TOPIC OF CONCERN - Ergonomics & musculoskeletal disorders
Our Involvement | Research | Other Resources
About Ergonomics & musculoskeletal disorders
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the leading type of occupational injury in Washington state and incur the greatest costs to industry and the workers' compensation system.
Musculoskeletal disorders affect soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. These disorders have also been referred to as: cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and overuse injuries.
UW researchers are seeking to reduce the magnitude, cost and burden of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. From 1992 through 2000, workers compensation claims for these injuries totaled $2.9 billion and accounted for 27% of all workers' compensation claims in Washington state, representing the largest? (or second largest?) component/category (choose one) of workers compensation claims.
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Musculoskeletal disorders are often confused with ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of workers. In other words, musculoskeletal disorders are the problem and ergonomics is a solution
Our Involvement
Faculty
Courses
- ENV H 559 Applied Occupational Health and Safety
- ENV H 566 Introduction to Ergonomics
- ENV H 569 Occupational Biomechanics
- Continuing education workshops:
- Applied office ergonomics
- Ergonomic quality in facility design
- OSHA 2250, Principals of ergonomics
Master’s Degree, Safety & Ergonomics
Services
Field Research and Consultation Group
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic
Occupational Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Program Should we put on my website of the work we have done for industry, see attached as a starting point for discussion.
News Coverage
Assistant Professor Pete Johnson's ergonomics lab worked with Microsoft to develop a better mouse. News release
Lift that patient, save that back, Northwest Public Health Fall/Winter 2006
Measuring back strain, Northwest Public Health Fall/Winter 2006
Spotlight on research article on MS keyboard
Repetitive stress injuries: Preventing the injury, DEOHS Biennial Report 2003-2005
Repetitive stress injuries: Predicting the disability, DEOHS Biennial Report 2003-2005
When workers get hurt (COHE program), Environmental Health News autumn 2005
Lecturer Kate Stewart named 2004 “Ergonomist of the Year” by the Puget Sound Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Environmental Health News winter 2005
Kids and keyboards: A real stretch, Environmental Health News autumn 2004
Celebrating our students: Applying what they have learned, Environmental Health News spring/summer 2004
Stockroom becomes a classroom, Environmental Health News autumn 2002
Ergonomics: New tools to track computer injuries, Environmental Health News winter 2001
Research
Graduates Students
- Cheng (Robin) Han, MS (2006)
- The development of testing software to measure and characterize differences in computer mouse use proficiency: comparison of children and adults (Peter Johnson)
- Janet Blackstone, MS (2005)
- Physical exposure differences between children and adults on different-sized computer input devices (Peter Johnson)
- Sham Juratli, MPH(2005
- Lumbar fusion outcome in Washington State Workers' Compensation (Gary Franklin)
- Yi-Nien Lin, MS (2005)
- The effects of high frequency stimulation on fatigue and twitch potential (Peter Johnson)
- Carolyn Salazar, MS (2003)
- Evaluation of Reliability and validity of the Hand Activity Level (HAL) and the Strain Index for use in epidemiological studies (Peter Johnson)
- Lori Winnemuller, MS(2001)
- The validity of supervisor assessments in identifying ergonomic risk factors (Joel Kaufman)
- Barbara Faville, MS (2000)
- Validation of five checklists used to assess risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities (Michael Morgan)
Peer Reviewed Publications
Adamo DE, Martin BJ, Johnson P. (2002) Vibration-induced muscle fatigue, a possible contribution to musculoskeletal injury. Eur J Appl Physiol, 88(1): 134 - 140.
Bennie K, Ciriello V, Johnson P, Dennerlein J. (2002) Changes in the electromyographic activity of the ECU muscle with exposure to repetitive ulnar deviation. Eur J Appl Physiol, 88(1): 5-12.
Ciriello V, Bennie K, Johnson P and Dennerlein J. (2002) Comparison of Three Psychophysical Techniques to Establish Maximum Acceptable Torques of Repetitive Ulnar Deviation. Theoretical Issues In Ergonomic Science, 3(3): 274-284
Dennerlein J, Ciriello V, Bennie K, Johnson P. (2003) Forearm muscles fatigue during repetitive ulnar deviation tasks. Amer Ind Hyg Asso J. 64: 799 - 805.
