The Impact of Workplace Screening on the Occurrence of Cumulative Trauma Disorders and Workers' Compensation Claims

Work-related musculoskeletal pain, commonly referred to more specifically as musculoskeletal disorders or cumulative trauma disorders, has continued to occur despite efforts by employers, employees, health care providers, and the government to eradicate it The National Institute for Occupational Saf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1999-02, Vol.41 (2), p.84-92
Main Author: Melhorn, J. Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cohort Studies
Cumulative Trauma Disorders - diagnosis
Cumulative Trauma Disorders - epidemiology
Ergonomics
Ergonomics. Workplace layout
Ergonomics. Workplace layout. Occupational psychology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Mass Screening
Medical sciences
Medical screening
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - diagnosis
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational medicine
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Prospective Studies
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Repetitive motion disorders
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
United States - epidemiology
Workers compensation
Workers' Compensation - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Work-related musculoskeletal pain, commonly referred to more specifically as musculoskeletal disorders or cumulative trauma disorders, has continued to occur despite efforts by employers, employees, health care providers, and the government to eradicate it The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has encouraged employers to establish ergonomie prevention programs; however, many employers are concerned that screening, education, and focused attention on workplace pain will cause an increase in the number of OSHA 200 events and the incidence of workers' compensation claims. This prospective cohort study demonstrated that there was no increase in the number of OSHA 200 events and no increase in the incidence of workers' compensation claims after completion of an individual risk screening program that included education and employee awareness about work-related musculoskeletal pain. Incidence of cumulative trauma disorders has been most effectively reduced by use of individual risk-screening programs. Therefore, employers should be encouraged to develop and implement prevention programs that include individual risk screening.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/00043764-199902000-00002