Patterns and Predictors of Employer Risk-Reduction Activities (ERRAs) in Response to a Work-Related Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorder (UECTD): Reports from Workers’ Compensation Claimants

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gordon, Jane E. ; Gucer P ; Keogh, James P. ; Nuwayhid I
• Description:
  Despite being preventable, work-related upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (UECTDs) remain problematic. This study is unique in its focus on predictors of employer risk-reduction activities (ERRAs) in response to a UECTD case. Workers' compensation claimants (N = 537) completed a telephone survey about employer risk-reduction activities, workplace characteristics, safety programs, and physician recommendations for job modifications. Only 52% of respondents reported employer actions to investigate or reduce UECTD risk. Engineering and pace changes were prominent for keyboard workers and transfer to another job for manufacturing workers. Safety programs and physician recommendations increased the likelihood of risk-reduction activities. An opportunity to intervene post-injury to reduce risks for the injured worker and prevent new UECTD cases is being missed. Physician recommendations are strongly associated with specific ERRAs thought to be most effective. Educating employers and physicians about ergonomics could result in prevention of UECTDs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Delivery Of Health Care Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Arm-injuries Author Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal-tunnel-syndrome Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Follow-up Studies Injuries Medical-care Medical-treatment Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Neck-injuries Occupational-diseases Occupational-hazards Occupational-health Occupational Disease Physician Recommendations Prevention Rehabilitation Risk-analysis Risk-factors Risk-reduction Safety Committees Traumatic-injuries Workers' Compensation

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  489-497
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20024670
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2000 Nov; 38(5):489-497
• Contact Point Address:
  Patricia W. Gucer, Occupational Health Project, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 405 West Redwood Street, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201
• Email:
  pgucer@medicine.umaryland.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19950930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  19990929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2b24e01a816c680c3ac0e06fb2dcb39711aa1df9155db71dd47e4d368d1c7e33195047063f487ec22b2cbfc11aa3f61302b1657f492d00d377b0eed52c2b286d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196351/cdc_196351_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 118.28 KB ]