 |
|
"Ergonomics" is a general term that has different meanings to different
audiences. Most often, this term is applied to work-related
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The U. S. Department of Labor defines an
MSD as an injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints,
cartilage, and spinal discs. MSDs do not include disorders caused by
slips, trips, falls, motor vehicle accidents, or similar accidents. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes
detailed characteristics for MSD cases
that resulted in at least one lost day from work.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces annual rates, only, based on annual
data, so any comparison may be inexact. As indicated in the guide,
How to compute your firm's incidence rate, the
basic formula is:
(Number of injuries and illnesses X 200,000) / Employee hours worked = Incidence rate where the 200,000 hours in the formula represent the equivalent of 100 employees working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year.
One could
compute a partial year incidence rate by dividing the number of cases by
the hours worked for a certain period, and then multiplying the result by
the part of 200,000 (the 12-month constant) represented by that certain
period. For a single month, you would use 16,667. This approach, however,
assumes that your injury and illness experience grows at a constant rate
for the year. The alternative is to not adjust the constant (leave it at
200,000), and this assumes that you will not experience any additional
injuries or illnesses. Both assumptions may not be too realistic.
|
|