Dennerlein JT, Johnson PW. Different computer tasks affect the exposure of the upper extremity to biomechanical risk factors. Ergonomics. 2006 Jan 15;49(1):45-61.
Dennerlein JT and Johnson PW. (2006) Changes in upper extremity biomechanics across different mouse positions in a computer workstation. Ergonomics 49(14-15): 1456-1469.
Johnson P, Jonsson P and Hagberg M. (2002) Effects of pronation and supination on wrist goniometer measurement accuracy. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 12(5): 413-420.
Johnson P, Wigaeus Hjelm E, Hagberg M, and Rempel D. (2000) Exposure assessment: measuring and characterizing force exposure during computer mouse use. Scan J Work Environ Health, 26(5): 398-406.
Jonsson P and Johnson P. (2001) Comparison of measurement accuracy between two types of wrist goniometer systems. J Appl Ergonomics, 32(6): 599-607.
Russell SJ, Winnemuller L, Camp JE, Johnson PW. Comparing the results of five lifting analysis tools. Appl Ergon. 2007 Jan;38(1):91-97.
Turner JA, Franklin G, Fulton-Kehoe D, Egan K, Wickizer TM, Lymp JF, Sheppard L, Kaufman JD. Prediction of chronic disability in work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective, population-based study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2004; 5:14.
Turner JA, Franklin G, Fulton-Kehoe D, Sheppard L, Wickizer TM, Wu R, Gluck JV, Egan K. Worker recovery expectations and fear-avoidance predict work disability in a population-based workers' compensation back pain sample. Spine. 2006 Mar 15;31(6):682-689.
Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Johnson P, Rempel D and Svensson J. (2002) Influence of time pressure and verbal provocation on physical load, physiological and psychological reactions during work with computer mouse. Eur J Appl Physiol, 87(3): 257-263.
Wahlström J, Svensson J, Hagberg M, and Johnson P. (2000) Working with the computer mouse – differences between work techniques and gender. Scan J Work Environ Health, 26(5): 390 - 397.
Wickizer TM, Franklin GM, Mootz RD, Fulton-Kehoe D, Plaeger-Brockway R, Drylie D, Turner JA, Smith-Weller T. A communitywide intervention to improve outcomes and reduce disability among injured workers in Washington State. Milbank Q 2004; 82(3):547–567.
Winnemuller LL, Spielholz PO, Daniell WE, Kaufman JD. Comparison of ergonomist, supervisor, and worker assessments of work-related musculoskeletal risk factors. J Occup Environ Hyg 2004; 1(6):414–22.
Conference Presentations
Blackstone J, Physical exposure differences between children and adults on different-sized computer input devices, 2nd International Scientific Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health, Nov. 16–18, 2005, Hanoi, Vietnam
Blackstone J, Johnson P. Comparison of child and adult anthropometry: Considerations for input device design, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s 48th Annual Meeting, September 2004, New Orleans
Camp J, Winnemuller L, Russell S, Johnson P. Eight ways to assess a lifting tool, American Industrial Hygiene Conference, May 13-18, 2006, Chicago
Johnson P, Ibbotson J, Dennerlein J. An EVA- based method for non-invasively deriving force exposures during computer work, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s 48th Annual Meeting, September 2004, New Orleans
Russell S, Winnemuller L, Camp J, Johnson P. Comparing the results of five lifting analysis tools, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s 48th Annual Meeting, September 2004, New Orleans
Winnemuller L, Camp J, Russell S, Ibbotson-Brown J, Johnson P. Standardized vs. actual work: Assessment of trapezius muscle activity during grocery cashiering, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s 48th Annual Meeting, September 2004, New Orleans
Reports
Silverstein B, Foley M, Pollisar NL, Neradilek B, Morris SL, Camp J, Brooner B, Galvin K, Hall K (2004). Washington State Ergonomics Rule Final Report, SHARP Technical Report 73-1-2004, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
Field Group reports http://depts.washington.edu/frcg/prj_ergo.html
- A hazard evaluation of musculoskeletal risk factors in Washington state apple packing companies
- Ergonomic evaluation of grocery checkstands – Phase 1
- Comparison of ergonomist, supervisor, and worker assessments of work-related musculoskeletal risk factors
