Unlocking the Unlocking the potentialpotential

Training for managers & supervisorsTraining for managers & supervisors

What is ErgonomicsWhat is Ergonomics the science of fitting jobs to the science of fitting jobs to

people. people. – Ergonomics uses knowledge Ergonomics uses knowledge

of physical abilities, of physical abilities, limitations & human limitations & human characteristics that apply to characteristics that apply to job design.job design.

Ergonomic DesignErgonomic Design considers the tasks, considers the tasks,

equipment & equipment & environment to provide environment to provide efficient use of worker efficient use of worker capabilities while capabilities while ensuring that job ensuring that job demands do not exceed demands do not exceed those capabilitiesthose capabilities

Proper ergonomics Proper ergonomics cancan Improve EfficiencyImprove Efficiency Increase Production Increase Production

CapabilityCapability Reduce Workplace InjuriesReduce Workplace Injuries Lower Workers’ Comp CostsLower Workers’ Comp Costs Reduce AbsenteeismReduce Absenteeism

Muscular Skeletal Muscular Skeletal DisordersDisorders Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

are an injury or illness to soft body are an injury or illness to soft body tissue such as:tissue such as:

• MusclesMuscles• NervesNerves• TendonsTendons• LigamentsLigaments• JointsJoints• CartilageCartilage• Spinal DiscsSpinal Discs

MSDs includeMSDs include

Strains & SprainsStrains & Sprains Soreness or PainSoreness or Pain Carpal tunnel syndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome Connective tissue disordersConnective tissue disorders

Muscular Skeletal Muscular Skeletal DisordersDisorders MSDs are medical conditions that MSDs are medical conditions that

develop gradually over a period of develop gradually over a period of timetime

MSDs do not typically result from a MSDs do not typically result from a single instantaneous event.   single instantaneous event.  

MSDs are caused MSDs are caused byby

•BendingBending•ClimbingClimbing•CrawlingCrawling•ReachingReaching•TwistingTwisting•OverexertionOverexertion•Repetitive ExposureRepetitive Exposure

Risk FactorsRisk Factors Risk FactorsRisk Factors are the are the

elements of workstation elements of workstation design or employee action design or employee action that can result in Muscular-that can result in Muscular-Skeletal DisordersSkeletal Disorders

•Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors•Activity FactorsActivity Factors

Environment Risk Environment Risk FactorsFactors

Heat or coldHeat or cold LightingLighting VibrationVibration Tool designTool design NoiseNoise

Activity Risk FactorsActivity Risk Factors Static or awkward Static or awkward

posturespostures Improper grippingImproper gripping Improper liftingImproper lifting Repetitive MotionRepetitive Motion

Heat & ColdHeat & Cold Heat Heat effects blood circulation & effects blood circulation &

causes cramps, burns/rashes and causes cramps, burns/rashes and general discomfort. general discomfort.

ColdCold effects the body's blood effects the body's blood circulation, causes hypothermia, circulation, causes hypothermia, loss of flexibility, distraction and loss of flexibility, distraction and poor dexterity.poor dexterity.

Comfortable temperature rangeComfortable temperature range •68 to 74 degrees 68 to 74 degrees •Humidity 20 – 60%Humidity 20 – 60%

VibrationVibration Excessive vibration causes pain to Excessive vibration causes pain to

muscles, joints and internal organsmuscles, joints and internal organs Soft tissue trauma to the hands, Soft tissue trauma to the hands,

arms, feet and legs. arms, feet and legs.

LightingLighting Under & over lighted areas causes:Under & over lighted areas causes:

•HeadachesHeadaches•Muscle strainsMuscle strains•FatigueFatigue•Eye strainEye strain

Poorly lighted areas also Poorly lighted areas also contributes to trip & fall hazards & contributes to trip & fall hazards & poor coordinationpoor coordination

Tool designTool design Handle shapeHandle shape Control typeControl type Control locationControl location VibrationVibration ImpactImpact PressurePressure

NoiseNoise Noise peaks above 100 decibels Noise peaks above 100 decibels

cause:cause:•Headaches•Increased blood pressure

•Muscle tension & fatigue

•Irritability & distraction

Force & ExertionForce & Exertion Forceful exertions place higher Forceful exertions place higher

loads on the muscles, tendons, loads on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints ligaments, and joints

Factors Factors •Weight Weight •BulkinessBulkiness•SpeedSpeed

PosturePosture Prolonged standingProlonged standing - -

varicose veins, back stress, varicose veins, back stress, pooling of blood in legspooling of blood in legs

Sitting without back Sitting without back supportsupport - low back stress - low back stress

Seat too highSeat too high - decreased - decreased circulation, (legs dangling circulation, (legs dangling over end) bruisesover end) bruises

PosturePosture Shoulders roundedShoulders rounded - Upper/lower - Upper/lower

back stress, respiratory distressback stress, respiratory distress

Leaning forwardLeaning forward - Lower back - Lower back stressstress

Arms extendedArms extended or over-reaching  or over-reaching  - Stress to arm muscles, upper - Stress to arm muscles, upper back stressback stress

