Workplace Safety Tip: Are PDAs Disabling Your Employees?

6/13/2007
 

In an effort to stay connected with their jobs 24/7, many workers are constantly checking their personal digital assistants (PDAs), such as BlackBerries or smartphones. Those who use them over long periods of time may be susceptible to repetitive motion injuries similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The problem occurs when the PDA is gripped on the palm of the hand between the four fingers and the fatty pad below the thumb, and the thumb of the same hand is used to type on the tiny keypad. If overdone, this can aggravate arthritis and lead to debilitating injuries such as tendonitis of the thumb, and a condition known as tenosynovitis (inflammation of the sheath around a tendon).

If your employees use PDAs in the course of employment, advise them of the potential for injury, and inform them of these tips from the American Physical Therapist Association:

• Take frequent breaks from typing.
• Develop “autotext” shortcuts for terms common to your industry to cut back on the need for typing.
• Avoid using the thumb for typing; use the fingers of the other hand instead.
• Stretch the fingers out now and then, holding the stretch for ten seconds and repeating eight times. Open up your hands and spread fingers as far apart as possible. Fold hands together, rotate palms away from the body as you extends your arms out in front of you. Repeat, but this time with arms overhead.