Why Do We Get Hurt?

WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

School employees frequently suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMDs) when forced to adapt to poorly designed and worker unfriendly school settings. WMDs are physical problems, such as pain and/or injury of nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures of the body. WMDs can result from any of a broad variety of tasks and activities (see box below). Examples of high-risk activities include: handling special education students in classrooms and transferring students with disabilities in and out of buses that have not been suitably adapted for that purpose. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders often develop gradually. Workers can perform these activities for months and years symptom-free. Yet their muscles, ligaments, tendons and spinal disks can be slowly wearing away. The early warning symptoms of wear are chronic lower back pain; neck, shoulder and arm pain; and numbness and weakness in the wrists. Workers with these symptoms are at higher risk for back, neck, shoulder injuries and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR A WMD?

To determine whether you are at risk for a work-related musculoskeletal disorder:

1. Fill out the discomfort survey. (pdf)

2. For a list of activities, movements and postures that may lead to a WMD, see the Ergonomics Risk Factor Checklist. (pdf)

Do your daily tasks place you at risk for a work-related injury? School employees are most at risk when work requires: Heavy lifting; Lifting and carrying awkwardly shaped "packages," such as children; Twisting and lifting; Bending; Overhead lifting or reaching; Twisting, repetitive or deviating hand motions (tool and keyboard use); Driving for long periods of time in a vibrating vehicle; and Standing or sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

 
The AFT-PSRP Department can provide further information on ergonomics and preventive programs through the AFT-PSRP Occupational Safety and Health Program at 202-393-5674.