@ Safety Tips 5 igs to reduce repetitive stress injuries CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: Do you often perform the same task at work over and over again? Do you experience pain afterward? What starts as a minor ache orpain can quickly turn into a more serious con- dition ~ a repetitive stress injury. “Returningto the same task without time to recover can damage nerves, tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints,” the Texas Department of Insurance says “Injuries could include shoulder and low back strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.” ‘The department offers these five tips to help work- ers reduce the risk of RSIs: 1, Use hand tools the right way. Make sure youre using the right tool for the task. It needs to fit your hand and be lightweight, and you need to keep your wrist straight when using it. The handle should also extend past your palm. 2. Protect your back. To start, don't lift more than 50 pounds. Then, avoid working in awkward postures, and don't twist when lifting, Instead, use a cart, dolly or forklift, or ask someone to help you. 3. Avoid overexertion when laying bricks. “Brick- layers and masons have the highest rates of back and overexertion injuries in the construction industry,” the insurance department says, Reduce the risk by using half-size pallets, two-person lifts, H-blocks and mortar silos. 4, Reduce the stress of overhead drilling, “Over- head and inverted drill presses, some mounted on tripod bases with telescoping poles, allow the upper arms to remain below the shoulder for more comfort- able drilling” 5, Reduce exposure to vibration, Vibrations can interfere with your body supplying blood to your fin- gers, arms and toes. You should always wear gloves or anti-vibration wraps when using vibrating equip- ment, make sure heavy equipment has padding, and take regular breaks. Working women and menopause: How employers can help Menopause, when a woman's men- strual eycle stops permanently, typi- cally occurs between age 45 and 55. According to the National Institutes of Health, it can last anywhere from seven to 14 years. Although it affects women differ- ently, common symptoms include hot flashes, trouble sleeping, mood swings and difficulty concentrating ‘These symptoms can create chal- lenges for women at work, and talk- ing about them with a supervisor or manager may make some women 84 Safety+Health | September 2022 uncomfortable. However, employers can take steps to help workers cope. In its “Guidance on Menopause and the Workplace,” the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians in London adapts recommendations from the European Menopause and Andro- pause Society. They include: + Provide training for employees and managers to raise aware- ness about menopause and that it can present difficulties for some ‘women at work. + Facilitate discussions about symp- toms, and communicate that these are normal + Review control of workplace temperature and ventilation, and explore how they might be adapted to meet individual work- ers’ needs. This might include pro- viding a desktop fan in an office, or placing a workstation near an open window or away from a heat + Consider flexible working hours or shift changes. + Where work requires constant standing or prolonged sitting, access to break rooms can be helpful, + Provide access to cold drinking ‘water in all work areas. safetyandhealthmagazine.com