Ergonomics

1. Ergonomics Industrial

2. Session Objectives • You will be able to: • Understand the principles of ergonomics • Recognize the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) • Understand our program for identifying, reporting, and controlling MSDs • Know how to protect yourself from MSD injuries and reduce your risk

3. What Is Ergonomics? • Modify jobs to fit capabilities of people • Reduce MSDs • Repetitive reaching, forceful exertions, bending and lifting, or working with vibrating equipment • Engineering controls • Safe work practices • PPE

4. Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Injuries • 1.8 million MSD injuries each year • 600,000 MSD injuries require time away from work

5. OSHA Regulation of Ergonomics • General Duty Clause • Applies to unregulated hazards • Failure to keep a hazard-free workplace • Hazard recognized by employer or employer’s industry • Hazard could cause death or serious harm • Method existed to correct the hazard exists

6. What Are MSDs? • Injuries to: • Muscles • Nerves • Tendons—tendinitis • Ligaments • Joints • Spinal discs Image Credit: National Institutes of Health/NIAMS

7. MSD Characteristics • Occur from a single event or many small injuries • Take weeks, months, or years to develop • Produce no symptoms in early stages, but show symptoms after permanent injury has occurred • Contributing causes may occur at home and at work • Same MSD may differ in severity from person to person doing a similar task

8. General Signs of MSDs • Less strength for gripping • Less range of motion • Loss of muscle function • Inability to do everyday tasks

9. MSD Symptoms • Back and neck— shooting pain, stiffness • Shoulders—pain, stiffness, loss of mobility • Arms and legs— shooting pains, numbness • Elbow and knee joints—pain, swelling, stiffness

10. MSD Symptoms (cont.) • Hands and wrists— swelling, numb, loss of strength • Fingers—jerking movements, or loss of strength, mobility, and feeling • Thumbs—pain at the base • Feet and toes—numb, stiff, burning sensation

11. Outward Signs of MSDs • Swelling or inflammation of joints • Vigorously shaking hands • Massaging hands, wrists, or arms • Cradling arms • Limping • Stiff back

12. Common MSDs • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Low back pain • Eye strain • tendinitis • Trigger finger

13. Common MSDs (cont.) • De Quervain’s disease—forceful grip • Carpet layer’s knee—contact trauma • Rotator cuff tendinitis— repetitive motion • Herniated disc— bending and twisting • Raynaud’s phenomenon—excess vibration

14. Act on the Signs of MSD • Act immediately: • Report the problem • Seek medical attention • Early treatment and intervention can prevent permanent injury

15. MSDs—Any Questions? • Any questions about MSDs? • Any questions about their signs and symptoms?

16. Risk Factors that Lead to MSDs • Repetitive motions • Forceful exertions • Awkward postures • Contact stress (pressure points) • Vibrations

17. Risk Factor—Repetitive Motion • Stress on muscles and tendons • Contributing factors • Duration and speed of repetitious movement • Number of musclesinvolved • Required force • Raising and lowering the arm over and over again

18. Forceful Exertions • Inflammation of tendons, nerves, joints • Contributing factors • Type of grip • Weight of object • Body posture • Type and duration of the task • Repeatedly turning a screwdriver while pushing at the same time Image Credit: OSHA

19. Awkward Postures • Stress on muscles and tendons • Contributing factors • Reaching overhead • Force the body must maintain to hold the position • Holding fixed positions (static loading) • Lifting while twisting, reaching, or turning

20. Contact Stress • Pressing against or grabbing a hard object puts pressure on nerves, tendons, and blood vessels • Contributing factors • Repetition • Duration of contact • Grip strength required • Wresting wrists on the keyboard while typing

21. Vibration • Affects tendons, muscles, joints, nerves • Contributing factors • Prolonged grip • Restricts blood supply to hands and fingers • Tools without vibration dampening device • Poor power tool maintenance • Prolonged use of a grinder

22. MSDs Related to Risk Factors • DeQuervain’s Disease—forceful grip • Trigger Finger—contact stress • Rotator Cuff Syndrome—repetition • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome—posture • Raynaud’s Syndrome—vibration

23. What’s Wrong Here?

24. MSD Risk Factors • Any questions about risk factors? • MSD hazards?

25. Ergonomics Management • Job assessment • MSD reporting and response system • Designated coordinator • MSD intervention and control system • Training • Encourage employee participation and reporting of MSDs

26. Identifying and Controlling MSD Hazards • Determine whether MSD hazards exist and degree of risk • Devise a control strategy with your input • Implement control measures • Training

27. Control Methods • Install engineering controls including workstation layout and proper tools • Institute work practice controls including neutral postures for performing tasks • Administrative controls including rescheduling to reduce frequency or duration of exposure to MSDs • Personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide a protective barrier between worker and MSD

28. How to Protect Yourself • Change positions often, take stretch breaks • Maintain neutral posture whenever possible • Eliminate or reduce MSD risk factors • Use material handling aids • Report MSD symptoms

29. Report MSDs • Immediately report MSD signs and symptoms • Report MSD hazards

30. MSD Prevention and Control • Any questions about the methods to manage, prevent, and control MSDs?

31. Key Points to Remember • Recognize MSD signs and symptoms • Understand MSD hazards • Take steps to control MSD hazards • Report MSDs • Participate in the Ergonomics Program