Injury Prevention

1. By Amy Alves Injury Prevention

2. Why are we covering this topic? • Facilities Services has had a total of 52 incidents since July. • Most of these injuries could have been prevented by wearing proper PPE, being more aware of your surroundings, and knowing your limitations.

3. Facilities Services Injuries – FY13 • The most common types of injuries this year have been strains and contusions (bruises). • Most injuries are to the hands and arms and head, neck, face areas.

4. What are Strains and Sprains? SPRAINS AND STRAINS FACT SHEET (from NCDOL) • What are sprains and strains? • Sprains and strains are two types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In the work environment, strains and sprains are caused by excessive reaching, bending, lifting, gripping, squatting, or twisting of hands, shoulders or body. In general, any work performed with high force, with many repetitions, or in a position that feels awkward is risky. Even a motion that is harmless in and of itself, like stretching out the arm to grasp an object or squeezing a tool, may put the worker at risk of injury if it is repeated over and over. • How does a sprain differ from a strain? • A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament (a band of fibrous tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint). One or more ligaments may be injured at the same time. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of the injury (whether the tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved. • A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon (a fibrous cord of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone). Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain can be as simple as an overstretching of a muscle or tendon, or it can be the result of a partial or complete tear. • What causes sprains and strains? • A sprain can result from a fall, a sudden twist or blow to the body that causes a joint to move out of its normal position and stretches or tears the ligaments supporting that joint. Common sites in the body where sprains occur are the ankle, knees and wrist. • A strain is caused by twisting or pulling a muscle or tendon. Strains can be either acute or chronic. An acute strain is associated with a recent injury or trauma. It can also occur following improperly lifting heavy objects or overstressing the muscles. • What factors in the workplace contribute to sprains and strains? • Aspects of work tasks that can lead to fatigue, musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms and injuries, or other types of problems may be present in one or more tasks that employees must perform to accomplish their jobs. The contributing factors that employers and employees should be aware of include: Awkward postures Repetitive motions Forceful exertions Pressure points Vibration

5. Preventing Strains and Sprains • If you are already injured, let your supervisor know! Do not aggravate the injury by using that part of your body when you are not 100%. • Ask for help! Don't try to move or lift an object that you can't handle alone. • Slow down. • Bend with your knees, not the back. • Carry loads close to your body. • Don't twist, especially while lifting. • Instead of lifting a box, break it down into smaller parts, if possible. • Use a mechanical device, like a wheelbarrel or handtruck, or lift it with a co-worker. • Make sure the equipment you’re using is in good working order. Broken equipment could cause injury. • Put as much work as you can at waist level. • Repetitive motion can cause injury. Take a break! • Watch where you walk. Be on the lookout for objects that clutter walkways. • Exercise. Stretch during the day to warm your muscles and increase your flexibility. • Rest the injured part of you body for a few days. Apply ice to cold packs periodically during the first three days to reduce swelling and pain. Keep the area elevated and wrap it if possible. If the area remains swollen, see a doctor.

6. What are Contusions? • Contusions, typically known as bruises, are injuries to your tissue or bone in which the skin is not broken. Blood vessels rupture and bleed into the tissue causing discoloration. Bruises are usually blue or purple at first, and then gradually fade to various shades of brown, yellow and green. Contusions often result when tissue is struck hard from falling, bumping into something, or being hit or kicked. • Some bruises can last as long as 2-3 weeks. If you experience anything lasting longer or you suspect further damage, consult a physician. • Bruises may mask more serious injuries, such as fractures or broken skin (which may require a tetanus shot). • Using proper safety equipment and procedures can help prevent contusions.

7. Protecting your Hands and Arms Hand Protection: Proper protective gloves should be worn whenever there is the potential for contact with corrosive or toxic materials, sharp objects, and/or very hot or very cold materials. Gloves should be selected on the basis of the material being handles, the particular hazards involved, and their suitability for the operation being conducted. Protective Clothing: The purpose of protective clothing is to prevent harm to the body from potential exposures associated with work, as well as to protect personal clothing. Source: UNC Environment, Health and Safety Manual, February 2010

8. Protecting your Head, Neck and Face • University policy on eye and face protection is derived from two items of legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. The first act: "Policy for Eye and Face Protection," passed in 1969, requires that eye protective devices be worn by students and instructors in shops and laboratories where work involves: Hot solids, liquids, or molten metals; or • Milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, or stamping of any solid materials; or • Heat treatment, tempering, or kiln firing of any metal or other materials; or • Gas or electric arc welding; or • Repair or servicing of any vehicle; or • Caustic or explosive chemicals or materials. • Eye protective devices are to be worn at all times while participating in any of the above programs and shall be furnished free of charge to the student and instructor. Source: UNC Environment, Health and Safety Manual, April 2012 • There are many causes of head injuries. In several work places, workers are exposed to falling objects, walk under boards or pipes hanging at the end of a rope, have to crouch down under machines, work under vehicles, etc. Other head injuries include: • bruises and cuts from impacts against physical objects in the work place; • heat stroke caused by excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays; • burns due to contact with molten metal: welding arcs, oxyacetylene cutting, metal manufacturing; • hypothermia caused by intense or prolonged cold; • burns caused by fire; • burns, electric shock and electrocution caused by contact with active conductors or electrical loads; • crushing between two pieces of rolling equipment, for instance, when hair is caught in a moving part or when hands are caught in a drive belt. Source: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/publications/health_safety/head/page00.shtml

9. Protecting your Head, Neck and Face • Head Protection: The basic head protection for consideration is the hard hat. A hard hat can reduce the force of a 570 lb. impact to a 127lb. shock to the neck and spine. • Eye Protection: Eye protective devices must be worn when hazardous operations, including operation of power tools, pouring of molten metal, welding, soldering, etc., are in progress. The wearing of safety glasses in shops at all times is encouraged. This rule applies to employees, students, and visitors. Eye protective devices must be worn by all employees operating power tools and during hammering, chipping, and cutting operations. Eye protection is also required for other persons exposed within the area of these operations. Source: UNC Environment, Health and Safety Manual, April 2012

10. Shop Discussion • Who would be affected if YOU got injured and what kind of impact would that make? • Has your shop had any of these types of injuries this year? • How could it have been prevented? • What support could other employees or resources provided? • Are you always wearing the proper PPE for the work you’re doing?If not, why? Do you have any safety concerns or questions? Please contact Amy Alves (962-1235 or amy.alves@fac.unc.edu)