Transcript Ergonomics for Fire and EMS Departments Ergonomic Hazard Analysis University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center This material has been made possible by a.

Ergonomics for Fire and
EMS Departments
Ergonomic Hazard Analysis
University of Oregon
Labor Education and Research Center
This material has been made possible by a grant from the
Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, Department
of Consumer and Business Services
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Today’s Workshop
We will:
• Review the definition of
ergonomics
• Review musculoskeletal
risk factors
• Step through the
process of conducting a
hazard analysis
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What is Ergonomics?
Worker
Task/job
Environment
The goal of ergonomics is to design the
job to fit the worker
NOT make the worker fit the job.
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Musculoskeletal Risk Factors
Excessive force/weight
Awkward postures
Prolonged postures
Repetition
Contact Stress
Temperature extremes
Vibration
Risk magnitude is increased by
time, intensity, or combining factors
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Activities of
Fire/EMS workers
Firefighting
Training /
Drills
EMS
Operations
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Common Activities Involving
Ergonomic Hazards:
Fire Fighting
•High rise fires
•Ventilation and
overhaul procedures
•Hose laying operations
•Ladder work
•Forcible entry
•Extrications
•Extended procedures
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Common Activities Involving
Ergonomic Hazards:
Training & Drills
•Hose rolling
•Carrying heavy equipment
•Physical exertion
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Common Activities Involving
Ergonomic Hazards:
EMS Operations
•Patient extrication
•Patient transportation
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Some Perspective…….
• NIOSH Guidelines:
Load limit for lifting: 51 lb
Spine compression force: 764 lb
• Spine compression forces for patient
handling activities:
– Pulling 105 lb patient (with bedsheet)
from bed to stretcher: 832-1708 lb
– Carrying 105 lb patient down stairs
using stretcher: 1012-1281 lb
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Ergonomics Program Elements
• Assessment of musculoskeletal hazards
• Prevention and control of musculoskeletal
hazards
• Training
• A medical management system
• Procedures for reporting injuries
• A plan for the implementation of the program
• Methods for evaluating the program
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Why Do A Job Hazard
Assessment?
• Each job has actions that stress the body
• Stress takes a number of forms
• Physical: muscles,joints, nerves
• Environmental: heat, cold, noise or
vision
• Psycho-social/organizational:
scheduling, emotional trauma, poor
supervision
• Recognizing hazards is the first step
toward injury prevention
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What is a Job
Hazard Assessment?
•Breaking each specific job
down into elements
•Identifying conditions within a
job that contribute to risk
Performed by person with
ergonomics training
– Safety committee members
– Line personnel
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Steps to an Assessment
1. Identify and prioritize
jobs/tasks
2. Break down each job
into discrete tasks
3. Study and assess each
task
- Determine the specific
risk factors for each task
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1. Identify and Prioritize Jobs
Identify jobs where:
– Work-related injuries have occurred previously
– Frequent non-severe or severe injuries occur
– Past injuries result in restriction from doing job
– Workers leave because of inability to perform
physical requirements of job
– Workers have difficulty sustaining quality
performance doing job
– Workers complain of pain, fatigue, discomfort
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that does not resolve with rest
2. Break Job Down into Tasks
List components of doing a job
such as when handling a patient:
• Lift patient from bed on to
stretcher
• Secure patient on stretcher
• Transport patient from house
to ambulance
• Lift patient into ambulance
• Secure patient in ambulance
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3. Perform Assessment
Be a DETECTIVE !
Observe:
– Worker performing task
– Work environment
– Work tools and equipment
– Work organization
– Task demands
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3. Perform Assessment (cont.)
Record observations using:
– Check lists
– Photos
– Video analysis
– Interviews
– Small group
discussions
– Symptom surveys
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3. Perform Assessment (cont.)
– Measure workstations
• reach distances
• work surface heights
– Measure tool
• size
• weight
• does it vibrate?
• grip
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Consider the Worker
What are the worker’s
physical limitations?
Age
Height
Fitness level
Previous injuries
What body parts are
being stressed?
Neck
Low back
Shoulders
 Knees
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Consider the Work Environment
Is the work environment
ergonomically advantageous?
patient home
ambulance
fire station
emergency room
nursing facility
community
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Consider the Job/Tasks
 Do you have the right tools and
equipment for the job? Are they
designed to minimize stress?
Are all the steps necessary to
complete the task? Why? Are
there other ways to complete
the task that are more safe?
Do you have the needed
personnel to do the job safely?
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What and Why Analysis
Job: Carrying medical supplies
on every call
Say your department
uses a hard pack that
weighs 12 pounds empty…
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What and Why Analysis
• What are the steps involved in doing this
task?
• What body parts are under stress?
• What specific risk factors are present?
• Why must it be done this way?
• What are some things that can be done to
reduce or eliminate the risk factors?
• What is the cost of this solution?
• What are barriers for this solution?
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Potential Solution
Alternate Medic Packs
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The What and Why Analysis
The dreaded single wide
mobile home
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Floor Plan
•
•
•
•
240 pound, 78 yr old woman
Fell in master bedroom, is not ambulatory
Back door blocked
Need to transport her to hospital
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Review and Conclusions
 Musculoskeletal injuries result when risk
factors occur alone or in combination.
 Job hazard analysis is a tool for
examining and assessing tasks that place
workers at risk for musculoskeletal injury.
 Hazard analysis is the first step in
finding ergonomic solutions and preventing
injuries.
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Questions and Evaluation
Thank you for your attention
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