Inside the Circle – February 7, 2023

Also known as Musculoskeletal Disorders, Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) describe painful injuries affecting tendons, muscles, nerves and joints in the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. RSIs can happen to any employee, no matter what type of job you have. Gripping, holding, bending, twisting, clenching, typing, lifting, pushing, pulling and reaching – these regular movements that we make every day are not particularly harmful in our daily lives. However, what does make them harmful in work situations is the repetition of these movements over and over. Other work factors that can add to developing RSIs may include awkward postures, staying in the same position for long periods of time, using too much force at once, a fast-paced work environment, and stress.

International RSI Awareness Day is February 28. During the month of February, the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) will be holding a free weekly webinar series focused on RSI awareness and prevention.

Circle of Care is a member of NYTHP, and we are excited to highlight the February NYTHP wellness newsletter. This edition of the newsletter features a webinar focused on the importance of good gut health, healthy recipes, complimentary health and fitness programs through Body + Soul, and resources to prevent Repetitive Strain Injuries.

‘Body mechanics’ is a term describing a physical effort of the body’s muscles, bones, and nervous system. Body mechanics can be good or bad, and can be directly related to back pain and other physical issues. Using proper body mechanics will help you avoid musculoskeletal strain, injuries to yourself or your client, and tiredness.

Basic Body Mechanic Rules

1. Keep the lower portion of your back in its normal position at all times
2. Do not twist your body – instead always use a side step or turn your body, from your shoulders to your hip, as one solid unit
3. Set your feet into a comfortable and solid wide base of support when lifting
   a. Having a wide base of support gives your body more stability
4.  Keep your head upright and hold your shoulders up
5. Maintain a stable center of gravity to evenly distribute your body weight
   a. Keep your center of gravity low, bend your knees and keep your body straight rather than bending your spine
6. Hold things close to your body to lessen the effect of their weight
7.  Bend at your hips and knees instead of your waist to help maintain balance and divide weight easily between upper and lower body
8.  Pay attention to your limits – do not try to handle more than you are physically capable of

I have been working for Circle of Care for 32 years, but for my 15 years and 20 years I never received a gift. Some of the other PSWs got gifts, and for my 25th year, I received a bonus of one week pay, but for my 30th year I got less.

Thank you for submitting your question to us. As your situation is extremely specific, we encourage you to email HRDept@circleofcare.com and we will respond to you directly.

We invite you to submit your questions or feedback below. Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers, so if you’ve asked a question that hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you in the coming weeks.