| l tunnel syndrome is a very serious affliction | | | | injuries as a result of the physical demands of |
| suffered by approximately 3% of the U.S. | | | | scanning products at high speed. |
| population, or 9-million workers annually. While | | | | Think ergonomics. What's that? Well ergonomics is |
| symptoms usually begin as a general ache or pain | | | | basically a process by which the tools and |
| in the wrist and hand, carpal tunnel syndrome is a | | | | environment around a worker or specifically |
| very serious disorder that can lead to severe | | | | designed to help take pressure off the parts of |
| dysfunction and possible nerve damage. | | | | the worker's body that are going to experience |
| Those most at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome | | | | the most stress and strain. This can apply to |
| are those who have jobs that involve constant | | | | back, shoulders, neck, but it also very commonly |
| repetitive and/or static motion, particularly of the | | | | is used in reference to wrists and wrist injuries, |
| wrists, arms, and hands. While this might instantly | | | | especially carpal tunnel syndrome. OSHA highly |
| bring office workers to mind, this problem | | | | recommends that all employers in retail look for |
| stretches well past the basic cubicles of a call | | | | ergonomic solutions, and in general the employers |
| center or of a data entry center. Carpal tunnel | | | | that have gone that route have reported seeing a |
| syndrome actually afflicts more assembly line | | | | positive difference. One of the main reasons why |
| workers and grocers than computer workers. | | | | the government and employers have taken so |
| Grocery checkers are actually considered so | | | | much interest, and why it so much focus has |
| highly at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome that | | | | been put on carpal tunnel syndrome in grocery |
| even the federal government has singled them | | | | checkers, is because how vital a grocery store is |
| out as a group that needs support to combat this | | | | to every single community, and because of the |
| affliction. | | | | huge amount of employment that these stores |
| Men are found to only be 1/3 as likely as women | | | | create. |
| to have carpal tunnel syndrome. The most | | | | Grocery store work can be physically demanding. |
| recognized reason for this is due to the fact that | | | | It is not at all uncommon for many grocery store |
| women incur muscle imbalances at a faster rate | | | | workers, even in small towns, to handle thousands |
| due to the musculature and their wrists are | | | | of items every day to stock shelves, check |
| generally thinner, thus the carpal tunnel is smaller | | | | groceries, operate the register or prepare |
| and so it is easier to damage the median nerve | | | | inventory. Out of all these actions, the four things |
| that runs through it. Work that requires repetitive | | | | to look out for when trying to prevent carpal |
| flexing of the fingers or wrists will increase the | | | | tunnel syndrome are force, repetition, awkward |
| chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. | | | | positions, and static postures, all which contribute |
| Static flexion involving gripping motions such as | | | | to the development of muscle imbalances, the |
| holding power tools, gripping a steering wheel or | | | | main causative factor of carpal tunnel syndrome. |
| holding a pen will also cause the development of | | | | Trying to find a way to do the work that cuts |
| carpal tunnel syndrome. Bagging groceries and | | | | down on these red flags, and the occurrence of |
| scanning all the various items, not to mention use | | | | work related injuries would decrease. It is in the |
| of the register, is a major reason why grocery | | | | employer's best interest to pay attention when an |
| checkers are among the most highly afflicted | | | | employee gets an injury. There might be some |
| group of workers. | | | | people who don't think carpal tunnel syndrome is a |
| Grocery checkers are so prone to carpal tunnel | | | | big deal--but they would be mistaken. If an |
| syndrome and similar injuries that OSHA has | | | | employee has carpal tunnel syndrome, then how |
| specifically singled them out as a prime example | | | | is he or she going to do a job that requires |
| of workers who need special considerations in | | | | constant hand movement, wrist movement, or |
| their work environment. The loss from workers | | | | anything else along those lines? |
| compensation and lost time is enough that many | | | | Because of the way scanners are situated, and |
| employers have worked hard to introduce injury | | | | because of the job itself, there is always going to |
| prevention programs. Many of these employers | | | | be the repetitive motions, the turning of the wrist |
| have reported happily that their efforts have had | | | | to scan a bar code, all the little things that can |
| a positive effect on work-related injuries and | | | | cause severe carpal tunnel syndrome in workers |
| workers' compensation costs. While the following | | | | who are keeping up a grocery store. Knowing |
| advice was designed specifically for grocery | | | | that this is a problem, however, is the first step |
| checkers and grocery stores, it is equally valid for | | | | to dealing with it. Through ergonomics, special |
| fast food, gas station or convenience store | | | | stretches and muscle balancing exercises, and |
| clerks, or any workers in a high volume retail | | | | implementing job rotation to prevent one person |
| environment. | | | | from doing too much of one job, carpal tunnel |
| A report by NIOSH revealed that more than 50% | | | | syndrome can be prevented, which is always |
| of all food cashiers, (jobs predominantly held by | | | | better than waiting until an actual treatment is |
| women), suffered some degree of carpal tunnel | | | | necessary. |
| syndrome and other forms of repetitive strain | | | | |