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Ergonomics Awareness Education

Ergonomics Awareness Education. For employees and supervisors. By the end of this presentation you will be able to…. Define ergonomics and its benefits Identify parts of the body that get injured at work Identify work activities that can lead to injury.

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Ergonomics Awareness Education

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  1. Ergonomics Awareness Education For employees and supervisors

  2. By the end of this presentation you will be able to… • Define ergonomics and its benefits • Identify parts of the body that get injured at work • Identify work activities that can lead to injury

  3. By the end of this presentation you will be able to: • List examples of ergonomic principles that reduce risk of injury • Participate in your company’s ergonomic efforts • Recognize and report signs and symptoms of injury early

  4. Introduction • Definition of ergonomics • Benefits of ergonomics

  5. You can play an important part You can help… • Find any problems in your job • Find solutions to these problems • Make sure the solutions work

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

  7. Ergonomics at Work Risk of injury - Heavy lifting Cart reduces risk of injury

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

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

  10. What are Work-related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (WMSDs)? • WMSDs are also known as: • Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) • Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) • Overuse injuries • They are soft tissue injuries which occur gradually

  11. WMSDs • WMSDs are occupational disorders of the soft tissues: • muscles • tendons • ligaments • joints • blood vessels • nerves

  12. What causes WMSDs? • Heavy, Frequent, or Awkward Lifting • Pushing, Pulling or Carrying Loads • Working in Awkward Postures • Hand Intensive Work

  13. Risk Factors Risk of injury depends upon: • Duration of exposure • Frequency of exposure • Intensity of exposure • Combinations of risk factors (how long) often (how often) often MUCH) (how +++ A link to a PowerPoint slide show which will give you guidelines for exposure to different WMSD risk factors is

  14. Duration • Duration - usually need hours of exposure before risk factors become a concern • Can be all at one time or cumulative over the day

  15. Frequency Frequency is often a concern in: • assembly tasks • sorting tasks • loading or off-loading materials • inventorying products • product stocking • software programming • telemarketing • customer service

  16. Intensity Intensity refers to: • weight in pounds of items lifted or carried • grip or pinch force of lifted or manipulated items • vibration level (meters/second2) • force on keys when typing

  17. Risk factors for WMSDs Heavy, frequent or awkward lifting

  18. Heavy lifting

  19. Frequent lifting Lifting more than twice per minute

  20. Awkward lifting Lifting above the shoulders, below the knees or at arms’ length

  21. Alternatives to lifting • Use carts, handtrucks, hoists, conveyors or other mechanical assistance • Slide objects instead of lifting them • Store heavy items where you won’t have to bend or reach to lift them • Use ladders to get items down from high shelves

  22. Ergonomics at Work - Reducing heavy lifting Mechanical assistance

  23. Ergonomics at Work - Reducing awkward lifting Mini-pallet for hand truck

  24. Risk factors for WMSDs Awkward postures

  25. Neutral Posture Standing neutral posture Seated neutral posture

  26. Awkward Posture Too high Too low Too far away

  27. Awkward Postures - Low work Bending Kneeling Squatting

  28. Reducing low work • Raise and/or tilt the work for better access • Use a stool for ground level work • Use tools with longer handles • Alternate between bending, kneeling, sitting, and squatting

  29. Raise and tilt the work Ergonomics at Work - Reducing low work

  30. Raise the work Ergonomics at Work - Reducing low work

  31. Ergonomics at Work - Reducing low work Meter reader – golf club handle

  32. Awkward Postures - High work

  33. Reducing high work • Use an elevated work platform or rolling stairs • Use tools with longer handles • Limit overhead storage to infrequently used items • Bring the work down and tilt for easier access

  34. Use a tool with longer handles Ergonomics at Work - Reducing high work

  35. Ergonomics at Work - Reducing high work Fixture lift for overhead applications

  36. Awkward Postures - Reaching

  37. Reducing Reaching • Keep items within close reach (design reach distance for the shortest worker) • Remove obstacles • Use gravity feed racks

  38. Tilt table for sanding Ergonomics at Work - Reducing reaching

  39. Risk factors for WMSDs Hand Intensive Work

  40. Hand Intensive Work Repetitive motions Gripping Pinching Bent wrists

  41. Hand Intensive Work – Highly repetitive motion

  42. 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

  43. Use power tools Ergonomics at Work - Reducing repetition

  44. Hand Intensive Work – Gripping and Pinching A power grip is 5 times stronger than a pinch grip = 10 lbs 2 lbs

  45. Hand Intensive Work – Gripping

  46. Pinching with the fingertips

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

  48. Reduce grip force • Grip with the whole hand, not just the fingertips • Pick up smaller loads • Use carts or handtrucks instead of carrying • Keep tools in good working order • Use lighter tools or tool balancers • Use two hands • Keep your wrists straight

  49. 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

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

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