Management Information Systesm Essay Research Paper In

Management Information Systesm Essay, Research Paper

In 1995, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States reported that 60 percent of new workplace illnesses were Repetitive Strain Injuries. They also found that in 1993, RSIs cost employers $20 billion dollars in workers compensation claims, and more than $100 billion dollars to pay for all of the indirect costs of RSIs such as lost work time and decreased productivity. Performing the same task over and over again, causing excessive and repetitive stress on certain parts of the body cause repetitive Strain Injuries. The RSIs caused by computer usage are usually injuries to the hands, wrists, arms, or back of the user. There are more than 100 varieties of RSI, including tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cubital tunnel syndrome. The symptoms can range from minor muscle soreness or stiffness, to extreme pain, to inability to flex or move one s hand. Serious cases of RSI can even cause permanent damage to a person, or require years of rehabilitation. Injuries such as these occur when people continue their pattern of computer usage despite suffering from early symptoms such as sore wrists or hand muscles. Our question is why do people ignore the early symptoms of RSI. We have determined that people have deadlines to meet, their lively hood may depend on computer usage, or they simply don t believe that simply using a computer can have serious effects on their health. Currently the only routinely collected national source of information about occupational injuries and illnesses of United States workers is the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. The survey, which the Bureau has conducted for the past 25 years, is a random sample of about 250,000 private sector establishments that provides estimates of workplace injuries and illnesses on the basis of information provided by employers from their OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Association) Form Log 200 of recordable injuries and illnesses.

For cases involving days away from work, BLS reports that in 1994(the last year of data available at the time this report was prepared), approximately 705,800 cases (32%) were the result of overexertion or repetitive motion.

-47,861 disorders affected the shoulder as a result of computer usage.

-83,483 injuries or illnesses in other and unspecified over extension events.

-92,576 injuries or illnesses due to repetitive motion include typing or key entry. Of these injuries or illnesses, 55% affected the wrist, 7% affected the shoulder, and 6% affected the back. This paper will attempt to identify one common medical problem associated with computer usage such as carpal tunnel syndrome as well as discuss video display terminals problems and lighting issues, and to provide remedies to prevent these injuries or problems from occurring or reoccurring.

First, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a disabling and costly cumulative trauma disorder caused by damage to the median nerve as it runs through the carpal tunnel of the wrist. A single case of unilateral CTS costs between $22,000 and $32,000, not including lost work time, workers compensation, or other indirect costs (e.g., decreased productivity, retraining, diminished morale, etc.). Cumulative trauma disorders are repeated body movements that cause afflictions of the muscles, tendons, and nerves. Such afflictions are also called repetitive strain injuries, repetitive motion trauma, or occupational overuse syndrome. A CTD is not a specific diagnosis but a class of disorders with similar characteristics. Microtraumas are small tissue damage or tears that occur from routine stresses and are initially unnoticeable. When daily rest and overnight sleep fail to completely heal the microtrauma; residual tissue damage carries over to the next day. When the tissue damage exceeds the body s ability to repair itself over time, the problem can escalate. A CTD involving permanent debilitating damage may result. One of the best known CTD s is carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel, a channel through the middle of the wrist, is comprised of the carpal bones on the bottom and the thick transverse carpal ligament on the top of the wrist. Nine tendons that control the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel, along with the median nerve. Pressure will build up in this space if the tendons become inflamed or if the wrist is held in an awkward position. Also, pressure will build up in the presence of certain medical conditions (e.g., pregnancy). This increased pressure can interrupt the blood flow to the median nerve. Over time, restricted blood flow damages the nerve. The disorder can affect either hand or both hands, and onset is usually gradual. Initial symptoms usually occur in the first three fingers and the palmar side of the thumb. Loss of sensation, motor weakness, dry skin, loss of coordination, and atrophy are later symptoms. Occupational risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include: highly repetitive work, bent wrist procedures, excessive force, especially in conjunction with highly repetitive work and deviated postures, mechanical trauma, working in cold temperatures, exposure to excessive vibration, and extended duration of effort. Personal risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include: conditions that cause abnormal fluid balance, such as pregnancy,