Occupational Medicine

1
Occupational Medicine -
innovative solutions to increase workforce
efficiency by introducing Ergonomic Program
Dr. Ramona Apostol Specialist of OH
2
Introduction

• Each employee spends about 2000 hours per year at
  the workplace.
• Working conditions have a strong influence on
• productivity
• individual behavior actions about performance
• absenteeism

3
Introduction

• The aim of Ergonomics is the workplaces
  adaptation to the anthropometrical, physiological
  and psychological employees characteristics.
• Expected results
• increased work performance
• increased comfort and safety at the workplace
• decreased occupational illnesses risk
• decreased personnel fluctuation
• increased employee professional satisfaction

4
Characteristics/ Strains
5
Risk factors

• I) Environment temperature, humidity, light
  level, sound environment, etc
• II) Daily activity organization and rhythm of
  the work
• III) Psychological risk factors
• IV) Workplace design, building and fitting out

6
Work related musculoskeletaldisorders

• How common are MSDs?
• Musculoskeletal disorders of any cause
• -affecting 7 of the population,
• -accounting for 14 of physician
  visits,
• -19 of hospital stays.
• Musculoskeletal disorders work-related
• -62 of all illness cases were
  due to disorders associated with repeated
  trauma
• When looking specifically at cases involving days
  away from work, BLS(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  reports 32 of cases were the results of
  overexertion or repetitive motion.

7
Proposed solutions

• Ergonomics to be included in the HS program of
  the company
• Ergo- kinetotherapy is a prophylactic
  intervention for musculo-skeletal strain
• Active role of the employees guarantees high
  performance

8
Short description of the Ergonomic Program

• Identification of the risk factors
• Gathering and analyzing of the health indicators
• Development of a control and preventive strategy
• Proposal of customized interventions
• Follow-up

9
Identification of the risk factors

• STEPS
• -workplace assessment (job analysis)
• -employees interviews focus group
• -computer workstation check list

10
Gathering and analyzing of health indicators

• Data from Medicover medical records
• (annual check-ups)
• Other medical referrals
• (ex. X-rays)- if recommended

11
Development of a control and preventive
strategy

• Technology level ergonomics workstation
• Administrative level ergonomics training
• Medical level
• -kinetotherapy program (prophylaxis)
• -drugs physical therapy (acute treatment)

12
Interventions

• Training in ergonomics for employees
• Kinetotherapy sessions (at the workplace)
• - under specialist supervision
• Aim to increase individual adaptability to
  occupational strains

13
Follow-up

• Evaluation of Ergonomics knowledge improvement
• Evaluation of Programs quality
• at the end of the program

14
Medicover 16 - 20 Gr. Alexandrescu St., Sector 1
Bucharest Tel [phone]
99 www.medicover.ro