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The RSI Hazards of Frequent Driving
February 28 is International RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) Awareness Day, which is held on the last day of February every year because it's the only calendar day that does not necessarily repeat annually.
As safety professionals know, RSIs, also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), affect people in all workplaces and the risks of developing MSDs are all around us, even in our car.
Here's some timely advice from the IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) to share with your workers on RSIs and driving.
Ergonomics Behind the Wheel
Typical problems from frequent driving include neck, back and shoulder pain; cramps; poor circulation in the legs and buttocks; and a long-term potential for degeneration of spinal discs and disc herniation.
The first step is to preventing pain and injury is recognizing the risk factors in your daily activities. The main risk factors for developing an MSD include:
- Awkward postures
- Excessive force
- Vibration, and
- Repetition or long duration of exposure.
To identify whether you are at risk, the IAPA suggests you ask yourself these questions:
- Do you slouch when you drive?
- Does your low back get good support?
- Do you drive for two hours or more at a time?
- Do you stay in the very same position for long periods of time?
- Do you work in your vehicle?
- Do you have to bend and twist to lift things out of your vehicle?
- Do you have to lift heavy items out of your vehicle?
- Do you have to push or pull heavy items soon after driving?
- Is the vehicle maintenance, such as the suspension wheel conditions contributing to vibration?
- Is the seat designed to minimize the impact of vibration on your body?
Individuals at the highest risk for developing a driving related MSD include truck drivers, paramedics, heavy equipment operators, taxi and limousine drivers, bus drivers, forklift operators, farmers, delivery/courier people, traveling sales people, weekly cottage-goers, and commuters.
6 Ways to Minimize Risk of MSDs:
Share with your workers these 6 tips to help them minimize the risk of developing MSDs:
- Adjust your seat's lumbar support to fit your lower back. If your vehicle isn't equipped with lumbar technology or you find it insufficient, use a small narrow cushion or rolled-up towel to help support your low back in a curved position.
- Tilt your seat's back rest to approximately 110 degrees. Tilting your seat too far forward may increase the strain on your low back; tilting it too far back could increase the strain on your shoulders.
- Avoid driving for more than two hours without a break. A five-minute rest may be all that you need to stand, stretch your muscles and refresh your mind.
- Ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained to minimize vibration.
- If you have to use a laptop or take notes in your vehicle in between stops, sit in the passenger seat where there is more room and you don't have to twist.
- Avoid lifting immediately after a long drive. Sitting causes the ligaments that support your spine to stretch and the discs in your back to move out of their optimal position. Wait a few minutes before trying to lift something to help reduce the chance of straining your back.
How Employers Can Help
Two thing employers can do to help employees:
- Encourage your employees to report pain so that possible MSDs can be addressed early to avoid more serious health problems; and
- Provide proper training and information to employees on proper lifting techniques and ergonomics to prevent such pains and strains.
Source: Industrial Accident Prevention Association
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