× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksOHWNov2018

Top Menu

Occupational Health Branch

Occupational Health Watch: November 2018

New Data on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Workers stand in a line wearing full protective gear as they inspect chickens hanging from moving metal hooks in a food processing facility.More than 139,000 California workers suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) during 2007-2014, according to a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) study of state workers' compensation data reported in the October 5 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Industries with high rates of CTS include those that manufacture apparel, process food, and perform administrative work. Workers in these jobs are often required to perform forceful or repetitive tasks with their hands, or maintain an awkward posture. The rate of CTS was highest among persons aged 45–54 years, and the rate among women was more than 3 times higher than that among men.

Workplace changes that modify tasks, workstations, tools, and equipment can decrease ergonomic hazards and prevent injuries and illnesses, including CTS. The CDPH Occupational Health Branch has resources for employers and workers on its ergonomics topic page.


Photo: Workers who process food have high rates of CTS.

Resources

Rates of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in California, 2007–2014 – CDC MMWR

Ergonomics: Preventing Job-Related Pain – CDPH web page


Email Occupational Health Watch (OHW@cdph.ca.gov) with feedback or change of address.

​​
Page Last Updated :