Repetitive Motion Injuries: Look at the Numbers
The impression in the lead paragraph of “Ergonomics’ Credibility Still in the Works” [May 24] by Lee Dye is that computers are somehow the culprits for the growth of the ergonomics industry and the major cause of repetitive motion injuries. Nothing could be further from the truth. Statistics released in April by the Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly demonstrate that injuries and illnesses attributed to repetitive typing or key entry are quite insignificant, a mere 0.6% or just 11,600 cases of the total 1,833,380 reported injuries and illnesses in 1997 serious enough to require days away from work.
The number of injuries and illnesses attributed to all repetitive motion in all job categories was just 75,188, or 4.1% of the total cases requiring time away from work. The largest share of RM incidents, 47.7%, occurred in the manufacturing sector and not in the office place. Job categories that would be assumed to include a preponderance of typing and keying such as secretaries represented just 2.5% of all repetitive motion events, data-entry keyers were 1.6% and typists were under 1%.
The numbers released in April of this year do not reflect the dramatic drop in injuries and illnesses attributed to typing and keying we have seen in the past three years. But the fact that the number held steady, despite ever-increasing computer usage at home and at work, demonstrates that these incidences are not the growing menace often reported in the media.
As an association concerned about office workplace safety, we think it is important for computer users to adopt work habits and techniques that ensure they are working comfortably, but we also want people to understand that the office remains one of the safest workplaces.
On another point, your reporter missed an important question during his interview with William C. Howell. As noted in the article, Dr. Howell chairs the committee conducting what is supposed to be an impartial review of the scientific research in the field of ergonomics, yet he clearly has already made up his mind. I do wonder what Congress thinks about his strongly stated opinions that the study they ordered is unnecessary.
P.J. EDINGTON, Executive Director, Center for Office Technology, Alexandria, Va.
