I am a retired Occupational Medicine doctor and retired CPE. For 25 years I have been helping people who present with repetitive strain complaints and injuries. Over thousands of cases and across multiple companies and three states I have seen the same phenomena: a blindness to the process of repetitive strain development medically and by workers, managers, and risk experts. I am developing a course for doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants on how to view and conduct the RSI examination because repetitive strain is no accident and needs to be seen and addressed differently.
I have taught at the Michigan Safety Conference 5 times along these lines so I know Safety pros are concerned about this issue.
Would there be any value discussing this simple model and approach with my colleagues in ergonomics? The traditional medical presentation to safety and ergonomics folks about repetitive strain seems to focus on specific disorders but entirely ignores how people process the developing injury and cope. In my limited experience that coping is a valuable tool to respect and employ as an opportunity for early intervention and prevention.I don't want to squander it.
Can you help me? I need feedback. Does anyone have an interest in discussing what I am seeing? Do you see something similar? Do you believe we in medicine can do more to better appreciate the struggles you are seeing as folks try to understand the relationship twixt their own design, the tool, task design and the cost of a misfit? My personal email is:
tfmccoy86@gmail.com should you want to share that way. Put "Safety" in heading.
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Thomas McCoy DO, CPEret
occupational medicine physician
Edgerton WI
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