Since we last reported on the swine flu (now better known as H1N1) threat in the workplace in our May 2009 Newsletter, there has been increased emphasis from the federal government for businesses to be prepared for widespread seasonal and H1N1 flu. All sized organizations are being asked to have a plan to protect their workers and to maintain the continuity of their operations.

On August 19, Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued an OSHA National News Release stressing the need for businesses to plan and respond to the upcoming flu season. Mr. Locke said: “The President has mobilized the federal government to get America prepared. But the government can’t do it alone. For this effort to be successful, we need the business community to do its part.”

A further statement was issued by Janet Napolitano in September reiterating the importance of small business in the fight against seasonal flu and H1N1. Her letter is contained in an in depth document published in FLU.gov  entitled “Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza: A Preparedness Guide for Small Business” .

But the importance of the issue goes beyond protecting US workers. President Obama issued a press release  on September 17 in which he announced his stance that the US must be a leader in stopping the global spread of H1N1. As stated in the press release: “…the United States will continue to act aggressively to stop the global spread of the pandemic 2009-H1N1 influenza virus and is prepared to make 10 percent of its H1N1 vaccine supply available to other countries through the World Health Organization (WHO).”

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More news is received daily on the H1N1 swine flu and its spread throughout the world. Although this flu outbreak is not at pandemic levels yet, it could happen. Companies should prepare by developing plans for protecting both their employees and their business operations.

What is a Pandemic?
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak and is caused by a new virus for which there is no immunity or immediately available vaccination. It is easily spread from person-to-person by breathing droplets from someone with the disease who coughs or sneezes. It is also spread by touching a surface with the virus on it, such as a faucet, a door knob, a handle or switch on machinery, a telephone, and other surfaces and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

How Could a Pandemic Affect My Company?
An outbreak of the flu in your workplace can have serious effects on your business. Of course there are lost work days and lower productivity to consider, but there are other less obvious factors, such as health insurance ramifications due to increased claims, disability insurance claims, unexpected overtime for employees picking up the work for sick co-workers, low employee morale, loss of overall business and income, and many more. A pandemic is predicted to affect up to 40% of the workforce. Could your business continue to operate with up to 40% of its employees absent for several weeks either because they are ill, they are caring for family members, or their children’s schools are closed?

The Obama admnistration declares health emergency.   Department of Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano said to free up resources to deal with the Swine Flu.Links to health alerts and information below.  Lead Swine Flu Alerts updated constantly at the website…

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=353&z=29 http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=356&z=34 http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=355&z=29

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Wellness Tip:

Here’s a frightening statistic; after the age of 30 we lose .66 pounds of muscle every year.  That means by the age of 40 we will have lost 6.6 pounds of muscle.  The news gets even worse - when we hit 50 years of age the loss of muscle increases to 1.1 pounds per year.  That means by the time you retire at the age of 60 you could potentially loose 24 pounds of muscle.

What does that really mean for you and your health?  More muscle means a higher metabolism (you get to eat more without gaining weight).  Studies show that a pound of muscle burns between 30 – 50 calories per day, whereas a pound of fat only burns 2 calories per day.  In addition, it has been shown that increasing your muscles mass improves the efficiency in which your body uses sugar (which decreases your odds of getting diabetes) and decreases blood pressure (a risk factor for strokes).

What can you do to increase your muscle mass and improve your health at the same time?  Start by lifting light to moderate weights two times per week.  A good place to begin is at your local YMCA or fitness center.  They usually offer weight lifting classes that will teach you proper technique while hitting all of the major muscle groups.  After you become comfortable with weight lifting, you can increase your frequency to three times per week and start to increase the amount of weight lifted.  You may be surprised that you actually enjoy weight lifting as you start to see your body shape improve and your energy level soar.

Does your company have a walking program?  If not, you may be missing a simple and effective tool to increase employees’ health, energy level, and productivity.  Walking is one the most effective ways to improve health.  The list of benefits is almost too long to mention.  Here are a few of the top reasons to walk:

• Decreases cholesterol
• Decreases blood pressure
• Increases lung capacity
• Increases heart function
• Increases flexibility and muscles mass

If those stats don’t capture your attention, how about the fact that if you walk an extra 20 minutes per day you will burn off 7 lbs. of body fat in a year without even dieting!

Actually starting the walking program is easier than it sounds.  The first item on your to-do list is to get managements approval for the program.  After that box is checked, then you can proceed to the ‘fun stuff’ like mapping out a safe walking loop that employees can use during their lunch or work breaks. 

A great idea is to hand out pedometers and walking journals to employees when they sign up for the program.  Many companies provide incentives when employees hit key distances.  For example, water bottles at the 50 mile mark, a t-shirt at hundred miles, and a gift card at the 500 mile goal.

The whole idea is to keep it fun and get everyone moving.  Optimally, employees will walk together and use the opportunity to energize themselves during their breaks.  Your walking program can become a great tool to decrease stress levels and show employees that you really care. 

Most of the time when you read an article on office ergonomics the focus is on adjusting your chair and computer. While these are two critical areas to adjust, if you miss correcting the other aspects of your desk you may still be experiencing pain and muscle tightness while working.

