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WEDNESDAY, February 29th, 2012: VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9

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In this issue:

	The RSI Hazards of Frequent Driving

	Safety Poster Special – 10% OFF

	Picture This

	Help Your JHSC Avoid Some Common Mistakes

	Study Says Work-Life Balance Key to Workplace Safety


	Feature Story

The RSI Hazards of Frequent Driving

The last day of February is the only calendar day that does not necessarily repeat annually. And that’s why it’s been designated International RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) Awareness Day.

RSIs, also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), affect people in all workplaces and the risks of developing MSDs are all around us, even in our cars.

So here’s some timely advice from the IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) to share with your workers.

6 Ways to Minimize Risk of RSIs:

1. Adjust your seat's lumbar support to fit your lower back. If your vehicle isn't equipped with lumbar technology or you find it insufficient, use a small narrow cushion or rolled-up towel to help support your low back in a curved position.

2. Tilt your seat's back rest to approximately 110 degrees. Tilting your seat too far forward may increase the strain on your low back; tilting it too far back could increase the strain on your shoulders.

3. Avoid driving for more than two hours without a break. A five-minute rest may be all that you need to stand, stretch your muscles and refresh your mind.

4. Ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained to minimize vibration.

5. If you have to use a laptop or take notes in your vehicle in between stops, sit in the passenger seat where there is more room and you don't have to twist.

6. Avoid lifting immediately after a long drive. Sitting causes the ligaments that support your spine to stretch and the discs in your back to move out of their optimal position. Wait a few minutes before trying to lift something to help reduce the chance of straining your back.

There are two thing employers can do to help employees minimize their risk of injury: (1) Encourage your employees to report pain so that possible MSDs can be addressed early to avoid more serious health problems; and (2) provide proper training and information to employees on lifting techniques and ergonomics to prevent such pains and strains.

Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now.


	Sponsored Focus

Safety Poster Special – 10% OFF

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Order Online Now or call 1.877.849.9230 to order over the phone.

*Offer expires on 3/10/12


	Picture This

“Watch your step please” reads the sign outside this Illinois business. Given the condition of the steps leading up to it, that’s pretty sound advice! We wonder what type of business it is—hopefully not a doctor’s office or an injury attorney’s office. (Naval Safety Center)

See Picture Here:


	Safety Compliance

Help Your JHSC Avoid Some Common Mistakes

Most workplaces in Canada have a joint health and safety committee (JHSC). The JHSC is a key component of an OHS program and can really improve workplace safety. But too often, the JHSC isn’t run effectively, doesn’t understand its role or exists simply because the law requires the company to have one.

We recently asked you to describe the JHSC’s role in your OHS program and safety compliance efforts. Here’s what you had to say:

• 68% said the JHSC is one of several key players in promoting safety

• 14% described the JHSC as the driving force behind safety promotion

• 11% said the JHSC tries but is disorganized, ineffective and ignored by management

• 7% said they have a JHSC because the law requires one but it doesn’t do anything.

The OHSInsider has a JHSC Compliance Center full of resources you can use to help your JHSC be more effective. For example, it includes a special report on everything you need to know about JHSCs, a form the committee can use when making recommendations to management and a meeting template.

Read the rest of the article and get access to the JHSC Compliance Center on OHS Insider.

(Note: subscription is required; to get instant access to the recording of this webinar, simply sign up for a No-Obligation Trial of OHSInsider.com.


	Safety News

Study Says Work-Life Balance Key to Workplace Safety

Obviously, certain occupations are more dangerous than others, but a new study suggests that a worker’s perception of a positive safety climate and the work-life balance established by one’s employer can decrease his or her odds of being injured by nearly one-third.

Dave DeJoy, a University of Georgia (UGA) professor of health promotion and behavior, says over the past 20 years, there’s been growing evidence that management and organizational factors play a critical role in worker injuries.

“That is, actions taken or not taken at the organizational level can either set the stage for injuries or help prevent them,” says DeJoy, who, with Todd Smith, a recent graduate of the Health Promotion and Behavior doctoral program at UGA, assessed occupational injury risk among 1,525 survey respondents.

The survey determined companies that run in a smooth and effective manner and have minimal constraints on worker performance can decrease injuries by 38 percent as worker opinions improve.

However, in situations where work interferes with family life or family demands affect job performance, DeJoy and Smith found that the risk for injury jumped by 37 percent.

Read the UGA news release here

Related story: IAPA Honors Koch-Glitsch Canada For Safety Performance
(Note: Subscription is required. To get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of Safe Supervisor.)