What You Need to Know About Ladder Safety
Every day, workers around the country get injured performing the very basic task of climbing up a ladder. It is an activity that may seem simple and safe, but people often do not use ladders [...]
A Guide To Radon
The winter is the perfect time to consider the dangerous effects of radon. Radon accumulates naturally and it can be dangerous to humans. When we’re outside more often in the summer months, it does not [...]
Sleep Deficiency 101: Make Sure To Get Your Z’s
There are too many people out there who do not realize how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. Sixty years ago, the average american slept 7-8 hours a night. Now, 6 hours [...]
Flu Video
A quick intro to the flu and what you can do to prevent it.
A Helpful Guide to Vaccines
Over the pest several decades, vaccines have dramatically decreased the number of cases of many diseases and saved millions of lives. Nowadays, many formerly deadly diseases have been almost completely eradicated. Getting vaccinated has become [...]
5 Tips to Manage Stress at Work
You can't escape stress. Whether you are at work, or planning a fun event, or raising kids, there are things that can cause anxiety in just about any situation. The only thing we can do [...]
Safety Tips for Welding
Each Minnesota Occupational Health (MOH) clinic is staffed and equipped to function as a full-service urgent care center just for work injuries. If you are a Minnesota worker who has been injured on the job, [...]
Medical Surveillance Helps to Detect Health Threat to Workers
More and more evidence suggests that those working in the commercial coffee manufacturing industry or local cafes should be concerned about their health. A study of workers at a coffee manufacturing facility showed that they [...]
What Employers Need to Know About Worker Fatigue
Numerous circumstances including insufficient, interrupted or poor quality sleep over a period of time can result in worker fatigue. Fatigue is our body's indicator that we need more rest. Long work hours and lengthy and [...]
OSHA and the ACC Create Alliance to Promote Awareness for Diisocyanates Exposure
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) have formed a two-year partnership to bring awareness to diisocyante exposure in the workplace and promote safe methods for its utilization in [...]
Prevention of and Care for Common Work Injuries
The risk of work injury is present in all jobs, but in particular in construction, manufacturing and assembly type jobs. Each Minnesota Occupational Health (MOH) clinic is staffed and equipped to function as a full-service [...]
What Are the Most Common Safety Hazards at a Construction Site?
Construction sites can be very dangerous. That is why they are often surrounded by signs saying “keep out” or other warning signs. However, they are not just dangerous for curious kids up to no good, [...]
OSHA Introduces Application To Transmit Injury And Illness Data Electronically
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The Internet-based form gives businesses the ability to electronically submit injury and illness data from their finalized 2016 OSHA Form 300A. [...]
OSHA Has Updated its Regulations for Post-Accident Drug Testing
Late last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new regulations relating to reporting and recording occupational illnesses and injuries. These regulations protect workers from creating disincentives to reporting an occupational injury or [...]
Common Workplace Eye Injuries and How to Prevent and Address Them
The eye is one of the most delicate parts of the human body, and eye injuries can be very serious. They can also cause a lot of missed work time and lost productivity. It is [...]
9 of the Most Common OSHA Fines
Many construction businesses make the choice to not have a dedicated safety initiative, since they feel that they are too small for one. However, no matter the size of the company, it can still be [...]
A Guide to the OSHA’s Health and Safety Standards
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has the authority, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, to regulate the health and safety of workplaces. This includes developing standards and rules, providing consultation and education [...]
Stress Electrocardiogram (EKG) or CT HeartScan Tests for Firefighters
It is an unfortunate fact that heart disease causes a large number of firefighter deaths in the line of duty. It is important to identify firefighters who are at risk of experiencing a heart attack [...]
Vijay Eyunni, M.D., M.P.H., Featured in The Star Tribune & St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dr. Vijay Eyunni, Minnesota Occupational Health's medical director, was recently featured in both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Dr. Eyunni, who is also a team physician for the Minnesota Twins [...]
Avoiding Eye Injuries in the Workplace
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated that more than 20 thousand workplace eye injuries occur each year. In additional, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has stated that workplace eye injuries [...]
What are the Responsibilities of a Medical Review Officer?
A Medical Review Officer (MRO) plays a pivotal role in helping employers ensure a safe workplace. An MRO is a licensed physician who reviews non-negative drug tests, determines if the presence of a tested substance [...]
Who Benefits from Occ Med?
Today's employers are charged with managing risk and related expenses while still fulfilling their commitments to their customers and employees. A growing number of employers realize the advantages of partnering with occupational medicine clinics. Minnesota [...]
The Role of Occupational Health + Safety
The terms occupational health and environmental medicine describe MN Occupational Health's commitment to the health of workers through clinical care, prevention, disability management, research and education. For those within a work setting, these terms also [...]
Ergonomics
The goal of ergonomics is to create an environment in which workers interact safely and efficiently with equipment, machinery and work place surroundings. A poor worksite design will ultimately lead to tired, fatigued and frustrated [...]
Random Drug Tests in Minneapolis – St. Paul, MN
An employer might necessitate employees in safety-sensitive positions to submit to random drug and alcohol testing. A safety-sensitive position is any position in which an impairment instigated by drug or alcohol use might jeopardize the health [...]