Here are a few areas I recommend you look at on your desk to insure a pain-free environment.If you use your phone repeatedly or for extended periods of time, then it should be close to the edge of the desk, in front of your body and within arms reach. Repeatedly extending your arm engages your shoulder and can cause fatigue and tightness. In addition, a headset should be utilized when talking on the phone for more than a brief conversation. Most of the time a person will tilt their head to the side to cradle the phone to multi-task. This posture can lead to both neck and upper back pain.  

Another area to evaluate is any paperwork you work from while typing on the computer. Often the papers are located on the desk surface to the side of the computer screen. This causes a craning of the neck from repeatedly bending and twisting your neck to look at the paper and then computer screen. An easy remedy is to use a document holder. Optimally the document holder should hang from the monitor so that they are on the same plane.

Take a look under your desk to ensure that the area where your legs and feet are positioned is clear of any items. If boxes, purses, unused files or anything else is in the space your legs will not have any room and will be in an awkward position. This awkward posture will cause a twist in your spine while sitting. So clear out anything under your desk (except of course your legs and feet) to ensure comfort for your low back and spine. Move all of your small pieces of equipment that you use on a regular basis within easy reach. A lot of times when I am evaluating an office there are nick-knacks, pictures and coffee cups on the front surface of the desk, while the staplers, hole-punches and pens are located at the far corner of the surface. From an ergonomic stand point, this makes no sense, especially when the person is complaining of upper back and shoulder pain.

When you add up every time you extend your shoulder to reach for a piece of equipment over the workday it can really accumulate. Also keep in mind, if your tasks require any kind of force (hole punching or stapling large stacks of paper) stand up to use both gravity and body weight vs. shoulder strength. I know a lot of this information seems like common sense, but you will be amazed when you really look at your desk how many little improvements you can make. Sometimes it is the small things that can add up to be a big pain, so take the time to do a quick perusal of your desk and do a little rearranging.

This article was provided by Laura Dietrich who is a Certified Professional Ergonomist based in our Louisville Kentucky office.  Laura can be contacted at (502) 240-6910 or ldietrich@AdvancedSafetyHealth.com.

As the temperatures drop a little more each day, we know that winter is right around the corner. By now we have all heard predictions that this winter will be a hard one, with lots of snow. Typically, the first snow fall will occur and most of us dust off our snow shovels and start to clear the driveway without another thought.

The good news is that snow shoveling can be a great workout and will burn off those unwanted extra calories. The bad news is that every year people experience both fatal and non-fatal heart attacks as a result of snow shoveling. In addition, many people will injure either their backs or shoulders.

Some people are at a higher risk and should avoid shoveling (i.e. elderly, anyone with heart disease or other related health concerns and people with existing back problems). If proper precautions are taken though, snow shoveling can get you off the couch for a little exercise while clearing your driveway at the same time. Here are some tips to keep you safe while shoveling:

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November is National Flu Awareness Month

An outbreak of the flu in your workplace can have serious effects on your business. Of course there are lost work days and lower productivity to consider, but there are other less obvious factors, such as health insurance ramifications due to increased claims, disability insurance claims, unexpected overtime for employees picking up the work for sick co-workers, low employee morale, and many more.  

Why Be Concerned?

The flu is a very contagious respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses. The flu is easily spread from person to person by breathing droplets from someone with the flu who coughs or sneezes. It is also spread by touching a surface with the virus on it, such as a faucet, a door knob, a handle or switch on machinery, a telephone, and other surfaces and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, on the average each year in the United States:

Wellness Tip:

Everyone has experienced the dreaded afternoon energy slump.  You’re sitting at your office, working away and all of the sudden you have lost your energy and feel like a nap.  Here are a few suggestions to consider that may re-energize you: 

• Look at what you ate for lunch, if it was high in simple carbohydrates and low in protein your blood sugar may have risen sharply and then plummeted (causing the energy slump!). 
• If it has been 3-4 hours since lunch your body may be telling you it needs some re-fueling; go for a healthy snack of fresh or dried fruit and nuts.
• Keep a water bottle on your desk and drink it!  Many of us are dehydrated and don’t even know it.  Mild dehydration will cause fatigue.
• Get up and walk around every hour or so.  Walking will increase the blood flow throughout the body and increase mental and physical alertness
• Get into some bright light, studies have shown that bright lights (or better yet sunlight) will increase mental alertness

Wellness Tip:

By now, everyone knows that eating at a fast food restaurant for lunch is not very healthy.  The majority of the food offered is very high in calories, fat, and salt - all the bad stuff!  Interestingly, even though we are aware of these facts, we still choose to grab our work lunches from these establishments. 

Here are some of the best and worst choices to help you out:

• The hamburger that tops the list for ‘worst choice’ is the Hardees Monster burger weighing in with a mammoth 1420 calories and 108 grams of fat.
• On the other end of the spectrum is the Burger King Whopper Junior with 370 calories and 21 grams of fat. 
• The best choice by far seems to be at Subway.  The Subway roast beef 6” has only 290 calories and 5 grams of fat.
• If you lean more towards chicken, then steer clear of the Dairy Queen 6 piece chicken basket. It has 1270 calories and 67 grams of fat. 
• A better choice is the Wendy’s 5 piece chicken nuggets with 230 calories and 15 grams of fat. 
• But the best choice is the Subway oven roasted chicken breast sandwich with a measly 310 calories and 5 grams of fat.

Sometimes a little knowledge and forethought can help both your waistline and your overall health.  Bon Appétit!