High Risk of
Injury for Sign Language Interpreters
[Posted 04/29/2008]
According to a new study conducted by Rochester
Institute of Technology (RIT), sign language
interpreting may actually be at a higher risk of
injury than other professions. This study is one of
the first to catalog the effect of signing on
interpreters and show a correlation between mental
and cognitive stress and increased ergonomic risk.
The
RIT team studied a group of interpreters and
measured the physical impact of signing over a
fixed time period, utilizing metrics developed for
industrial settings. They found that an increase in
mental and cognitive stress led to a 15-19%
increase in wrist velocity and acceleration during
interpreting.
Matthew Marshall, associate professor of industrial
and systems engineering at RIT and a leader of the
research group, notes that the impact of injury on
interpreters and its effect on retention is a major
issue in the deaf community.
“The
ultimate goal is to enhance knowledge of the
impacts of interpreting and help make the
profession more conducive for workers,”
Marshall said.
Related Links:
OHSOnline Article
Return to News
Summary Page:
Occupational Health News Summaries