Marshall & Sterling Insurance September 2016 | Page 3

Heavy Lifting in Youth
Linked to Back Pain
Later in Life
According to a study conducted by
researchers at the Finnish Institute for
Occupational Health, young adults who
engage in work that involves heavy lifting
and forceful movements could be at an
increased risk of developing back pain
later in life.
Researchers surveyed 738 Finnish men
and women between the ages of 18 and
24, and then followed up with that same
group 20 years later. For both men and
women, the likelihood of developing
lower back pain roughly doubled among
workers who had engaged in heavy lifting
when they were younger.
Researchers suggest that one reason for
the disparity might be that younger
workers who don’t use proper lifting
techniques or equipment are able to heal
faster or work through the pain when they
are younger. However, as they age,
repeated stress and injury catches up with
them, increasing the likelihood of
developing lower back pain.
The researchers suggested that both
workers and employers should take the
time to learn and implement proper lifting
techniques, especially among young
workers, to reduce the risk of pain or
musculoskeletal injury.

© 2016 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

NOAA Launches Powerful Flood
Forecasting Tool
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
launched the National Water Model last month—a powerful tool
that officials are hailing as the biggest improvement to flood
forecasting that the nation has ever seen.
The National Water Model uses data gathered from more than 8,000
U.S. Geological Survey gauges, runs it through a powerful Cray ZC40
supercomputer and then simulates streamflow forecasts every hour
for 2.7 million locations in the United States. Previously, NOAA had
only been able to generate forecasts for 4,000 locations, and those
forecasts took several hours to generate.
Officials say, at first, the model will be able to provide forecasts for
areas that previously haven’t had access to them, as well as more
accurate flash flood forecasts in headwater areas. In time, as the
model evolves, it will eventually be able to provide street-level
forecasts, as well as improved forecasting during flash floods.
In addition to the obvious benefits for government officials and
emergency responders, the model will also give businesses a better
opportunity to anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in the
event that they need to launch their business continuity plans.
For more information on business continuity planning resources,
contact us at 800-724-0695 or [B_Email] today.

Amazon Testing Drones in the U.K.
A reporter at Business Insider recently discovered and took
photographs of Amazon’s secret drone testing facility at a place
called Worsted Lodge, 8 miles south of Cambridge. The company
moved its prototypes abroad after it encountered difficulty getting
the clearances i