Volume 2, Issue 2
October, 2008
SCOPE FOR PSRP’S
McAllen AFT, 1500 Dove, McAllen, TX, 78504
Telephone—682-1143, Fax—631-0190, Cell—607-0193
Stories contributed by McAllen AFT PSRP’s
WORK SHOULDN'T HURT
All too often, we take the aches and pains of work in a school setting as “just part of the job.” Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. Researchers and unions have made great strides to improve working conditions by promoting ergonomics” as an approach to help prevent workplace injuries. Quite simply, this means designing work to meet the needs of workers rather than making workers adapt to dangerous conditions. This simple approach can prevent injuries, disabilities and job loss for thousands of school employees every year.
EROGONOMICS FOR
FOOD SERVICE WORKERS
There are a number of ways food service workers can sustain musculoskeletal injuries that cause lower back pain. The conditions and work requirements of food service in school settings almost guarantee that food service workers will experience a problem at some point in their careers. Notable hazards include:
- Poor equipment layout in many school cafeterias and kitchens. Ovens often are at a low level and their use requires lifting heavy pans from a position lower than the knees. Most kitchen layouts require too much stooping and reaching.
- Holding the same position for long periods of time. Food service workers often must stand on hard floors without an opportunity to move or shift positions.
- Repetitive use of the arms and hands during preparation and serving of food.
- Frequent handling of heavy objects, such as commercial cookware, containers of food and boxes. It’s no wonder that food service workers frequently complain of chronic pain. The demands and working conditions can affect every major muscle in the body. Common complaints and injuries include:
- Hip and knee pain associated with standing for long periods of time and with heavy lifting.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome from handling heavy pans of food and from serving food.
- Other hand injuries, such as DeQuervain’s Syndrome—a sausage-like swelling of the tendon of the thumb muscles due to a combination of forceful gripping and hard twisting.
- Upper and lower back pain from lifting, twisting and handling heavy loads.
- Neck and shoulder pain.
Healthy Hints for Food Service Workers
- When you must stand for long periods of time, use a heavy rubber mat.
- Wear shoes with good support.
- Whenever possible, alternate periods of standing and sitting to reduce the stress on your back and walk around (without carrying heavy loads) as frequently as you can - this will reduce the compression on spinal disks.
- Store heavy boxes and containers no lower than knuckle height and no higher than shoulder level to avoid lifting from the floor level and working above the shoulders.
- As much as possible, reduce the weight of items to be carried. Make more trips with lighter loads (e.g., open cartons and boxes and transfer fewer items).
- Push carts (with two hands) instead of pulling them.
- Avoid twisting in both the standing and sitting positions.
- Consult your physician about an aerobics exercise program. Walking, biking and other aerobic exercise can help protect your back.
CUSTODIANS, MAINTENANCE WORKERS AND GROUNDSKEEPERS
Heavy work and lifting are a way of life for many custodial workers, maintenance workers and groundskeepers. Custodial workers and cleaners often push and pull furniture and heavy equipment and move heavy boxes. Women custodial workers often are injured because they use heavy equipment, such as buffers, that were designed for men.
Groundskeepers lift heavy bags of fertilizer, soil and salt. Staff members often ride on tractors and mowers
that vibrate the spine and musculoskeletal system.
Twisting, bending and/or lifting while twisting are common movements that strain the musculoskeletal
system. These daily activities often are performed several times in one day. Several months or years of these activities can spell trouble for the back, arms and shoulders. Most custodians, maintenance workers and groundskeepers learn to live with chronic lower back pain. Many tell horror stories of damaged shoulders and arms that require surgery and rehabilitation.
The list of injuries sustained by these workers often includes:
- Muscle strain
- Ligament and tendon injuries
- Spinal disk degeneration
- Back muscle strains
- Rotator cuff injuries (shoulder injuries)
- Tennis elbow
Healthy hints for Custodians, Maintenance Workers and Groundskeepers
- Do not overexert yourself. Test the object you’re about to lift to see if the load is manageable. If the load is too heavy, get help.
- Do not jerk or speed up. Lift in a smooth, controlled manner.
- Bring objects as close to your body as possible.
- Avoid lifting heavy items off the floor; when you must do so, get as close to the object as possible and pull the object and/or tilt it towards you before lifting.
- Use carts and hydraulic lifting devices when available.
- Avoid lifting and twisting at the same time; pick up the load and turn and take a step instead of turning the upper body when unloading heavy items. Pick up the load first, then turn and take a step, instead of turning the upper body.
- Avoid carrying heavy items up and down stairs; you may be unable to grab the rail if you misstep.
- Don’t rely on back belts to protect your back. Research indicates that back belts may give workers a false sense of security that makes them lift more and increase the risk of a back injury. Back belts actually put more force on the lower back during a lift.
- If possible, arrange your work area so that heavier items are placed on shelves at waist level; lighter items can be stored overhead and at floor level.
EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE AND MCALLEN LOCATIONS
Lark Community Center
2601 Lark Ave, McAllen
McAllen City Tax Office
311 N 15th St, McAllen
Palmer Pavilion
301 E Hackberry, McAllen
Palmview Community Center
3401 Jordan Ave, McAllen
Mon. Oct. 20 thru Sat. Oct. 25
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. Oct 26, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon. Oct 27 thru Fri. Oct. 31
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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Halloween Recipes
Green Ghoul Punch
1/2 gallon limeade
1 liter ginger ale
1/2 gallon lime sherbert
Mix together juice and ginger ale. Scoop sherbert and add to punch. Add marshmallows and maraschino cherries to float in punch.
Ghosts and Goblins Crispy Treat Pops
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (16 oz.) marshmallows
1 package (about 10 oz.) crisp rice cereal, divided
Orange Icing Color
Cookie Sticks (6 or 8-in.)
Halloween Confetti Sprinkles
Spray multi-cavity pumpkin and ghost pan with vegetable pan spray. In large saucepan, melt butter; add marshmallows. Cook and stir until melted. Divide mixture in half; stir orange icing color into 1 portion. Add half of cereal to orange mixture; mix well. Repeat with remaining cereal and white marshmallow mixture. Press into prepared pan; carefully remove from pan and allow to cool. Insert cookie stick; add confetti eyes and mouth.
Makes about 24 treat pops.