October is National Ergonomics Month 

What is Ergonomics? 

Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency and proper setup of one’s work environment. The purpose of ergonomics is to reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses that can result from stress on muscles, nerves, and joints.  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most Common Ergonomic Injury in the Workplace. 

The main cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is repeated or prolonged pressure on the median nerve, which may lead to irritation or damage of the nerve, due to repetitive usage of wrists. Some causes for CTS are anatomic factors, medications, and workplace factors. Examples of workplace factors that may lead to CTS are working with vibrating tools, torquing / twisting standard hand tools repeatedly, or even just typing on a keyboard. 

Lisa Newington, Dr. Harris, and Dr. Walker-Bone collected evidence that concluded between 7%-19% of the population will have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at some point in their lifetime. This can have a serious impact on people’s jobs because the recovery time for a CTS related surgery is averaged between 6-8 weeks before returning to work. With the rising amount of people doing more and more remote work, the percentage of people believed to have CTS is suspected to rise unless action is taken.  

Risks of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be reduced by… 

• Implementing time for stretching throughout the day 
• Allowing yourself to take breaks 
• Using a softer touch or grip to reduce pressure on the median nerve 

Having a strong ergonomics program can help prevent injuries and/or illness, increase productivity and ultimately improves employee morale and retention. Going beyond meeting compliance requirements results in a strong safety culture and is a key driver to a company’s overall business strategy. 

CAPACCIO can help by: 

• Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis to identify at risk behaviors and identify improvements 
• Creating and conducting training for employees 
• Conducting ergonomic evaluations 

At CAPACCIO, we live our mission of “Helping Industry and the Environment Prosper”. We align EHS with your overall business objectives to strategically position you for success. Our unique approach combines our extensive EHS experience with innovative tools, such as our EHS Dashboard™, to effectively address your challenges. Our comprehensive solutions have resulted in award-winning EHS and overall business performance for our clients. We are certified WBENC, WBE. To learn more visit us at www.capaccio.com.