ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

The Back and Material Handling Issues

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

The Spinal Column

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

The Basic Structure

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Short Term or acute effects:• Sharp Surfaces• Dropped Material• Struck-by Moving Materials• Mechanical Stress• Slips and Falls• “Simpler” Cause and effect relationship

Epidemiology of Back Injuries

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Chronic or Long Term Effects• Back Ache or Pain• Disc Degeneration• Cause and effect not

as simple, more difficult to analyze

Epidemiology

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

• Out more than 6 months only 50% chance of returning

• One year only 25%

• Management and Practitioner Training

One study showed that claims dropped from 200K to 20K per year by providing modified work and conservative treat

Return to Work

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Material Handling

• Lifting/Lowering• Pushing/Pulling• Carrying• Weights and Forces• Frequency of Activities• Load Center of Gravity

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Material Handling

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ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Job Risk Factors

• Weight of the Object• Location (position of load

w.r.t. worker)• Frequency of Lifts• Stability of the Load• Hand Coupling• Workplace Geometry

Twisting/Stooping• Environmental Factors

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Personal Risk Factors

• Gender• Age• Anthropometry• Lift technique• Attitude• Strength• Training

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

• Avoid extreme range of motion when lifting

• Redesign work station/work area to allow freedom of movement

• Provide handles on material handling equipment

• Provide lift-assist devices and tables

• Unit Load Concept

Examples of Manual Handling Controls

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Job Design• Can reduce one-third of

compensable LBP

• Minimize reach and lift distances• Keep off floor• Work station design

• Frequency• Relax time standard• Rotation• Work-Rest allowances

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Job Design

• Minimize Weight• Mechanical aids• Carton capacity• Balance contents

• Convert• Carry to push/pull• Push over pull• Use large wheels

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Training• Focus on awareness and

avoidance

• Get object as close to body as possible

• Planning

• Use of handling aids

• Back Schools

• Strength and fitness important

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

NIOSH Lifting Equation1991 Version

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

• Objective: Reduce occurrence of lifting-related LBP

• 1981 and 1991 equations

• 1981 limited to sagittal plane

• 1991 includes asymmetry and coupling

NIOSH Lifting Equation

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Disqualifiers for Use

• One handed lifts• More than 8 hours• Seated or kneeling• Restricted work space• Unstable Objects• Carrying, pushing or

pulling while lifting

• Wheelbarrows or shovels

• High speed motion• Unreasonable

foot/floor coupling• Unfavorable

environment

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Definition of Terms

• RWL = Recommended weight limit

• LC = Load constant• HM = Horizontal

multiplier• VM = Vertical

multiplier

• DM = Distance multiplier

• AM = Asymmetric multiplier

• FM = Frequency multiplier

• CM = Coupling multiplier

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

1991 Equation

RWL = LC x HM x VM x DM x AM x FM x CM

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

1991 Guide

• Compare RWL to Actual Load (L)

• If Greater than or equal to 1 problem

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

L

RWL

Lifting Index

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

1991 Multipliers• LC = 51 Pounds

• HM = 10/H

• VM = 1-.0075 x / V-30/

• DM = .82 + (1.8/D)

• AM = 1 – (.0032 x A)

• FM go to Table

• CM go to Table

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

NIOSH Worksheet

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Lifting Example

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

NIOSH Workshop

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ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

Start of Lift End of Lift

NIOSH Workshop

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

NIOSH 1991 Lifting Calculator

Notes

Enter values in Yellow area.

For Composite Lifting Index (CLI) to be computed correctly, sort tasks in decreasing order based on LI by pressing button.

CLI = 0.3 Period FreqTask (hours) (#/min)No. RWL LI AL MPL L (avg) L (max) H V H V Orig Dest P F C1 24.3 0.2 29.0 87.0 5.0 18.0 30.0 15.0 40.0 15 0 4.0 0.4 Poor2 12.2 0.4 13.3 39.9 5.0 18.0 30.0 30.0 15.0 15 0 4.0 0.4 Poor3 11.0 0.5 11.4 34.1 5.0 18.0 30.0 30.0 52.0 15 0 4.0 0.4 Poor4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.05 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.06 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.07 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.08 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.09 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Hand Location (inches) AsymmetryHandle

NIOSH Lifting Guidelines -- Job Analysis

Destination (degrees)1991 Guide 1981 Guide (lbs) Origin

Packer

Object Wt.Sort

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

WISHACalculator for Analyzing Lifting Operations

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/ergo/calculator/ergo_workshopIE.htm

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

WISHA Workshop

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ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

WISHAIf the job is a hazard

• Reduce weight of load

• Increase weight of load so that it requires mechanical assist

• Reduce the capacity of the container

• Etc.

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

References

• Applications guide for the revised NIOSH lifting equation – On CD

• Elements of Ergonomic Programs – On CD

• Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors – On CD

• Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting

NIOSH 81-122

ERGONOMICS :: TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM :: THE BACK & MATERIAL HANDLING

What does the worker need to know from this presentation?