What is Ergonomics?

1. What is Ergonomics?

2. Ergonomics • Ergonomics is the study of a person’s work related to the tools and machines he/she uses to accomplish the task of work. • Ergonomics is a study of time and motion involved in work. • Ergonomics is improving a work task, procedure, process to make the worker more efficient.

3. Ergonomics • Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. • Ergonomics is human engineering. • Ergonomics is the name of a new regulation intended to reduce worker injury

4. Ergonomics • Ergonomics refers to assessing those work-related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders and recommendations to alleviate them

7. Why Do You Need Ergonomics? • Classroom demonstration

8. Ergonomics Program Elements • Management leadership - paragraph (h) • Employee participation - paragraph (i) • MSD management - paragraphs (p), (q), (r) & (s) • Job hazard analysis - paragraph (j) • Hazard reduction and control measures - paragraphs (k), (l), and (m) and evaluation as specified in paragraph (u), if the job hazard analysis determines that the job presents an MSD hazard • Training - paragraph (t)

9. Job Hazard Analysis Train the Trainer

10. What Is the Step-by-Step Procedure of a Job? • Observe the job • Interview the person performing the job • Break the job into various actions • Describe the actions • Measure and quantify risk factors • Identify conditions contributing to the risk factors • Verify the analysis of the job with the worker

11. Observe the Job • What are the physical work activities? • Break the job into various actions • Describe the actions

12. Examples of Physical Work Activities • Exerting considerable physical effort to complete a motion • Doing the same motion over and over again • Performing motions constantly without shout pauses or breaks in between • Maintaining same position or posture while performing tasks

13. Examples of Physical Work Activities • Sitting for a long time • Using hand and power tools • Using hands or body as clamp to hold object while performing tasks • Moving heavy objects • Bending or twisting during manual handling

14. What Are the Work Conditions?

15. Examples of Work Conditions • Performing tasks that involve long reaches • Working surfaces are too high or too low • Maintaining the same position or posture while performing tasks • Vibrating working surfaces, machinery or vehicles • Workstation edges or objects press hard into muscles or tendons

16. Examples of Work Conditions • Gloves are bulky, too large or too small • Objects or people are heavy • Horizontal reach is long • Vertical reach is below knees or above shoulders • Object is slippery or has no handles • Floor surfaces are uneven, slippery or sloped

17. Activities and Conditions • Which of the activities and conditions present risk factors?

18. What Are the Ergonomic Risk Factors? • Repetition • Force • Duration • Vibration • Temperature • Posture

19. Repetition - repeating same motions for 2 hours at a time or using keyboard/mouse steadily for more than 4 hours/day Force - lifting, pushing/pulling, pinching/gripping unsupported objects Vibration- high >30 minutes; moderate >2 hours/day Awkward postures- raising or working with hands above head or elbows above shoulders; kneeling, squatting; twisting neck,back or wrists more than 2 hours per day Contact stress- more than 10 times/hour more than 2 hours per day Covered Risk Factors

20. Potential Solutions Train-the-Trainer

21. Potential Solutions • Brainstorming • Leave history behind • No obstacles • Anything is possible • Empowered to do anything • No limit to resources • No limit on time • No bad or stupid ideas

22. What Are the Potential Solutions? • Training solutions • Engineering solutions • Task modifications • Task rotation • Physical fitness issues • Posture awareness • Employee

23. Potential Training Solutions • Principles of body mechanics • Risk factors • How to minimize potential injuries

24. Potential Engineering Solutions • Limitations of equipment/tools • Design principles • Extreme, Average and Range • Neutral Posture

25. Design Principles • Commitment to the idea that things, machines, etc. are built to serve humans and must be designed always with the user in mind • Recognition of individual differences in human capabilities and limitations and an appreciation for their design implications

26. Management and Leadership Train-the-Trainer

27. Attitude • Treat ergonomics as a baseline not a ceiling • Make it a core value not a program • Make it a proactive, behavioral approach • Create a caring culture that is active • Develop a process that is sustainable • Strive for continual improvement • Evaluate your ability to change

28. Strategy“Pulling It All Together” • Get management support • Develop a plan of action • Establish priorities • Selecting the “right” people • Call on outside assistance • Be realistic in your goals • Get management support

29. Management Support • How do you get it?

30. Action Plan • Form a management/employee ergonomics steering team • Educate the team extensively • Include upper and middle management on the team • Know the team’s authority • Meet regularly for review of all ergonomic related injuries

31. Action Plan • Establish a written plan with • Action required • Responsible person/people • Start and completion dates • Evaluation of changes

32. Establish Priorities • Review past illness/injury data • Discomfort surveys • Job analysis • Low cost/High Impact • Easy fix • Productivity increases

33. Select the “Right” People • Employee who performs the job • Expert • Acceptance • Change Agents • Employee Leaders • Management Leaders

34. Outside Assistance • Fresh Look • Broad Experience • Lack of Time/Resources • Limited Knowledge • Unbiased Opinion

35. Be Realistic • Pie in the sky • Reasonable goals/expectations • Behavior based • 3 years

36. Management Support • How do you keep it?

37. What Policies Will You Put in Place to Manage Your Ergonomics Core Values?

38. Policies • Review existing safety and health policies for application

39. How Do You Evaluate the Effectiveness of This Program?

40. What Measures Will You Compare?

41. What Goals Will You Establish?

42. What Tool Will You Use to Share Information Regarding MSD Hazards?

43. How Do You Manage the Suppliers of Equipment When the Solutions Involves Them?

44. How Do You Manage and Determine the Role of the Health Care Professional?

45. How Do You Educate Your Customers Concerning the Solution?

46. References • Web Sites • Professional Magazines • Trade Magazines • Books • Professional Associations • Hand Outs

47. Best Management Practices • Industry based perspective • Format to share ideas internally • Vehicle to share ideas externally

48. Ergonomics Program Elements • Management leadership - paragraph (h) • Employee participation - paragraph (i) • MSD management - paragraphs (p), (q), (r) & (s) • Job hazard analysis - paragraph (j) • Hazard reduction and control measures - paragraphs (k), (l), and (m) and evaluation as specified in paragraph (u), if the job hazard analysis determines that the job presents an MSD hazard • Training - paragraph (t)

49. Management Leadership • Assign and communicate responsibilities • Provide designated persons with the authority, resources, and information necessary • Ensure that policies and practices encourage and do not discourage: • Early reporting of MSDs, their signs and symptoms, and MSD hazards; and • Employee participation in the ergonomics program • Communicate periodically with employees

50. Employee Participation • Have ways to promptly report MSDs, MSD signs and symptoms, and MSD hazards • Receive prompt responses to their reports • Provided with a summary of the requirements of the standard; have ready access to a copy of the standard and to information about MSDs, MSD signs and symptoms, MSD hazards, and your ergonomics program • Have ways to be involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of your ergonomics program.