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Businesses warned against
the threat of micro-traumatic
shock injuries
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 press release |
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December 2003
Thousands of businesses across the UK are losing valuable employees to micro-traumatic shock injuries that build up over many years before striking.
Specialists at safety footwear manufacturers Jallatte™ believe a significant proportion of injuries resulting in musculoskeletal problems are not exclusively the result of a single manual handling or lifting incident, but are instead the final straw in what is often years of continual physical shock impacts that have not been properly protected against.
According to Jallatte™, Micro-traumatic shock injuries result from a lack of adequate shock absorption levels in safety footwear, allowing mini shock waves to impact upon muscles, joints and tendons.
Generated by the constant foot fall on solid and unforgiving floor surfaces such as concrete, the repeated impact of foot and floor coming together sends small shock waves from the foot, up through the legs and into the back, compounding the problems associated with manual handling and lifting injuries.
Whilst in isolation micro-traumatic injuries are not great enough to cause injury, it is the cumulative effect, built up over years that finally breaks down the body's resistance, resulting in musculoskeletal injury.
In its most simplistic form, micro traumatic shock injuries are the human equivalent of driving cross country in a car that has no shock absorbers or suspension. If you were driving a car without suspension or shock absorbers, you would feel every jarring impact as the car travelled over different surfaces.
"Drive the car for long enough over uneven and high impact surfaces and eventually some of the mechanics will deteriorate and fail. That is exactly what happens with micro-traumatic shock injuries. Eventually a weak spot develops and a worker will succumb to injury", said Paul Hamer of Jallatte.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational illness in Great Britain, affecting 1.1 million people a year. In 1995/96, MSDs cost society £5.7 billion (1995/96 prices).
MSDs affect muscles, joints, tendons and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
It has been estimated that 12.3 million working days (full-day equivalent) were lost in 2001/02 through musculoskeletal disorders caused or made worse by work. On average, each person suffering took an estimated 19.4 days off in that 12 month period.
Jallatte™ says that, just as ride and suspension systems have developed in the automotive sector, so too has the technology being used in safety footwear,where today shock absorbers are incorporated into the sole units of leading brands, considerably reducing the impact of micro-traumatic shocks.
“For many, the damage will have already been done, as a result of wearing safety footwear that was unable to provide adequate levels of shock absorption. However, by ensuring that the safety footwear issued today provides a shock absorber system, the potential for problems to build up in the future can be significantly reduced,” added Paul Hamer
For more information on how Jallatte can help reduce Micro-Traumatic Shock injuries, contact 01827 266310.
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Press Relations
Graham Buckley
Mercury Public Relations
Tel 01872 561120
07881 560955
Fax: 01872 561489
e-mail: graham@mercury-pr.co.uk
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, Auda
