Documents Dick, Robert B. 3 results

"Objective
Report trends for risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Methods
Three QWL surveys examine the risk factors for MSDs.
Results
Findings similar for several risk factors, but differences across the reporting years may reflect economic conditions. 2010 respondent numbers were reduced, some risk factors had pattern changes and there were gender and age differences. Trend analysis showed most significant changes were for the “Work Fast” risk factor. New 2010 “Physical Effort” item showed gender differences and items reflective of total worker health showed strong associations with “Back Pain” and “Pain in Arms.”
Conclusions
Intervention strategies should focus on physical exposures and psychosocial risk factors (work stress, safety climate, job satisfaction, supervisor support, work fast, work freedom, work time) that have been consistently related to reports of MSDs. Economic conditions will influence some psychosocial risk factors."

The process of chemical exposure regulation was reviewed with an emphasis on the inclusion of neurobehavioral test results in the regulatory limit setting for chemicals in the workplace. A wide range of nervous system effects was reported in the scientific citations on 172 chemicals identified in the 1989 OSHA Air Contaminants project. There was usually a delay of several years after publication before studies with neurobehavioral testing were cited in regulatory forums. The existing workplace limits needed updating for a large number of chemicals affecting the nervous system. In order to assist in identifying recent articles that had appeared in the peer reviewed literature, the authors suggested that neurobehavioral researchers become more familiar with the rule making process and also to exploit any potential for investigators to participate in this process. The authors suggest this could include submitting published research results, reporting on either the toxicity or nontoxicity of substances on the nervous system directly to the statutory agencies that have a formal role in the limit setting process and professional organizations that are active in the regulatory arena. The means for submitting study results are available through announcements from the agencies and by responding to requests in the Federal Register. The increasing use of the Internet by the statutory agencies to make announcements should make the process even easier. Documents issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will assist in formalizing neurobehavioral testing and the use of test results from workplace exposure limit setting.

"OBJECTIVE: assessments of potential risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from large, national study populations using personal interviews are critical to our understanding of exposure-response relationships. To address this need, we analyzed two outcome measures--self-reported back pain and upper extremity pain--from the quality of work life (QWL) module of the General Social Survey (GSS). We investigated several individual, psychosocial, and physical factors for their relationship to these outcome measures. METHODS: The study population included US adults, noninstitutionalized, English-speaking, aged 18 years or older, and employed at least part time (>or=20 hr/wk). Final sample size was 1484 workers. RESULTS: Variables of physical exposure significantly increased the risk of both low back pain and upper extremity pain. Multiple injuries and some psychosocial factors were associated with MSDs, and there was an additive effect on risk of MSDs with exposure to both physical exposure and work stress. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between physical loads and musculoskeletal disorders was indicated by the results, which will enable creating a database for tracking reports of MSDs in the US working population."