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