WISHA ergo

Ergonomics Awareness Education: 

Ergonomics Awareness Education For employees in caution zone jobs and their supervisors

By the end of this presentation you will be able to:: 

By the end of this presentation you will be able to: Define ergonomics and its benefits List the requirements of the Washington State Ergonomics Rule Identify work activities that can lead to injury List examples of ergonomic principles that reduce risk of injury

By the end of this presentation you will be able to:: 

By the end of this presentation you will be able to: Participate in your company’s ergonomic efforts Identify parts of the body that get injured at work Recognize and report signs and symptoms of injury early

Slide4: 

Work-related Musculo Skeletal Disorders WMSDs?

Safety, health and the ergonomics rule: 

Safety, health and the ergonomics rule Education on injury prevention is an important part of safety and health There are thousands of injuries, known as WMSDs, in Washington state every year Washington state has an ergonomics rule to help prevent these injuries

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule: 

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule Applies only to “caution zone jobs” Caution zone jobs may not need to be fixed Caution zone jobs must be analyzed to see if they reach the hazard zone level

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule: 

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule Prevents you from working in “hazard zone jobs”, because… Hazard zone jobs have greater exposure to risk factors than caution zone jobs Hazard zone jobs must then be fixed to reduce the exposure

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule: 

The Washington State Ergonomics Rule Promotes employee involvement and participation together with employers to analyze and fix hazards You play an important part…

…You can play an important part: 

…You can play an important part You may be asked to participate in: Analyzing caution zone jobs for hazards Finding solutions to these hazards Evaluating the success of the solutions Later, you may… be given job specific training on proper use of solutions keep in touch with ergonomics efforts through the safety committee or at safety meetings.

Ergonomics Rule: Major features: 

Ergonomics Rule: Major features Two requirements: Awareness education Evaluate “caution zone jobs” for hazards

Definition of ergonomics: 

Definition of ergonomics Ergonomics means “fitting the job to the worker” “Ergonomics is the science and practice of designing jobs and workplaces to match the capabilities and limitations of the human body.”

Ergonomics @ Work: 

Ergonomics @ Work Risk of injury - Heavy lifting Cart reduces risk of injury

Benefits of ergonomics: 

Benefits of ergonomics Ergonomics helps to prevent injuries Ergonomics has other benefits Improved quality of work Improved quality of life Reduced fatigue and discomfort

Injuries and risk factors: 

Injuries and risk factors

Injuries and risk factors: 

Injuries and risk factors What are Work-related Musculo Skeletal Disorders (WMSDs)? Common types and symptoms of injury Causes and prevention of injury

What are Work-related Musculo Skeletal Disorders (WMSDs)?: 

What are Work-related Musculo Skeletal Disorders (WMSDs)? Also known as: Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) Overuse injuries Soft tissue injuries Usually develop gradually, but sometimes can appear suddenly Can be serious, if not taken care of early

What are some of the symptoms of WMSDs?: 

What are some of the symptoms of WMSDs? Discomfort Pain Numbness Tingling Burning Swelling Change in color Tightness, loss of flexibility

What causes WMSDs?: 

What causes WMSDs? Risk Factors Awkward Postures High Hand Force Repetitive Motions Repeated Impacts Heavy, Frequent, or Awkward Lifting Moderate to High Hand-Arm Vibration

Risk Factors: 

Risk Factors Risk of injury depends upon: Duration (how long) Frequency (how often) Intensity (how much) Combinations of risk factors

Risk Factors: 

Risk Factors Duration usually need hours of exposure before risk factors become a concern Can be all at one time or cumulative over the day

Risk factors for WMSDs: 

Risk factors for WMSDs Awkward postures

Neutral postures: 

Standing neutral posture Seated neutral posture Neutral postures

Hands over head or elbows above shoulders: 

For more than 2 hours per day Hands over head or elbows above shoulders

Neck bent more than 30°: 

For more than 2 hours per day Neck bent more than 30°

Back bent more than 30°: 

For more than 2 hours per day Back bent more than 30°

Squatting: 

For more than 2 hours per day Squatting

Kneeling : 

For more than 2 hours per day Kneeling

Wrists bent: 

Wrists bent

Reducing awkward postures: 

Reducing awkward postures Change workstation heights & display heights Tilt or rotate the work Use platforms Bring items within easy reach Pause to stretch

Reducing awkward postures: 

Case Study Reducing awkward postures

Risk Factors for WMSDs: 

