b'ealthandSafetyCorner The Preventionof Work Related Injuries Through Exercise This is the first article for thepeople tend to decrease their activ without warming-up first? Then Health and Safety Corner.Yourity level as this age approaches.why should a roofer step up to lift MRCA Health and SafetyWith decreased activity comes stiff aladder off of atruck without committee is extremely excited about pre ness,decreasedflexibility,warming-up? It would be expected sentingtheHealthandSafetydecreasedstrength,decreasedthat roofers are more vulnerable to weight gain. Corner as a quarterly feature of theconditioning and ofteninjury at the beginning of a shift or Midwest Roofer. Our purpose is toThiscangraduallybecomeaafter any period of inactivity. Musprovide the membership with stillrepeated cycle that puts individu clesand joints cool down and another benefit of belonging toals at increased isk for injury.potentiallystiffen-upduring rMRCA. WeIt has also been more recentlybreaks. In addition, muscles are will feature articles that will help all members of MRCAnoted hatespecially susceptible to injury in t warming-up and stretchindependent of their size. Therti ing is such a consistent and inte cold weather, in which roofers can aclesill focus onealthafetygral part of athletics, yet it is rarebefrequentlyexposed.Cold w h and stopics that can be used in yourin daily work situations. Workersweatherdecreasesbloodflow, day-to-day operations.need to loosen-up and increaseinhibiting muscle flexibility and Since many of our membersblood flow to muscles for optimalperformanceunlessonetakes eitherlow down or shut down inperformance as much as athletes.measures to counter its effects. sthe winter months, the result is aWhat athlete would risk steppingTherefore, it only makes sense for work force that becomes physi up to bat or to pitch a baseballContinued on page 8 cally out-of-condition. We believe anarticlecoveringpreworkHoldlOscc.tJoldlOs.c:c conditioning would stretching andRcpcrcltimabpe3t.Jlimes: be beneficial to our members and their employees.The following articlewaspreparedbyAnne Erickson, physical therapist, with the Workareenter, GlenInjury C Cdale, Wis. Almost all jobs have inherent risk factors that could contribute to injuries on the job. At the same time there are many ways to try to prevent such injuries including maintaining a physically fit body, the use of proper posture and body mechanics, and ergonomics. This article will focus on the importanceHold IOnc. Rtpear:]time:s of exercise to maintain flexibility, strength and endurance, as well as its ability to compensate for potentially stressful working conditions or habits as related to roofers. The age when back injuries tend to peak is around 40 years of age. Shoulder injuries are also commonPtam-a:,s -idr. pmuis.Hoioo!lbe at this age.Generally speaking,b y A n n e Eri c k s o n ,PT 11;15'