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Rates of wrist and hand injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have risen consistently over the past 20 years. A three-pronged approach to CTS and upper extremity injury prevention should focus on body, behavior and environment.
A combination of ergonomics, technology-based solutions and handson pain relief therapy has proven effective in reducing CTS risk and its associated costs.
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught safety professionals anything, it is that there is no way to shut down injuries, even when the business is closed. Even before the crisis and ensuing social distancing, certain injury types were becoming more frequent, with wrist and hand injuries such as CTS becoming more common after the computer boom of the 1980s and 1990s (Bierma, 2020). With normal operations disrupted at least into the near future, it has never been more important for organizations to prepare for future challenges.
Work may be changing, but costly injuries from CTS are not going anywhere. CTS accounts for more than $2 billion in economic costs each year from nearly 2 million annual cases, and for thousands of U.S. workers, it can lead to lifelong pain and loss of function even after surgery (Palmer & Hanrahan, 2019). Employees diagnosed with CTS also need triple the time away from work before returning compared to workers who suffer other injuries (Dale et al., 2013).
Fortunately, today's safety managers have a wealth of options when it comes to detecting, preventing and treating repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) to the wrists and hands. Effective solutions have been developed across ergonomics, wearable technology and soft-tissue therapy, prompting opportunities to tackle injury risks from various angles. This article discusses why organizations should start adopting this three-point approach and how each tool supports a holistic, proactive strategy for dealing with wrist and hand injuries.
The Rule of Threes
Effective safety programs depend on a complete understanding of the risks inherent to each workplace, task and employee. To achieve that level of nuance in an analysis of injury rates and to propose good solutions, it is helpful to split the factors into categories that cover the worker's entire experience. Some risks derive from preexisting health conditions and can correspond with the employee's physical fitness. Others originate in poor technique and can...