OPAM Workshop: Basic Course in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Part II-245387

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Heather Williamson, an expert in family and disaster medicine, discusses the importance of ergonomics in the workplace, highlighting how this applied science helps design tasks and environments for safe, efficient human interaction. Ergonomics aims to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders by identifying risk factors, common injuries, and intervention strategies. Essential steps in forming an ergonomic process include management support, employee involvement, training, hazard identification, and applying the plan-do-check-act cycle for continuous improvement. Identifying hazards involves analyzing data like OSHA logs and using ergonomic checklists from sources like NIOSH. Risk factors include physical force, repetitive movements, poor posture, and worker-specific issues. Engineering controls such as counterbalance tools, administrative controls like job rotations, and personal protective equipment are strategies to mitigate risks. Dr. Williamson also covers the significance of addressing causality and pre-existing conditions when dealing with ergonomic injuries, providing insights into the complexities of assessing work-related issues like carpal tunnel syndrome. Questions from participants highlight the challenges faced by new professionals, like balancing prevention efforts with establishing a physician-patient relationship.

Keywords

ergonomics

workplace safety

musculoskeletal disorders

risk factors

ergonomic process

hazard identification

engineering controls

carpal tunnel syndrome