Risk Factors for WMSDs High hand force

High hand force: 

High hand force A power grip can be 5 times stronger than a pinch grip =

Slide33: 

10 lbs. of weight or force for more than 2 hours per day Gripping with the whole hand

Slide34: 

2 lbs. of weight or 4 lbs. of force for more than 2 hours per day Pinching with the fingertips

Slide35: 

Your grip strength decreases when you: Bend your wrists Pick up slippery items Wear poorly fitting gloves Have cold hands Other factors

Avoid pinch grips: 

Pick objects up from the bottom using whole hand Attach handles or use lift tools Build up handles on small tools to reduce grip force Avoid pinch grips

Reduce power grip force: 

Pick up smaller loads Use power tools instead of hand tools Keep tools in good working order Use lighter tools or tool balancers Use two hands Keep your wrists straight Reduce power grip force

Slide38: 

Use clamps to hold onto work Place items on carts rather than carrying them Put down a tool when not actually using it Avoid holding onto objects for long periods

Use tool balancers: 

Case Study Use tool balancers

Tool use example: 

Working with bent wrists decreases grip strength Use tools that let you keep your wrist straight Tool use example

Risk factors for WMSDs: 

Risk factors for WMSDs Highly repetitive motions

Highly repetitive motion: 

For more than 2 hours per day Highly repetitive motion

Reducing repetition: 

Arrange work to avoid unnecessary motions Let power tools and machinery do the work Spread repetitive work out during the day Take stretch pauses Rotate task with co-workers if possible Change hands or motions frequently Reducing repetition

Reducing repetitive motions: 

Case Study Reducing repetitive motions

Intensive keying: 

For more than 4 hours per day Intensive keying

Reducing intensive keying: 

Spread keyboard work throughout the day Use macros for common functions Take stretch pauses Improve your posture and move around as much as possible Reducing intensive keying

Risk factors for WMSDs: 

Risk factors for WMSDs Repeated impacts

Repeated impacts: 

Using the hand or knee as a hammer more than 10 times per hour, more than 2 hours per day Repeated impacts

Avoiding repeated impacts: 

Use tools instead of your hand or knee Avoiding repeated impacts

Risk factors for WMSDs: 

Risk factors for WMSDs Heavy, frequent or awkward lifting

Heavy lifting: 

Lifting 75 lbs. once per day Lifting 55 lbs. more than 10 times per day Heavy lifting

Reducing heavy lifting: 

Take smaller loads at one time Use mechanical assistance - handtrucks, carts, hoists, conveyors Get help from a co-worker Reducing heavy lifting

Frequent lifting: 

Lifting more than 10 lbs., more than twice per minute, for more than 2 hours per day Frequent lifting

Reducing frequent lifting: 

Use mechanical assistance Slide objects instead of lifting them Rotate lifting tasks with co-workers if possible Reducing frequent lifting

Awkward lifting: 

Lifting more than 25 lbs. above the shoulders, below the knees or at arms’ length more than 25 times per day Awkward lifting

Reducing awkward lifts: 

Store items where you won’t have to bend or reach to lift them Use rolling stairs to get items down from high shelves Reducing awkward lifts

Safe lifting technique: 

Safe lifting technique

Risk factors for WMSDs: 

Risk factors for WMSDs Moderate to high hand–arm vibration

Vibration : 

Moderate levels of vibration for 2 hours per day High levels of vibration for 30 minutes per day Vibration

Reducing vibration: 

Use low vibration tools if available Maintain tools Use tool wraps or anti-vibration gloves Keep hands warm Reducing vibration

What you can do:: 

What you can do: Recognize and report symptoms early Get involved in ergonomics

Symptom recognition and reporting: 

Symptom recognition and reporting Report symptoms if: Pain is persistent, severe or worsening Pain radiates Symptoms include numbness or tingling Symptoms keep you from sleeping at night

Why is it important to report symptoms early?: 

Why is it important to report symptoms early? Chronic injuries sometimes lead to disability, even surgery Early treatment more successful

Getting involved: 

Getting involved Look at jobs and help identify problems Come up with solutions Work with solutions Take part in training Take responsibility for changing the way you do your job Help to make sure efforts are successful

Six key points to remember: 

Six key points to remember Ergonomics can help you on your job WISHA requires Washington state employers to implement ergonomics if caution zone jobs are present Risk factors can be reduced and WMSDs prevented You can help your company put ergonomics changes into place WMSDs can happen in jobs with risk factors Reporting symptoms early is important