Transcript Retrieve Document - Lehigh Valley Chapter

ERGONOMIC
UPDATE
Presented by:
Curt Wittman, MS, CIH
High Safety Consulting Services, LTD.
Ergonomics
Ergo
Nomos
- Greek,
for
- Greek,
work/strength
for law/rules
Who Said The Following?
"I will be voting to give the President of the United
States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to
disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a
deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his
hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
A.
B.
C.
D.
Vice President Dick Chaney, Sept. 12, 2002
President George Bush - 43, Oct. 20, 2002
Democratic Senator John F. Kerry, Oct. 9, 2002
Priminister Tony Blair, Jan. 6, 2003
OSHA’s Four-pronged Approach
Enforcement
Guidelines
National
Advisory
Committee
Outreach
Assistance
OSHA’s Four-pronged Approach
Guidelines
1. Nursing Homes
2. Retail Grocery Stores
3. Poultry Processing
OSHA’s Four-pronged Approach
Enforcement
1. By specific guidelines
2. General Duty Clause 5 (a) 1
OSHA’s Four-pronged Approach
Outreach Assistance
1.
2.
3.
4.
Small Businesses ( < 100 EEs) – IUP
www.osha.gov
OSHA’s ergonomic eTools
OSHA’s ergonomic training programs
OSHA’s Four-pronged Approach
National Advisory Committee
1. Identify gaps in ergonomic research
2. Direct NIOSH to develop solutions
Ergonomics by the Numbers

$9 Billion Savings generated annually by
complying with the OSHA ergonomic program
standard

$15-18 Billion Annual Cost to Employers
Direct Costs.
Types of MSD’s
Strains
 Sprains
 Rotator Cuff Injury
 Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
 DeQuervain’s Syndrome
 Trigger Finger
 Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

RISK FACTORS
Cold
Force
Awkward Postures
Repetitiveness
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Force
Ouch!
That’s Going
to leave a
mark!
Does the object
weigh 51 lbs. or less?
Dynamic or Static Overload
Kyphosis
Lordosis
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Force
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Force
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one effect
from excessive force on the hand.
Ergonomic Risk Factors:
Awkward Postures
Wrists bent up or
down or from
side to side
Elbows out
Hands rotated
Head up or down or
or twisting at waist
above
behind
Arms
or
shoulders
Ergonomic Risk Factors:
Awkward Postures
25o Radial
Deviation
80% Grip
Strength
40o
Ulnar
Deviation
75% Grip
Strength
0o Neutral
100% Grip
Strength
Ergonomic Risk Factors:
Awkward Postures
45o Extension
75% Grip
Strength
0o Neutral
100% Grip
Strength
65o Flexion
40% Grip
Strength
45o Flexion
60% Grip
Strength
Ergonomic Risk Factors:
Awkward Postures
Ergonomic Risk Factors Awkward Positions
Ergonomic Risk Factors Awkward Positions
Ergonomic Risk Factors Repetitiveness
Does the same or similar task repeat
itself every minute or less, all day long?
Ergonomic Risk Factors Repetitiveness
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Vibration
Does the task require the use of
vibrating
vibrating
vibrating
vibrating hand tools?
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Cold
Does the task require the worker
to work in a cold climate?
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Cold
Ergonomic Risk Factors - Time
The Longer the period of exposure to
risk factors without adequate recovery periods,
amplifies the problem.
Ergonomic Risk Factors:
Non-Occupational
DIABETES
PREGNANCY
THYROID DISEASE
EDEMA
B6 DEFICIENCY
GENETIC PREDISPOSITION
ARTHRITIS
GENERAL HEALTH ASPECTS:
Diet, Nutrition, Caffeine, Stress
Control Methods
Elimination - Eliminate the need to
perform task
Substitution - Replace a hazardous
material with one that is safer
Isolation - enclose a process to reduce
the number of exposed employees
Engineering - Local exhaust ventilation,
dilution ventilation, wetting, vacuuming,
tool changes, etc.
Control Methods
Administration - Reduce worker exposure
time
Housekeeping - adequate washing and eating
facilities, cleanliness of workplace, healthful
drinking water, etc.
PPE - Gloves, clothing, respirators, eye
protection, etc.
Medical Monitoring - detect intake and/or
biotransformation of toxins
Control Methods
Training - In all cases above, training must
be provided to employees so that they are
familiar with the safety change.
Control Methods: PPE
“The Last Line of Defense”
Supports (Not Considered PPE by OSHA)
Recent Study by NIOSH Completed
Released: 12-3-00
Anti-vibration gloves
Thermal gloves
Control Methods: Medical Aspects
Early Reporting Systems
Employee Surveys
Medical History & Job Matching
Risk Factor Education
Wellness Programs
Exercise Programs
Control Methods: Psychiatry
Stages of Change Health
Model
1. Precontemplation – No intention to change
behavior
2. Contemplation – Intends to take action
3. Preparation – Learning new skills
4. Action – Is changing risky health behavior
5. Maintenance – Continuing new-found health
behavior
Control Methods: Psychiatry
Stages of Change Health
Model
1. Decisional Balance – What are the Pros & Cons
2. Self-efficacy – Do they have the confidence they can
learn new skills & continue the healthy behavior
3. Processes of Change – i.e. consciousness raising,
dramatic relief, self-reevaluation, environmental
reevaluation, self-liberation, helping relationships,
reinforcement management, stimulus control &
social liberation
Analysis of Risk Factors

Typical JSA, with analysis of ergonomic
factors rather than safety aspects…
– Task Steps
– Hazards of Task Steps
– Control Measures for Task Steps
Analysis of Risk Factors

Collection of Data…
– Video
– Measurements of heights and distances of
activities and workstations
– Frequencies of activity
– Forces and angles of activities
– Work surface characteristics (COF)
– Humidity, Temperature
– Interviews
Job Hazard Analysis Tools
for Ergonomic Hazards
NIOSH Lifting Equation
 Snook Push / Pull Tables
 Strain Index
 Rapid Upper Limb Assessment
 Rapid Entire Body Assessment
 ACGIH Segmental Vibration Analysis
 GM-UAW Risk Factor Checklist

Job Hazard Analysis Tools
for Ergonomic Hazards
Washington State L&I Appendix B
 Other Non-Listed Methods…i.e.

– Engineering Anthropometry
– Biomechanical Calculations
Door has handles on
both sides. Handles
suggest “PULL”
Does this open the
drawer?
Same refrigerator, two
different sides… Which side
has the handle?
No, it is used to help
move the entire unit
There is a reason why main
entrance doors have windows
On the center door,
which way do you push
to avoid the side with
the hinges?
I just want to purchase
Regular Unleaded. How
do I get this pump started?
You want to go left, or right
or simply straight, good luck!
Do you put the tape
in facing right or left?
Common, yet bad
design. Waste too
close to clean towels
Expensive hotel
faucet…
try turning it when
your
hands are soapy
People generally tell
Stupid place for a
you the path of least door handle… haven’t
they heard of the laws
resistance?
of physics?
Never fails… I drive
up to the gas pump
wrong!!!
Which knob controls
which burner?
Which switch controls
the overhead screen?
Controls should be nearest
to the thing they operate
There is no gas lid
lever inside the car…
how to you get
Do you push or pull Which string operates
this open?
the light?
the buttons to operate
the windows?
Buttons should be close
to the things they operate?
One of these is shampoo
and the other, conditioner...
The End