Ergonomics for Fire and EMS Departments Ergonomic Hazard Analysis

1. Ergonomics for Fire and EMS DepartmentsErgonomic 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

2. Today’s Workshop We will: • Review the definition of ergonomics • Review musculoskeletal risk factors • Step through the process of conducting a hazard analysis

3. What is Ergonomics? Worker Environment Task/job The goal of ergonomics is to design the job to fit the worker NOT make the worker fit the job.

4. Musculoskeletal Risk Factors • Excessive force/weight • Awkward postures • Prolonged postures • Repetition • Contact Stress • Temperature extremes • Vibration Risk magnitude is increased by time, intensity, orcombining factors

5. Activities of Fire/EMS workers Firefighting Training / Drills EMS Operations

6. Common Activities Involving Ergonomic Hazards: Fire Fighting • High rise fires • Ventilation and • overhaul procedures • Hose laying operations • Ladder work • Forcible entry • Extrications • Extended procedures

7. Common Activities Involving Ergonomic Hazards: Training & Drills • Hose rolling • Carrying heavy equipment • Physical exertion

8. Common Activities Involving Ergonomic Hazards:EMS Operations • Patient extrication • Patient transportation

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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 factorsfor each task

14. 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 that does not resolve with rest

15. 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

16. 3. Perform Assessment Be a DETECTIVE ! Observe: • Worker performing task • Work environment • Work tools and equipment • Work organization • Task demands

17. 3. Perform Assessment (cont.) Record observations using: • Check lists • Photos • Video analysis • Interviews • Small group discussions • Symptom surveys

18. 3. Perform Assessment (cont.) • Measure workstations • reach distances • work surface heights • Measure tool • size • weight • does it vibrate? • grip

19. 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

20. Consider the Work Environment Is the work environment ergonomically advantageous? • patient home • ambulance • fire station • emergency room • nursing facility • community

21. 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?

22. What and Why Analysis Job: Carrying medical supplies on every call Say your department uses a hard pack that weighs 12 pounds empty…

23. 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?

24. Potential Solution Alternate Medic Packs

25. The What and Why Analysis The dreaded single wide mobile home

26. Floor Plan • 240 pound, 78 yr old woman • Fell in master bedroom, is not ambulatory • Back door blocked • Need to transport her to hospital

27. 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.

28. ? ? ? ? Questions and Evaluation Thank you for your attention