motion” injuries which are sometimes referred to as cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs).
 
However, ergonomic hazards can cause injuries resulting from a single trauma. These include strains, sprains, over-exertions and muscle pulls, referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or simply ergonomic injuries. These injuries are not just a regulatory concern. First, Section 5110 does not apply to single trauma injuries and second, they have an economic impact on all of society.
The most recent year’s Bureau of Labor Statistics published analysis of injury and illness statistics (i.e. for 2014) has the following facts regarding ergonomically related injuries:

1. MSDs accounted for 32% of all injury and illness cases in 2014.
2. MSD cases in 2014 required a median of 13 days for injured employees to recuperate before returning to work compared to 9 days for all types of cases.
3. With MSDs making up 32% of all injuries and with the median recovery time for these injuries 44% longer in the year 2014, the incurred workers’ compensation costs due to ergonomically related injuries is extremely high.

“The good news is with the right preventive actions, many injuries, costs and non-compliance issues can be avoided,” said William Jones, CIH, CSP, CPE and Vice President of Industrial Hygiene at Clark Seif Clark. “CSC’s Certified Professional Ergonomist and experienced industrial hygienists can help in worksite evaluations in industrial, warehouse and office settings. In addition, for those who need a written program to be developed or training to be conducted, we can help.”
 
To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, health and safety testing and consulting services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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