Ergonomics: Making the Work Fit the Worker

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1. Slide 1

   Ergonomics-Making the Work Fit the Worker

2. Slide 2

   OSHA Susan Harwood Grant

   • This material was produced under Grant Program #SH-05058-SH8 from the OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. It Does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mentioning of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Revised from grant number SH-22310-11.
3. Slide 3

   Class Room Participation

   • The instructor encourages open dialog
   • Participants can ask questions anytime during the training presentation
   • Media materials will be presented to the class to discuss, assess and identify the possible hazards to excavation and trenching activities
4. Slide 4

   Breaks!

   • There will be 10-15 minutes breaks as needed throughout the training period
5. Slide 5

   Questions and Feed Back

   • At the end of the presentation participants will be ask to fill out a brief questionnaire and provide feedback on the training materials
6. Slide 6

   Objectives

   • Ergonomics and general duty clause
   • Define ergonomics
   • Define Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
   • Define and identify factors for MSD injuries.
   • Signs and symptoms of MSD’s
   • Classroom exercise
   • Analyze a workplace for risk factors.
   • Identify solutions to eliminate or reduce MSDs.
7. Slide 7

   Ergonomics and General Duty Clause

   • Congress passed resolution 6 in 2001, rescinding original ergonomics rule, prohibiting OSHA from issuing a rule that is substantially the same as the 2000 standard.
   • Employers still have an obligation under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) to keep the workplace free from recognized hazards.
   • OSHA encourages employers to implement effective programs or other measures to reduce ergonomic hazards.
8. Slide 8

   Components of an Ergonomic Program

   • Management and employee commitment
   • Hazard communication and reporting
   • Job hazard analysis and control
   • Training
   • MSD medical management
   • Program evaluation
9. Slide 9

   Workplace Ergonomics

   • Fitting the workplace to the worker to prevent injury, and increase efficiency and comfort
   • Image of office employee
10. Slide 10

    Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s)

    • Generally occur slowly over time due to repeated trauma to soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage) and nervous system.
    • MSD’s can happen from a one-time occurrence ie a single bad lift
11. Slide 11

    Work-Related MSD’s (WMSD’s)

    • Work related MSD’s are caused or aggravated by work methods and the environment
    • Image of maintenance employee
12. Slide 12

    Modern Day (WMSD’s)

    • Carpenters elbow, tennis elbow or fisherman’s elbow- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
    • Carpet layers knee, roofers knee-Patella Bursitis
    • IPAD/Samsung thumb-De Quevain Syndrome
    • Tech Neck PC-Cervical Disk Damage
13. Slide 13

    Risk Factors Causing MSD’s

    • Bending
    • Gripping
    • Using vibrating
    • equipment, tools or objects
    • Kneeling
    • Excessive force
    • Poorly designed tools
    • Extreme temperatures
    • Static posture
    • Working overhead
    • Squatting/stooping
    • Lifting/lowering
    • Pulling/pushing
    • Holding/carrying
    • Repetitive movements
    • Twisting
    • Over-reaching
    • Poor work organization
14. Slide 14

    4 Terms Commonly Used For MSDs

    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Injuries and disorders to soft body tissues including muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.
    • Sprains and strains. A joint strain is the overstretching or tearing of
    • muscles or tendons. Tendons are the dense fibrous cords of tissue that connect bones to muscles … The main difference is that with a sprain you may have bruising around the affected joint, whereas with a strain, you may have spasms in the affected muscle
    • Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs). Injuries involving strain which develop, or build up over time.
    • Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). Injuries affecting muscles, nerves and tendons by repetitive movement and overuse. The condition mostly affects the upper body.
    • Repetitive motion injuries (RMIs). An injury to the body that is caused by performing the same motion over and over again thereby straining a body part.
15. Slide 15

    Classroom Activity-Other Risk Factors

    • C ontribute to, but do not cause
    • WMSD’s
    • Temperature
    • Work pace and stress
    • Age
    • Hobbies
    • Previous injuries
    • Medical conditions
    • Smoking, noise
    • Fatigue
    • Diet
    • Image of two fly fishermen
16. Slide 16

    Signs and Symptoms of MSDs

    • Pain-Sharp, intermittent or constant dull throbbing and radiating
    • Swelling-localized or defuse
    • Tingling or numbness-localized or radiating
    • Burning sensation-localized or radiating
    • Joint Stiffness-localized
    • Fingers turned white-localized
    • Reduced range of motion-limited
    • Early recognition and reporting is key to preventing workplace MSDs!
    • OU
    • CH
17. Slide 17

    Classroom Activity 4-Body Mapping

    • Class Exercise
    • Image from OSHA Susan Harwood Training PPP
18. Slide 18

    Neutral Posture Standing

    • Optimal position for the body to reduce the risk of WMSD’s.
    • Neutral posture promotes blood flow, nerve conduction, muscle strength and control.
    • Posture chart
19. Slide 19

