Ergonomic

Source excerpt

# What Manual Material Handling Is (cont.) ## Why Improve Your Workplace (cont.) What to Look for # What to Look for Manual material handling tasks may expose workers to physical risk factors. If these tasks are performed repeatedly or over long periods of time, they can lead to fatigue and injury. The main risk factors, or conditions, associated with the development of injuries in manual material handling tasks include: • Awkward postures (e.g., bending, twisting) • Repetitive motions (e.g., frequent reaching, lifting, carrying) • Forceful exertions (e.g., carrying or lifting heavy loads) - Pressure points (e.g., grasping [or contact from] loads, leaning against parts or surfaces that are hard or have sharp edges) • Static postures (e.g., maintaining fixed positions for a long time) Repeated or continual exposure to one or more of these factors initially may lead to fatigue and discomfort. Over time, injury to the back, shoulders, hands, wrists, or other parts of the body may occur. Injuries may include damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Injuries of this type are known as musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. In addition, poor environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, cold, noise, and poor lighting, may increase workers' chances of developing other types of problems. ## Types of Ergonomic Improvements In general, ergonomic improvements are changes made to improve the fit between the demands of work tasks and the capabilities of your workers. There are usually many options for improving a particular manual handling task. It is up to you to make informed choices about which improvements will work best for particular tasks. There are two types of ergonomic improvements: 1. Engineering improvements 2. Administrative improvements ## 1. Engineering Improvements These include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, providing or replacing tools, equipment, workstations, packaging, parts, processes, products, or materials (…

Source excerpt

# FORM D - Workstation Analysis Worksheet (cont.) MNOSHA Instruction CPL 2.78A February 26, 2016 Other Objects Handled Weight: <empty> (lbs) Size: <empty> (inches) Personal Protective Equipment: <empty> Opportunities for Micro Rest Pauses: <empty> Does Crowding Occur?: Y N Comments/Notes - Page 21 of 21

Source excerpt

# SUBJECT: Ergonomic Inspections (cont.) ## Cancellation: (cont.) MNOSHA Instruction CPL 2.78A February 26, 2016 # Background: Ergonomics is the study of humans at work. The objective of ergonomics is to adapt a job and workplace to the worker by designing tasks, work stations, tools and equipment within the worker's capabilities and limitations. This helps to reduce ergonomic stress and to eliminate potential injuries or illnesses such as musculoskeletal disorders and back injuries for workers. Ergonomic hazards may be present when there are risk factors/stressors or conditions in the workplace that may cause harm to an employee. Common injuries and illnesses are often the result of repetitive movement, awkward postures, excessive force, and/or the handling of heavy objects. Generally, if a condition is caused by an acute trauma or event, it is considered an injury. If a condition is caused by chronic or repetitive actions, it is considered an illness. A note on back belts from NIOSH: "In two 1994 NIOSH publications, Workplace Use of Back Belts - Review and Recommendations (Pub. No. 94-122) and Back Belts - Do They Prevent Injury (Pub. No. 94- 127), NIOSH concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend the use of back belts as a back injury prevention measure. Since then, NIOSH conducted a large epidemiologic study and two laboratory evaluations to determine more conclusively the effects of back belt use. They do not provide evidence to change NIOSH's earlier conclusions." ## Action: ## A. Assignment for Inspection. OSHIS may conduct an ergonomic inspection if data and/or walkaround inspection observation warrants a further investigation. Complaints and referrals alleging ergonomic hazards will be given to a supervisor for assignment to an OSHI. For hazards that involve heavy objects, determine whether or not a crushing hazard exists and discuss with the assigning supervisor. If a crushing hazard exists, address it as such and only continue w…

Source excerpt

# Background: (cont.) ## B. Requested Information. (cont.) MNOSHA Instruction CPL 2.78A February 26, 2016 1. The employer shall be informed during the opening conference of the anticipated scope of the investigation and of the nature of the hazards being examined. The OSHI shall ascertain the employer's recognition of ergonomic hazards in both their industry and own workplace and determine any sources of information indicating the extent of this recognition (e.g., receipt of a publication on the topic, industry or trade association publications, plant memoranda, records of safety meetings, etc.). This information shall be documented in the case file. 2. Copies of OSHA 300 logs, current year and three previous years. Copies are needed for identifying and highlighting musculoskeletal disorders and back injury cases. (Use Form A to record musculoskeletal disorders and back injuries.) The copies of the 300 logs need to be retained in the case file. - Note: Approval must be obtained from the Supervisor/Director prior to obtaining copies of employee personal medical information for the case file. 3. Employee roster. This is used to track the number of employees interviewed and departments covered. The roster can also be used to contact employees not at work because of injuries, vacations, etc. 4. Total number of hours worked for the facility and each department for the current year and three previous years. 5. List of jobs designated as "light duty." 6. First Reports of Injury. 7. First aid or nurse's logs for the appropriate years. 8. Copies of any written training programs, guidelines, or procedures (i.e. Ergonomic or Medical Management programs. C. Incidence and Days Away or Restricted Case Rates - OSHA 300 logs are used to calculate incidence and days away or restricted case rates for the plant and for individual departments. Generally, an incidence rate of 10 or higher indicates a need for further evaluation, but in unusual circumstances, per…

Source excerpt

# (hrs worked) or (2,000 hrs. for each FT employee) (cont.) ## D. Selection of Positions/Workstations/Job Tasks for Investigation. (cont.) MNOSHA Instruction CPL 2.78A February 26, 2016 4. If the employee previously experienced a recorded injury or illness of the same type that affected the same part of the body but had recovered completely (all signs and symptoms had disappeared) from the previous injury or illness and an event or exposure in the work environment caused the signs or symptoms to reappear it is recorded as a new case. F. Positions/Workstation/Job Task Evaluation. Each position or workstation identified as likely to present serious ergonomic hazards shall be thoroughly evaluated. 1. A workstation job hazard analysis is to be conducted to determine job requirements, including force, posture and repetition. (Use Form D to record data that may not be apparent from digital video recording or digital photos.) 2. Digital video recording of the position/workstation during work operations should be conducted. Ten to 15 cycles should be recorded and should include views of work stands or platforms being used, floor conditions (wet, slippery, etc.), tools, counterweights, and other factors that may contribute to musculoskeletal disorder risk. a. For documentation purposes, the date and time feature of the digital video camera should be used and set before recording begins. b. All original digital media shall be burned to disc and labeled as a Video CD and/or Photo CD with the name of the company, Inspection number, Optional inspection number, OSHI ID and date of the inspection. CDs will be filed in the St. Paul Office. C. Video recordings shall receive the same treatment with regard to confidentiality as other MNOSHA records. - NOTE: If an employer refuses to allow digital video recording during an inspection, the OSHI shall proceed in accordance with the procedures outlined in FCM Chapter III. 3. Ergonomic analysis tools may be used during …