Sprains, strains, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders account for more than 30% of total workers’ compensation injury claims in Washington state each year. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders include injuries to the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.
During Global Ergonomics Month and year-round, supervisors and personnel should consider the following resources to help prevent injuries:
- Visit the Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Ergonomics webpage for resources on selecting appropriate ergonomic furniture.
- Review the office ergonomics instructional videos for detailed information on setting up a workstation, computer and chair to increase comfort and reduce the risk of injuries.
- Request an office ergonomics workstation evaluation via Comfort Zone, a third-party ergonomics self-assessment tool, provided by EH&S.
- Participate in Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) four-week ergonomics challenge involving both managers and employees working to identify and prevent injuries.
- Review risk factors on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website.
- Contact EH&S at ehsergo@uw.edu regarding requests for a non-office ergonomics consultation.
Visit the Ergonomics webpage for more information and contact EH&S at ehsergo@uw.edu or 206-543-7388 with questions.
