Workplace Ergonomics Lecture Six

1. Workplace ErgonomicsLecture Six

2. Egonomics Defined • Ergonomics is the science of conforming the workplace and all of its elements to the worker. The word ergonomics comes from the Greek word Ergon which means work and from nomos which means laws. It means work laws.

3. BACK INJURIES • Most commonly caused by improper lifting. • Cost $12 million a year in compensation claims. • Lower back injuries account for 20 to 30 percnt of all workers’ compensation claims. • 33 to 40 percent of all claims related to lower back. • 46,000 back injuries each year. • Back injuries cause 100 million loast work days each year. • 80 percent of the population will experience lower back pain at some time in their lives.

4. LIFTING TECHNIQUE Plan Ahead: Determine if you can lift the load. Decide if you need assistance. Check your route to see if it has obstructions or slippery surfaces. Lift with Your Legs, Not Your Back Bend your knees, keeping your back straight. Position your feet close to the object. Center your body over the load.

5. LIFTING TECHNIQUE Lift with Your Legs, Not Your Back Lift straight up smoothly; don’t jerk. Keep your torso straight; don’t twist while lifting. Set the load down slowly and smoothly with a straight back and bent knees. Push, Don’t Pull Pushing places less strain on your back. Use rollers under the object when possible.

6. HAND AND WRIST INJURIES Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused when repeated flexing of hand muscles causes median nerve to swell and exert pressure on the carpal tunnel of the wrist. Causes Heavy demand on hands Vibrating tools Cold temperatures

7. ARM AND SHOULDER INJURIES • Main cause is repeated lifting and stretching of the muscle group leading to overuse damage. • Equipment should be waist level. • Tools should control flexing of the wrist and elbow.

8. NOISE • The modern industrial factory is a noisy place. • Noise in the workplace poses two safety and health related problems: • Distraction • Permanent Hearing Loss

9. NOISECharacteristics of Sound • Noise is any unwanted sound • Sound is any change in pressure that can be detected by the ear. • The unit for measuring sound is the decibel. • The weakest sound that can be heard, normally, is 10dBA. • The maximum level that can be heard without pain(pain threshold) is usually 140dBA. • The unprotected ear is at risk when exposed to a level higher than 115dBA. • Exposure of 90 dBA for a period of 8 hours requires hearing protection. (OSHA 1910.95)

10. NOISE (continued) Examples

11. NOISE (continued) • Dosimeter-Noise measurement. • Protective Equipment NNR • Audiometric Testing-Periodic testing of the noise threshold of employees.

12. RADIATION • Radiation is the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or photons. • There are two types of radiation that are a health concern ionizing and non-ionizing.

13. Ionizing Radiation • The most important point to make is that ionizing radiation, from emitting radioactive sources, can create permanent changes in the human body including death. • Sources: Alpha, Beta, Gamma

14. Non-Ionizing Radiation • Chief Danger: Blisters and blindness. There is evidence to support connection between non-ionizing radiation and cancer. • Sources: visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, lasers, and video display terminals and electromagnetic radiation from power lines and sub stations.

15. MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION • An erg is a unit of energy, 10 -7 Joules. One rad is equal to 100 ergs. • A rad is a measure of the dose of ionizing radiation absorbed by the body. • