11/15/2023: Assessing the Relationship between Job Tasks and Musculoskeletal Pain in Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers

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Assessing Job Tasks and Musculoskeletal Pain in Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers

About the webinar:

In an age where 1.71 billion adults globally suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, this study delves deep into the lives of two integral pillars of society: Firefighters (FFs) and Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). Recognizing that these professionals are at heightened risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), possibly due to the rigors of their occupation, the Rocky Mountain Cetner for Occupational and Environmental Health undertook comprehensive research to examine the connection between job tasks and the prevalence of MSDs. Over 380 professionals, including 214 FFs and 167 LEOs, participated in the study, providing insights into their routine job tasks and the musculoskeletal issues they face. Through meticulous data collection and analysis, the study uniquely employed both frequency and intensity as markers for task assessment, creating a novel and holistic approach. Key findings spotlighted the intensity and frequency of tasks, such as fitness testing for FFs and squad car operations for LEOs, were significantly associated with respective musculoskeletal disorders. Join us as we unravel these associations, discuss the implications for occupational health, and shed light on potential preventive measures for our essential firefighters and law enforcement officers.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this activity, the learner will be able to:

Differentiate the methods used to assess job tasks and their relation to musculoskeletal pain
Analyze the associations found between specific job tasks and MSDs in FFs and LEOs
Evaluate the implications of the relationship between job task assessment methods (frequency and intensity) and the development of MSD pain among FFs and LEOs

Speaker: Matthew Thiese, PhD, MSPH

Dr. Thiese's research focuses on the overlap between a person’s job and their health. This includes everything from musculoskeletal disorders like Low Back Pain or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, to motor vehicle crashes, to COVID-19, to mental well-being. He is interested in identification of potential risk factors, interventions to prevent injury or illness, evidence-based practice for both treatment and prevention, and assessments of worker health and safety fitness-for-duty. His graduate degrees are in Public Health, specifically Occupational Epidemiology and Injury Prevention. Dr. Thiese has coauthored 140 articles (31 as first author), 34 practice guidelines, and 5 book chapters. He is a tenured Associate Professor at the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, which is a joint collaboration between the University of Utah School of Medicine and Weber State University, and one of only 18 ERCs across the United States. He has mentored 21 PhD and Masters Students, teaches 4 courses, and is also on the board for the Institute for Well-Being in Law as the Vice-President for Research and Scholarship. Dr. Thiese has extensive experience in designing and conducting epidemiologic and interventional research. He has worked with first responders, healthcare providers, manufacturing, construction and transportation workers; and has been part of multiple large prospective cohort studies evaluating relationships between musculoskeletal disorders and both job and personal factors.

ACCREDITATION

The Center for Occupational and Environmental Health designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 Contact Hour. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Certificates of Completion

Certificates of Completion will be available to webinar participants who are present for the complete, live webinar, and logged in with their registered email address. Call-in attendees are not eligible for certificates at this time - Please download the Zoom app to log in via email on your smartphone whenever possible.

In order to receive your Certificate of Completion, qualified learners must complete the post-webinar evaluation within 7 days of the webinar. A link to the evaluation will be emailed to qualified learners 24 hours after the webinar via no-reply@zoom.us. Qualified learners who submit their evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion via email, and can also print/save the certificate from their browser after submitting their evaluation.

If you're not able to attend the live presentation, no problem! We record most presentations and will host them on our website provided we have permission to do so. Presentation recordings are not eligible for Certificates of Completion.

ACCESSIBILITY:

If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Michelle Meyer at (510) 642-8365 or mmeyer@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.

ABOUT The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH)

The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) was established in 1977 to meet the need for comprehensive occupational and environmental safety and health programs in the West. We are one of 18 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-sponsored Education and Research Centers in the U.S., and one of only two in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Region 8, which includes Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. (Our reach also extends into Idaho and Nevada.)