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Sitting at home vs. at work: Study explores which is worse for your heart

New York — Sitting while watching TV may be more harmful to your cardiovascular health than sitting at work, researchers from Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons suggest.




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Back to health: What to do about low back pain

Four out of 5 adults will experience low back pain, data show. What can employers do to help workers?




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Wheeled trash bins lower sanitation workers’ MSD-related absences: study

London — Use of wheeled waste collection bins – instead of bags, boxes or baskets – may reduce musculoskeletal injuries and lost worktime among sanitation workers, according to a recent study out of the United Kingdom.




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Rate of work-related MSDs in construction dips as median DAFW climbs: report

Silver Spring, MD — The rate of nonfatal, work-related musculoskeletal disorders requiring days away from work in the construction industry has continued to decline, while the median DAFW for such injuries remains on the rise, according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR.




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New video series aimed at raising worker awareness of MSDs

Bilbao, Spain — A new virtual toolkit from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, also known as EU-OSHA, consists of a series of videos aimed at helping workers understand their risk of musculoskeletal disorders and how to prevent them.




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Reduce ergonomic hazards of VR during design and development, researchers say

DeKalb, IL — Programmers and developers of virtual reality applications should focus on minimizing potential ergonomic hazards for users of this fast-growing technology, say researchers from Northern Illinois and Oregon State universities.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Washington L&I publishes home office ergo tips

Tumwater, WA — For people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new fact sheet from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries explains how to set up a safe and efficient home workstation.




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How healthy is your home workstation? Researchers identify key ergo issues

Cincinnati — Millions of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic may be sitting at improperly arranged workstations that increase their risk of eye, head, neck, back, shoulder, wrist and forearm stress and strain injuries, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by University of Cincinnati researchers.




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Sedentary lifestyles proving a pain during the pandemic, survey finds

New York — The average U.S. adult now spends six hours a day sitting – four hours longer than before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – and they’re feeling more aches and pains because of it, results of a recent survey show.




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Knees, back and shoulders the focus of new MSD prevention posters

Waterloo, Ontario — A Canadian safety group has added three posters – focused on reducing the risk of MSD injuries in the knees, shoulders and lower back – to its musculoskeletal injury prevention resource library.




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NIOSH revamps ergo assessment app for miners

Washington — NIOSH has updated its mobile app designed to help mine workers assess the ergonomics of common job tasks and identify potential worksite safety hazards.




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Construction, manufacturing workers show ‘significantly higher incidence’ of carpal tunnel: study

Detroit — Workers in construction and manufacturing may experience a “significantly higher incidence” of carpal tunnel syndrome compared with office workers, results of a recent study by researchers from the Henry Ford Health System show.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 19: One-person safety teams and post-pandemic ergonomic concerns

In Episode 19, the S+H editorial team discusses the benefits and challenges of being a one-person safety team. Also: Julia Abate, executive director of The Ergonomics Center at North Carolina State University, answers our questions about ergonomic concerns as more workers return to their physical work locations.




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Musculoskeletal issues common among dentists: study

Munster, Germany — Neck and shoulder problems are common musculoskeletal disorders among dentists, leading more than 1 out of 5 to seek medical care, a recent study out of Germany shows.




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Online tool designed to identify ‘the right places’ to use workplace exoskeletons

Nashville, TN — A free online tool developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University is intended to help employers assess how and where exoskeletons could help reduce work-related back injuries “without the need for costly and time-consuming experiments.”




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NIOSH offers miners tips to limit dust exposure, be ergonomically sound

Washington — NIOSH has published a booklet intended to help miners learn about reducing their exposure to respirable dust in metal and nonmetal mines while lowering their risk for musculoskeletal disorders and traumatic injuries.




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Washington State House advances bill aimed at protecting workers from ergo injuries

Olympia, WA — Legislation that would restore Washington state regulations requiring employers to establish practices intended to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders was approved by the state House on Feb. 15.




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Hotel bed lifting systems can cut housekeeper overexertion injuries in half, study shows

Palma, Spain — Hotel beds with lifting systems can help reduce injuries among housekeepers by at least half, results of a recent study by a safety agency in Spain’s Balearic Islands suggest.




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Getting workers involved helps identify and solve MSD hazards, report shows

Bilbao, Spain — Employee participation in workplace interventions that target musculoskeletal disorders “strengthens the possibility for identification of the most relevant health problems,” according to a new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.




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On the Safe Side podcast: Four special National Safety Month mini episodes

Four special mini episodes focus on National Safety Month, observed every June. Each episode highlights a different weekly theme throughout the month: musculoskeletal disorders; workplace impairment; injury prevention; and slips, trips and falls. Listen to all four now.




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Solutions to tackle work-related MSDs: New white paper from NSC

Itasca, IL — A new white paper from the National Safety Council details effective interventions to help prevent or reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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NSC summit equips organizations with solutions to prevent MSDs

Itasca, IL — In another effort to help organizations prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the National Safety Council’s MSD Solutions Lab conducted its inaugural MSD Pledge: Small Business Summit on Oct. 13.




