A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits to Prevent WMSD* Hazards

*WMSD: work-related musculoskeletal disorders

DISCLAIMER

These recommended limits are to be used only as a reference for safe work practices.

The recommended limits in these slides are voluntary. Its application is not required to employers, businesses and workers in Washington.

They are intended to support business owners and employees efforts to reduce and prevent musculoskeletal disorders at their workplaces.

What You Will Learn

• Recommended limits to prevent work- related musculoskeletal disorders or WMSDs such as back sprain, strain, shoulder sprain, arm and wrist tendonitis, etc.

• How to apply these limits to any job or operation in your business, as part of your safety and health program or best work practices.

To slide 28 for additional information

Navigating this presentation

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Topics covered

Forceful pinching, gripping

Forceful pinching, gripping

Intensive keyingIntensive keying

Hand-arm vibrationHand-arm vibration

Repetitive motionRepetitive motion

LiftingLifting Awkward posturesAwkward postures

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To slide 28 for additional information

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Throughout these slides you will notice the:

Recommended Limit sign.

Not exceeding these limits in any job or activities at your workplace, will help in:

keeping your employees healthy.

May also help in keeping your company expenses and losses at its lowest level.

LIFTING

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Lifting

• 75 pounds once a day is a heavy lift

Lifting

• 55 pounds, 10 times a day is a heavy lift

Lifting

• 25 pounds, above the shoulders, below the knees or at arms length, 25 times a day is an awkward lift

Lifting

• 10 pounds, twice per minute, two hours a day is a frequent lift

AWKWARD POSTURES

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Awkward postures

• Hands above the head or elbows above the shoulders is an awkward posture

Awkward postures

• Neck or back bent more than 30 degrees is an awkward posture

Awkward postures

• Kneeling is an awkward posture

Awkward postures

• Squatting is an awkward posture

FORCEFUL PINCHING, GRIPPING

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Forceful pinching

• Pinching an object weighing 2 pounds (like the force needed to pinch half a ream of paper), is a forceful pinch

Forceful gripping

• Gripping an object weighing 10 pounds (like the force needed to clamp automobile jumper cables onto a battery), is a forceful grip

REPETITIVE MOTION

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Repetitive motion

• Repeating the same motion with the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists or hands, every few seconds is repetitive motion

INTENSIVE KEYING

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Intensive Keying

• Keying regularly, more than 4 hours total per day is intensive keying

HAND-ARM VIBRATION

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards

Hand-arm vibration

• Using high vibrating tools like impact wrenches, chain saws, jack hammers, riveting hammers, more than 30 minutes total per day is high hand-arm vibration

Hand-arm vibration

• Using moderate vibrating tools like grinders, sanders, jigsaws, more than 2 hours total per day is moderate hand-arm vibration

Additional information

On WMSD hazardous exposures visit the WISHA webpage at:www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics

You may also write us at:ergonomics@LNI.WA.GOV

Example Template of an accident prevention program :www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/Programs/Accident

Ideas to reduce hazardous exposures can be found at the Ergonomics Ideas Bank

A Quick Guide on Recommended Limits for WMSD Hazards