PosturePosture Elbows "winged"Elbows "winged" - Joint stress at - Joint stress at

shoulder, poor use of bicep shoulder, poor use of bicep musclesmuscles

Stepping backwardsStepping backwards - Loss of - Loss of balance, displaced gravity, balance, displaced gravity, muscle stressmuscle stress

Locking kneesLocking knees - Stress to back - Stress to back of knee, poor blood circulationof knee, poor blood circulation

Bent WristBent Wrist – excessive force – excessive force when grippingwhen gripping

RepetitionRepetition Frequent & prolonged repetition Frequent & prolonged repetition

of the same movements cause of the same movements cause muscle fatigue and stressmuscle fatigue and stress

Factors that increase repetition Factors that increase repetition hazardshazards

•Number of cycles per minuteNumber of cycles per minute•Force requiredForce required•PosturePosture

GrippingGripping Factors that increase gripping Factors that increase gripping

hazardshazards•Bent wristBent wrist•Surface areaSurface area•Surface frictionSurface friction•VibrationVibration•Type of gripType of grip

LiftingLifting Factors that increase lifting Factors that increase lifting

hazardshazards•WeightWeight•SizeSize•RepetitionRepetition•TwistingTwisting•BendingBending•ReachingReaching•MethodMethod

Hazard ControlsHazard Controls Engineering Controls Administrative Controls Work Practice Controls

Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls Re-design of work stationRe-design of work station Re-design of toolsRe-design of tools Lighting modificationLighting modification Vibration controlVibration control Noise ControlNoise Control AutomationAutomation Mechanical LiftingMechanical Lifting Material FlowMaterial Flow

Administrative Administrative ControlsControls Employee rotationEmployee rotation Job task enlargementJob task enlargement Adjustment of work pace Adjustment of work pace Redesign of work methodsRedesign of work methods Alternative tasksAlternative tasks Rest breaksRest breaks

Work Practice Work Practice ControlsControls Work techniques & proceduresWork techniques & procedures Conditioning period Conditioning period Training Training Lifting techniquesLifting techniques Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment

ChecklistsChecklists Basic Screening ToolBasic Screening Tool GGeneral Risk Analysiseneral Risk Analysis Computer Work StationsComputer Work Stations Hand Tool AnalysisHand Tool Analysis Hazard IdentificationHazard Identification Task AnalysisTask Analysis Workstation EvaluationWorkstation Evaluation

Program ElementsProgram Elements Management LeadershipManagement Leadership Employee ParticipationEmployee Participation Hazard IdentificationHazard Identification Hazard InformationHazard Information Medical Management Medical Management Program Evaluation Program Evaluation RecordkeepingRecordkeeping

Management Management LeadershipLeadership

Assign responsibilities Assign responsibilities Provide authority, resources & Provide authority, resources &

informationinformation Examine existing policies Examine existing policies Take action to correct problemsTake action to correct problems Communicate regularly with Communicate regularly with

employeesemployees

Hazard IdentificationHazard Identification Reports of signs, symptoms &

hazards Recommendations from

employees & supervisors Records review of existing

safety & health records Routine facility safety & health

inspections

Information & Information & TrainingTraining Signs & symptoms Signs & symptoms Importance of early reporting Importance of early reporting Specific hazards & controlsSpecific hazards & controls Reporting MSDs & hazardsReporting MSDs & hazards How to recommend control methods How to recommend control methods Protective MeasuresProtective Measures Ergonomics program & their roleErgonomics program & their role OSHA standard requirements OSHA standard requirements

Employee Employee InvolvementInvolvement Report of signs, symptoms Report of signs, symptoms

& hazards& hazards

Hazard control Hazard control recommendations recommendations

Access to information Access to information

MSD ManagementMSD Management Prompt response Prompt response Work restrictions or other Work restrictions or other

measuresmeasures Prompt access to a health care Prompt access to a health care

professionalprofessional Written Medical OpinionWritten Medical Opinion Medical Follow-upMedical Follow-up

Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation MSD recordsMSD records Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls Administrative ControlsAdministrative Controls Work Practice ControlsWork Practice Controls OpinionsOpinions

RecordkeepingRecordkeeping Reports of MSD or hazardsReports of MSD or hazards Responses to employee Responses to employee

reportsreports Job hazard analysisJob hazard analysis Hazard control recordsHazard control records Ergonomics program Ergonomics program

evaluationevaluation MSD management recordsMSD management records

Program FormsProgram Forms MSD Symptom SurveyMSD Symptom Survey MSD Survey LocationMSD Survey Location New Equipment SurveyNew Equipment Survey Task Hazard Prevention WorksheetTask Hazard Prevention Worksheet Job Hazard AnalysisJob Hazard Analysis Job Task StepsJob Task Steps MSD Sign/Symptom ReportMSD Sign/Symptom Report MSD Hazard Controls LogMSD Hazard Controls Log Hazard Control ReportHazard Control Report

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