News Releases

USM & MEMIC Conference on Prevention of On-The-Job Injuries

May 3, 2007

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing personnel are among the highest at-risk workers for such musculoskeletal disorders as low back pain, joint injuries and repetitive strain injuries. An upcoming conference on preventing workplace injuries will feature a keynote presentation on how national research is being used to address caregiver injuries. 

USM and MEMIC are co-sponsoring the second annual “Northern New England Ergo Symposium” to give workplaces throughout the public and private sectors practical information on how to keep workers healthy while remaining competitive. Reducing risks over the life of a musculoskeletal injury; improving the handling of materials across a variety of industries; increasing productivity through ergonomic improvements; avoiding injuries in the office environment; and the value of workplace stretch programs are among topics to be addressed. Organizers also have scheduled opportunities to see demonstrations by vendors.

“Northern New England Ergo Symposium” will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 16, at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks. For more information, contact Robert Geraghty of the USM Manufacturing Applications Center at 207-780-5313, or geraghty@usm.maine.edu.

The symposium is part of a partnership between USM and MEMIC to foster safety in the workplace while increasing learning opportunities for USM students and business professionals. Musculoskeletal, or soft tissue, injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, back strains and tendonitis account for a significant portion of workplace injuries. In Maine, half of the workplace injuries are attributed to this type of injury. Across the U.S., musculoskeletal disorders account for more than 600,000 injuries.

Thomas Waters of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will kick off the symposium with a presentation on how national research is informing state and federal legislation designed to promote safe patient handling. Later in the day, NIOSH will showcase its lab and field study findings on safe patient handling.

A second keynote by Stephen Jenkins of Auburn Engineers, an ergonomics consulting firm based in Auburn, Alabama, will show how his company advises clients worldwide to keep employees healthy and businesses competitive.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Reporters interested in covering the symposium can contact Bob Caswell, executive director of USM Public Affairs (780-4200, caswell@usm.maine.edu) or Michael Bourque, vice president of corporate marketing and communications at MEMIC (791-3314, mbourque@memic.com).  

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