Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Ohio BWC Partners with OSU for Back Injury Study
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Whether it's nagging or persistent, concentrated or consuming, the one constant with any back injury is a considerable amount of pain. And in the workplace, back injuries have become the most common cause of pain, not only for the worker, but also for his or her company."Back injuries are one of the most difficult and painful types of injuries a worker can sustain," said James Conrad, administrator and chief executive officer of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. "Not only is the injury difficult to treat, but the risk of re-injury is high, and the cost for employers can be overwhelming."In 2003 alone, nearly 42,000 Ohio workers suffered back injuries while at work, and numbers supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show back injuries account for nearly one quarter of all occupational injuries nationwide. In addition, the National Council on Compensation Insurance claims the average cost of back injuries is nearly $15,000.In an effort to reduce the frequency of back injuries, BWC has partnered with The Ohio State University on an award-winning research study to design lifting guidelines. The guidelines take into consideration the weight of the object being lifted, where the object is located and the angle of asymmetry associated with the lifting task.These online guidelines allow the user to enter criteria for various lifting tasks. After analyzing the criteria, each lifting task is given a risk level of high, medium or low. This helps match the injured worker with appropriate jobs or in the redesign of existing jobs.In addition to the study, BWC offers these basic lifting tips to reduce the likelihood of a back injury:Eliminate unnecessary liftingAutomate or mechanize lifting by safely using proper equipmentModify the job to fit accommodate the capabilities of the worker The ultimate goal of this study is to promote a safe working environment, and reduce the chance a worker will injure or re-injure his or her back, Conrad said."