Ergo Awareness Training: Understanding Ergonomics Through Interactive Activities

1. "What I hear, I forget; What I see, I remember; But what I do, I understand" Experience Ergonomics (Ergo Awareness Train-the-Trainer) Confucius Ergo Dave David D Wood, MSIE, CPE www.ErgoDave.com CPE LLC

2. Purpose of Session • What? • Training activities to teach basic ergonomics principles • Why? • Better training, better understanding • How? • Do the activity • Describe the activity • Open discussion on the activity

3. Introduction • What’s usually covered in ergo awareness training? • List training sins

4. Outline • What is ergonomics? • What’s your ergo definition • Hand tools • Why is ergonomics important? • What’s in your wallet • Iceberg • Identifying ergo risk factors • Wrist/hand/fingers • Tape Trick • Screw Driver demo • Binder clipping dept. • Shoulder • Forward reach • Marker check • Therabands • Back/Neck • Bowling ball • Marshmallows

5. What’s Your Definition of Ergonomics?

6. Topic – Ergonomics Definition • What • Ask the class – “What’s your definition of ergonomics” • For most groups 2 minutes seems to be enough time • Why • Adult learning, we like to share and build on our ideas • How • Small group discussion • Full class report out – write definitions on white board • Supportive comments from instructor • Then show “text book” definitions

7. What’s Your Definition of Ergonomics? Hand Tool Exercise • Making jobs fit people - not the other way around

8. Topic – Hand Tools • What • Break the class into pairs or small groups • Provide each group a set of different hand tools • E.G. screw drivers, pens, toothbrushes, can openers etc. • The more variety within a set the better (i.e. have at least 3 different examples of pens) • Ask the class – “to compare and contrast the set of hand tools” • “What are the ergonomic features of each – which is more ergonomic?” • About 2 minutes seems to be enough time for most groups • Why • Adult learning, we like to share and build on our ideas • We can see ergonomics in everyday tools (risk factors and counter measures) • How • Small group discussion with full class report out • Supportive instructor comments – may add comments group forgot to mention

9. What’s in Your Wallet?? • Get out your wallet • Find your Drivers License • Find your cash • Find a photograph - your family, pet or friend

10. Topic – What’s in Your Wallet? • What • Ask the class – “What’s in your wallet” • “Please take out your wallet” • Review reasons (yourself, your future, your family) • Why • Motivation to be a part of ergonomics and to be safe • How • Full class discussion (using slides or just your wallet)

11. Iceberg Activity

12. Topic – Iceberg • What • Draw a large iceberg and water line • Describe direct medical costs (workers compensation) • Ask the class to list hidden costs • Why • To understand hidden injury costs and cost/benefit • How • Instructor lead class discussion • White board – to record answers/comment • May want to show “text book” answer

13. …the Tape Trick...

14. Topic – Tape Trick • What • Give each person about a 5” piece of tape • Place on wrist • Why – • To feel the effects of awkward posture on the wrist • Good line side intervention for bent wrist postures (bio-feed back to employee using bad postures on task) • How • Instructor lead activity – have several rolls of tape • Place strip of tape on neutral/ flat wrist • Have class move wrist around • Leave on during other demos (to feel effects)

15. …the Grip Trick...

16. Topic – Screwdrivers • What • Ask for 2 volunteers (or split class into pairs and give 1 screw driver to each pair) • Have one person (smaller/weaker) hold the handle • Have one person (bigger/stronger) pinch the tip/blade • Vertical tug-of-war • Controlled – no injuries • Why • To see and feel the difference in strength between power and pinch grips • How • Instructor lead activity • Who will win the war? • Why/how • Repeat with other person holding the handle

17. Binder Clipping

18. Topic – Binder Clipping • What • Provide a 1” binder clip to each student and about ½” stack of paper • Ask if anyone has severe arthritis or full blown CTS (they can be time keepers) • Review Op Standard • Jaw must close all the way on the stack of paper • Pay is piece rate – the more they do in 60 sec the more $ they get • Provide small gift to person who does the most • Why • To feel the effects of force, repetition, and contact stress in the hand/fingers • To understand fatigue and recovery • To introduce the Hierarchy of Controls • How • Instructor lead activity • White board – to show fatigue and recovery

19. Forward Reach Stop and Relax

20. Topic – Forward Reach • What • Ask the class to reach with their left arm straight • Use a timer for 90 seconds • Why • To feel effects of awkward/static posture in shoulder • To discuss shoulder posture and static posture and blood flow • How • Set up timer • Review method • White board fatigue and recovery graphs

21. Marker Check

22. Tip Plant shoulder No back bending! Topic – Marker Check • What • Ask everyone to help (or pick the tallest and shortest people) • Have a huge (4’ by 6’) piece of paper taped to wall • Have 2 good bright markers • Why • To see (feel) range of motion • To check population comfort zones (Pink women, Blue men) • To check repetitive verses occasional work zones (Green, Yellow) • How • Have some or all people repeat this procedure • Make an arc with one marker – from knuckle height to full elbow flexion • Make a 2nd arc with the other marker from knuckle height to full overhead extension

23. Theraband Demonstration

24. Topic – Therabands • What • Ask for a volunteer • Have a Theraband (check internet – 50$ for 50 yards) • Why • To feel effects of force and awkward posture in shoulder • To show the effects of using larger/more muscles vs. small/few • How • Demonstration – • stand on 1 end of band, pull on other end with 1 hand • Lift with arm fully extended – thumb up • Lift with hand in close to trunk – hand down • Which was harder - why

25. Bowling Ball

26. Topic – Bowling Ball • What • Get a full size bowling ball (can get a trashed one from bowling alley) • Have a 10” length of pipe installed into a finger hole • Why • To feel the effect of torque/moments on joints • How • Explain that the average human head weighs 12-15 pounds (just like a bowling ball) • The hands hold the pipe (representing the neck muscles) • Hold the ball upright 1st and then have them lean forward • Do you feel the increase in stress in your arms? • Brief discussion afterwards

27. Marshmallows

28. Topic – Marshmallows • What • Bring a bag of marshmallows (enough for at least 1 each) • Why • To see the effects of posture on disc (marshmallow) • How • Explain the anatomy of a disc • Hand out marshmallows to everyone • Demonstrate effect of lying, standing and bent back • Debrief discussion afterwards

29. Conclusions • Plan activities to • Allow sharing of ideas • Allow Q&A • Include physical activity • Whole class participation • Try not to lecture more than about 10 minutes in row

30. Wrap Up • Final comments and questions? • Be sure to complete course reaction survey • Thanks for attending! Ergo Dave David D Wood, MSIE, CPE www.ErgoDave.com CPE LLC