    Neutral Posture Sitting

20. Slide 20

    Awkward Postures While Handling Materials

    • Image of warehouse employee
21. Slide 21

    Awkward Postures While Handling

    • Materials Continued
    • Image of warehouse employee
22. Slide 22

    Solutions for Proper Manual Lifting

    • Think before lifting loads
    • Plan the lift
    • Use more than one person
    • Remove obstructions
    • Long lift consider resting on a table or bench to change grip
    • Keep load as close to the waist as possible
    • If unable to properly conduct a lift and carry use equipment
23. Slide 23

    Classroom Activity 7 for Proper Manual

    • Lifting
24. Slide 24

    Static Posture

    • Holding the same position or using the same muscles for extended periods of time.
    • Static posture, or positions that a worker must hold for long periods of time, can restrict blood flow and damage muscles and tendons.
    • Images of warehouse and construction employees
25. Slide 25

    Compression

    • Soft tissue is pressed between the body and a sharp or hard object
    • Awkward hand positions on power tools
    • Image of construction employee
26. Slide 26

    Repetition

    • Performing the same motion or group of motions excessively
    • Repetition of movements that can irritate tendons and increase pressure on nerves.
    • Repetition does not allow time for rest and recovery.
    • Image of a warehouse worker
27. Slide 27

    Excessive Force

    • Strong physical exertion.
    • Forceful exertions due to weight, friction, or posture can stress soft tissues.
    • Image of construction workers
28. Slide 28

    Vibration

    • Single point or hand and arm exposure results from hand held vibrating objects used such as power tools.
    • Full body vibration results primarily from vibration transmission from equipment.
    • Images of construction employees
29. Slide 29

    Extreme Temperatures (Cold)

    • Cold temperatures make the muscles less flexible, resulting in muscle strains and pulls
    • Low temperatures reduce sensory feedback, dexterity, blood flow, muscle strength and balance
    • Image of construction employees at a trench location
30. Slide 30

    Extreme Temperatures (Hot)

    • Hot temperatures can lead to dehydration and muscle fatigue, especially in conjunction with high humidity
    • Internal body temperature rises resulting in your body’s attempt to regulate its temperature through increased blood circulation and increased perspiration
    • Less blood goes to the active muscles, brain and other internal organs, which reduces strength and brings on fatigue more quickly
31. Slide 31

    Poorly Designed Tools

    • Images of hand and power tools
32. Slide 32

    Better Hand Tools for the Job

    • The best tool is one that:
    • Fits the job you are doing
    • Fits the work space available
    • Reduces the force you need to apply
    • Fits your hand
    • Can be used in a comfortable work position
    • Images of hand cutting tools
33. Slide 33

    Better Power Tools For the Job

    • How should you select a power tool?
    • It should have a long trigger.
    • It should have low vibration and noise levels.
    • It should be heavy enough to do the job, but not add strain.
    • Use a power tool instead of a hand tool when you can.
    • Image of power tool
34. Slide 34

    Efficient Use of Equipment

    • How can the work be done differently to reduce risk factors at your job?
    • Use platforms, lifts and forklifts
    • Use hoists or chain falls
    • Use carts and dollies
    • Make smaller loads
    • Use power tool instead of hand tools
    • Image of warehouse employee
35. Slide 35

    Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

    • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that employers not rely on back belts to protect workers
    • Examples of PPE that can help reduce MSD’s
    • Gloves-reduce vibration and friction
    • Shoulder pads
    • Knee pads
    • Appropriate clothing for weather
    • Images of PPE, gloves and knee pads
36. Slide 36

    Poor Work Organization

    • This refers to the way jobs are structured, carried out, and supervised, for example:
    • Production schedule demands
    • Infrequent rest breaks
    • Not enough workers
    • Poor planning
    • Poor supervision
    • Lack of equipment
    • Lack of PPE
37. Slide 37

    Better Planning and Organization

    • How can risk factors be reduced by better planning and organization?
    • Training
    • Plan the work ahead of time
    • Deliver materials close to where they will be used
    • Have proper equipment at the job site
    • Minimize bending, reaching or twisting – work at waist level whenever possible
    • Use the buddy system – get help
38. Slide 38

    Problem Solving

    • What are some ways to prevent strains, sprains, and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?
    • Better materials
    • Better equipment and tools
    • Improved work methods
    • Better work organization
    • Increase training
    • Exercises by stretching and flexing
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
    • Improving diet
39. Slide 39

    Stretching and Exercises

    • How many of you have participated in a worksite stretch and flex program?
    • Pros-
    • Team building-interacting with each other
    • Open communication with workers
    • Easy to implement
    • Low cost solution
    • Cons-
    • Not taken seriously
    • Exercises may not be done properly
    • Puts pressure on workers to take responsibility for solutions
    • Workers may feel self-conscience
40. Slide 40

    Challenges to Implementing Solutions

    • Cost too much
    • Slows down production
    • Equipment not available
    • Change is not easy
    • Management and employee participation
    • Preventing MSD hazards is less expensive and more effective than trying to control them later.
41. Slide 41

    Workers Are the Experts

    • Ergonomic Programs emphasize worker participation and include five steps:
    • Identification of musculoskeletal disorders and workplace hazards that may cause these problems
    • Analysis of workplace hazards
    • Development of solutions to reduce or eliminate hazards,
    • Implementation of solutions
    • Evaluation of the solution's effectiveness
42. Slide 42

    This Concludes our Training