What is Spirometry?
A spirometry test is a lung function or Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) that may be ordered when clearing an individual to wear a respirator for work.The Importance of RespiratorsSeveral industries mandate that workers wear a [...]
Pre-Hire Human Performance Evaluation (HPE) aka Post-Offer Employment Testing (POET) or Work Simulation
Employers with positions that require specific physical abilities will often create a functional job description in addition to required duties, responsibilities, and the education, skill level, and experience that would enable a person to perform [...]
Silica Exposure Standard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Background and Health Impacts What is crystalline silica? Crystalline silica is a mineral used for many industrial applications and products. It is widely used at construction sites. It is used to make materials such as [...]
Tips for Staying Safe at Work in the Summer
Minnesota's summer brings with it a myriad of work-related health risks including sun exposer, heat, and even Lyme disease. As an employer, you should be made aware of the potential dangers that this season presents [...]
Signs of Heat Illness (Video)
Recognizing heat illness is crucial for runners at all ages and stages. Listen to Summit Orthopedics’ experts describe symptoms of heat illness and what actions to take if you or another runner starts to experience [...]
Pre-Employment Drug Tests
Minnesota Occupational Health offers drug screening programs for Pre-employment, Post-Accident, Reasonable Suspicion, Random and Follow-up. If your job offer is contingent on passing a drug screen, there is no need to make an appointment. Please [...]
Fitness-For-Duty Exams
A fitness-for-duty exam is designed to assess an individual’s capacity to return to work, normally following an absence. The absence may be the result of surgery or other medical or psychological conditions. Because these workers [...]
Post-Accident Drug Tests
Many employers have adopted policies and implemented programs for drug and alcohol testing after an employee is involved in a workplace accident. This testing is referred to as "post-accident" or "post-incident" drug testing. The result [...]
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is designed to document both the medical and functional ability of a worker to perform occupational tasks following an injury in order to determine return-to-work readiness and the need for [...]
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
Pulmonary function tests consist of a wide range of tests designed to measure the capacity of your lungs to breathe in and exhale air. As a tool to determine the ability of a worker to [...]
Work Simulation
To learn more about post-offer work simulation in Minnesota, call MN Occupational Health at 651-968-5300. Evaluating the suitability of candidates for a particular job involves evaluating their attributes and abilities such as his or her [...]
Job Task Analysis
What is a job task analysis? A job task analysis (JTA) results in a detailed analysis and description of the essential physical requirements to perform a job. The primary goal of a JTA is to [...]
Drug Testing in Minneapolis – St. Paul, MN
The trained DOT certified collectors at MN Occupational Health complete thousands of occupational drug tests every year on behalf of organizations in the Minneapolis – St. Paul region and throughout the Midwest. If you are [...]
Lifting Heavy Objects
Lifting at home and at work Know the risk points and your limits. Awkward shapes and sizes, lifting overhead, and heavy weights all come with higher incidence of injury. Not sure on [...]
Hip and Knee Risk Assessment
How's the state of your knee or hip? Find out. Start your free assessment Eventually we all start to notice the wear and tear on our joints. Whether it’s pain during [...]
6 Ergonomics Tips
Don’t let your mouse become a trap for injury Hold the mouse loosely with your fingers. Pivot at the elbow rather than the wrist, and use your arm and shoulder to move the mouse. [...]
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease and related conditions are some of the most common causes of low back and neck pain. Understanding these diseases is the first step toward effective treatment. The spine is [...]
Tips to Protect Your Wrists
We’ve got six ways for you to protect your wrists from injury. Imagine what it would be like to perform your daily tasks without bending your wrists. Suddenly, everything from brushing your [...]
The Link Between Weight and Orthopedic Risks
Excess weight contributes to a number of serious health problems. A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explores the impact of obesity on orthopedic health. [...]
Ten Days To Improved Range Of Motion
If you have arthritis, you know that exercise is important for maintaining an active lifestyle. Try these helpful stretches, and you may see improved range of motion within 10 days. The research [...]
Simple Habits for Shoulder Health
We have some simple tips anyone can follow to keep shoulder muscles strong and shoulder joints flexible. Quite often, you probably reach for an object on a high shelf, hold up a [...]
Select A Mattress To Support Spine Health
Spine issues can make it challenging to sleep soundly. We tell you how to select a mattress that will provide support for your spine, and a good night’s rest for you. The [...]
Don’t Let Your Computer Hurt Your Posture
Many of us spend our days in front of a computer. Minnesota Occupational Health ergonomist Sue Unger has some tips to help preserve good posture while we work. Our digital age offers [...]
Choosing A Pillow For Spine Support
The right pillow can alleviate or prevent back and neck pain. We have tips to help you select the pillow that is just right for you. There’s nothing like the perfect pillow [...]
Be Smart About Using Your Smart Device
A new study reveals that though a smartphone may make life easier, using it can be hard on your spine. We explain the research, and offer suggestions to help you use your smartphone safely. [...]
Basic Anatomy of the Spine
Our spine holds up our head, shoulders, and upper body. It helps us to stand up straight, gives us the flexibility to bend and twist, and protects the spinal cord. It is divided into three [...]