b'Although, fire fighters tend to recover and return to work more quickly than many other occupations, the average time lost from work due to an MSD was 105 days. KEYOn-ShiftAverage Time Lost Due to a MSDof MSDs include but are not limited to strains, sprains, tears,DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING numbness and tingling, back pain, joint pain, and carpal tunnelWORKPLACE CONTROLSsyndrome (CDC, 2020). Reducing and limiting exposures to hazards through MSDs are the most common cause of lost work time workersrisk assessments and ergonomic controls can reduce compensation claims among Washington fire fighters. Four of 10musculoskeletal injuries and disorders to fire fighters and other fire fighter lost time workers compensation claims are MSDs.emergency responders. Reducing the MSD risk requires an Fire fighters experience lost time MSDs at more than fourassessment of the work environment, tools and equipment used, times the rate of all other occupations in Washington; the rate ofand department policies and procedures fostering MSD risk MSDs is among the highest for all occupations. identification and prevention. Once risks are identified, the goal Although, fire fighters tend to recover and return to work moreis to control the hazards using two different approaches:quickly than many other occupations, the average time lost fromImplementing changes that automatically make the work safer work due to a MSD was 105 days.(elimination, substitution, and engineering controls).The most common type of injuries were sprains, strains, and pain of the back, shoulder, and knee, with overexertion as theMaking changes that rely on people to do the right thing leading cause of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders. It is(administration controls) (NIOSH, 2023). important to note that these numbers only represent employeesThe best approach is to make the work automatically safer by who actually reported their on-duty injury. Some estimateseliminating, if possible, the hazardous task, or by substituting suggest that only 10% of work-related MSDs are reported to theiraway the hazardthink using lighter equipment or designing employer or the workers compensation system (Morse, 2005). easier access to equipment. The second approach relies on the fire department administration or fire fighter to change the work Why is the prevention of musculoskeletal disordersor work processes to reduce the hazards. Administrative controlsimportant in the fire service? reduce exposure without changing the workplace by using actions The primary purpose of any injury prevention programs is tolike rotating jobs and organizing work to allow specific staffing prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths (OSHA, 2012).levels in response to emergency calls, for example, so you can lift Occupational injuries create an extensive amount of physical,a patient through teamwork. Work practice controls can be used to financial, and emotional hardship for employers, employees,modify work tasks to reduce ergonomic hazards through safe work and their families. In addition to physical pain and suffering,procedures such as proper body mechanics and education.MSDs can cause a loss of wages and productivity, an increase in absenteeism and debt, an increase in workers compensation lOne-third of respondents (33%) reported a work-relatedand healthcare costs, a permanent disability, and a reduction in quality of life. Preventing occupational injuries is not onlyinjury or illness in the past year, over 5 times higher thanimportant for employee health and well-being but also forexpected among other workers.organizational morale and productivity. When occupationallMusculoskeletal symptoms were very high among injuries increase, employee morale and productivity decrease.respondents. Most fire fighters reported problems in thelow back (84%), shoulders (75%), and neck (69%).Source: Washington Firefighter Survey 2018 Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program Washington State Department of Labor and Industries 43'