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New: Small Business Guide to MSD Solutions

Itasca, IL — A recently published guide from the National Safety Council is intended to help small businesses reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 33: OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy and MSDs

In Episode 33, the S+H editorial team dives into the November issue’s feature story on OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy.




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‘Brainstorm’ e-tool targets sprain and strain hazards

Tumwater, WA — Preventing sprains and strains on the job is the aim of a new online tool from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.




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Ergonomics bill back on the table in Washington state

Olympia, WA — Washington state legislators are once again considering a bill aimed at reducing workers’ risk of musculoskeletal disorders.




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NSC offering nearly $300K in grants in push to reduce work-related MSDs

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has announced two new grant programs to encourage development of safety solutions targeting work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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Washington state’s ergonomics bill now law

Olympia, WA — A new law in Washington will repeal state statutes that prevent the Department of Labor & Industries from adopting ergonomics rules intended to protect workers.




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If your feet hurt from work, you’re not alone: survey

Berkeley, CA — A recent survey of workers who spend the majority of the day on their feet shows that nearly 2 out of 5 experience recurring pain.




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2nd annual Workplace Safety Summit set for June 15

Join the MSD Solutions Lab, a National Safety Council program, for its second annual virtual Workplace Safety Summit: Insights and Actions to Prevent the Most Common Injury on the Job.




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Study finds ‘banger bar’ can help reduce injuries among crab fishers

Corvallis, OR — A device designed by crab fishers can effectively limit injuries associated with lifting and dumping crab pots on commercial fishing vessels, results of a recent study show.




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Contradictory feedback can lead to worker neck and back pain: study

Columbus, OH — Cognitive dissonance “may be a previously unidentified risk factor” for neck and low-back pain among workers who perform lifting and lowering tasks, results of a recent study show.




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NSC summit spotlights ongoing efforts to reduce MSDs

Itasca, IL — Reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders by 25% by 2025 is a goal that requires commitment.




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NSC awards grants in push to reduce work-related MSDs

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has awarded $274,000 in grants to nine organizations in an effort to advance new safety technologies aimed at reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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Free webinar: Ergonomics, DEI and risk management

Join the MSD Solutions Lab on Sept. 28 as it explores ergonomics and DEI.




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Reduce lower back pain: 3 tips from surgeons group

Rosemont, IL — In light of data showing that about 1 in 4 working adults have low back pain, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is offering tips to strengthen and protect the back.




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NSC summit highlights employer-worker collaboration on MSD prevention

Itasca, IL — The vast majority of the organizations that took the National Safety Council’s MSD Pledge receive regular feedback from frontline workers about reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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‘Work shouldn’t hurt’: Resources for MSD prevention

Waterloo, Ontario — The University of Waterloo’s Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders recently released three collections of resources focused on preventing MSDs.




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NSC releases report on MSD prevention benchmarking survey

Itasca, IL — Improving methods of tracking musculoskeletal disorders, continuously monitoring and assessing physical risk factors, and sharing best practices can help workplace MSD prevention programs have real impact.




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Study links musculoskeletal pain to early retirement

Portsmouth, England — Frequent musculoskeletal pain may lead people to retire or leave the workforce early, results of a recent study by British researchers show.




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Solid waste industry should embrace Total Worker Health, researchers say

College Station, TX — Three out of 4 solid waste workers say their employer considers workplace safety and health important, yet only 1 in 4 feel encouraged to share safety-related suggestions.




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Doing this may help prevent repetitive-motion muscle fatigue

Calgary, Alberta — Workers performing repetitive manual tasks can avoid muscle fatigue by taking short breaks every 10 minutes, researchers say.




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New video shows ways cobots could help prevent MSDs

Genoa, Italy — A new video from the Italian Institute of Technology showcases potential uses of collaborative robots, or cobots, to help prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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Which musculoskeletal treatments are recordable? OSHA memo gives details

Washington — A new guidance memo from OSHA outlines whether certain treatments for musculoskeletal injuries are recordable.




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‘Spend some time’ with workers and supervisors to help reduce MSDs: experts

Itasca, IL — Taking simple steps before work begins can help curb job-related musculoskeletal disorders.




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Accommodate all workers to prevent MSDs: NSC report

Washington — “If it isn’t equitable, it’s not ergonomic.” Paige DeBaylo, research manager at the National Safety Council MSD Solutions Lab, offered that insight during a July 11 webinar discussing a recently published NSC report.




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NSC crowns winner of Safety Innovation Challenge

Orlando, FL — HeroWear and its exoskeleton suit were voted the winner of the National Safety Council’s third annual Safety Innovation Challenge.




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Don't get bit

Every day, an average of 10 letter carriers are attacked by a dog, according to the Washington-based National Asso-ciation of Letter Carriers. The rate of dog bites begins to rise in February, and generally reaches an annual high in June.




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Avoid dog bites on the job

Every day, an average of 10 letter carriers are attacked by a dog, according to the Washington-based National Association of Letter Carriers.




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Livestock safety

Farm animals can present real dangers to farmers, ranchers and their families.