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Did you know?
Musculoskeletal Problems The magnitude, cost and burden of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)
are enormous. From 1992 - 2000, there were 380,485 Washington State accepted workers' compensation state fund claims for
non-traumatic soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, back and upper extremity. These claims resulted in $2.9 billion
in direct costs, and 26.9% of all state fund workers' compensation claims. Of WMSD claims during this time period, 32.4%
were compensable with an average of 123 lost time days per compensable claim. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders occur when there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job
and the physical capacity of the human body. More than 100 different work-related musculoskeletal disorders may stem from
repetitive motions that produce wear and tear on the body. Specific risk factors associated with WMSDs include repetitive
motion, heavy lifting, forceful exertion, contact stress, vibration and awkward posture among others.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is colorless,
tasteless, odorless and non-irritating and cannot be detected by any of the senses. The most common workplaces for carbon
monoxide exposures are storage facilities, warehouses, cold-storage facilities, and fruit, vegetable and seafood packing sheds
that use gas or propane forklifts or other equipment, and in enclosed construction sites or workrooms with portable gas heaters.
Because carbon monoxide is not readily detected, employees can be exposed to very high levels without realizing there is a
problem. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, visual disturbance and rapid breathing. A person may feel weak and
disoriented, making it difficult to get help. Most people recover completely, but in severe cases, symptoms can persist for
many weeks or even months, or there can be permanent brain damage or damage to the heart, or death.
Health effects of carbon monoxideIt doesn’t take much CO to cause problems. Below is a table outlining the general effects of carbon monoxide
on healthy adults. Individual susceptibility will vary. PPM CO
in air
| Percent CO in air | Symptoms
experienced by healthy adults | Comments | Less than
35 ppm | 0.0035% | No effect in healthy adults | 35 ppm is WISHA 8-hour average permissible limit | | 100 ppm | 0.01
% | Slight headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, errors in
judgment | | | 200 ppm | 0.02% | Headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness | 200 ppm is the WISHA ceiling limit | | 400 ppm | 0.04% | Severe headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, confusion, can be life-threatening
after 3 hours of exposure | | | 800 ppm | 0.08% | Headache, confusion, collapse, death if exposure is prolonged | | | 1500 ppm | 0.15% | Headache, dizziness, nausea, convulsions, collapse, death within 1 hour | Levels greater than 1500 ppm are considered “immediately dangerous to life
or health” (IDLH) | | 3000 ppm | 0.3% | Death within
30 minutes | | | 6000 ppm | 0.6% | Death within 10-15 minutes | | | 12,000
ppm | 1.2% | Nearly instant death | |
ppm = parts per
million SOURCE: Department of Labor & Industries web site
At lower levels, people sometimes mistake the symptoms
of CO exposure for the flu, or do not associate their severe headache and nausea with carbon monoxide exposure.
Heat-related Illness (HRI) Heat-related illness is a
well recognized hazard in the outdoor work environment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
nationally there were 44 deaths and 960 cases of occupational HRI in the United States in 2006. In two years, 2005-2006, Washington
State there have been more than 580 workers requiring medical attention for heat-related illness. HRI includes heat fatigue,
heat rash, fainting, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Excessive heat exposure is also linked to injuries from
falls, equipment operation accidents and other on-the-job incidents due to fatigue, dizziness, and disorientation. Source: WRD 10.15 DOSH
Directive: Outdoor Heat Exposure Enforcement Procedures
HEAT EXHAUSTION What happens to the body: Headaches, dizziness, or light-headedness, weakness, mood changes,
irritability or confusion, feeling sick to your stomach, vomiting, fainting, decreased and dark-colored urine, and pale,clammy
skin. What should be done: Move the person to a
cool, shaded area. Don’t leave the person alone. If the person is dizzy or light-headed, lay him on his back and raise
his legs about 6-8 inches. If the person is sick to his stomach, lay him on his side. - Loosen and remove heavy clothing.
- Have the person drink some cool water
(a small cup every 15 minutes) if he is not feeling sick to his stomach.
- Try
to cool the person by fanning him. Cool the skin with a cool spray mist of water or wet cloth.
- If the person does not feel better in a few minutes call for emergency help (ambulance or 911).
If heat exhaustion is not treated, the
illness may advance to heat stroke. |
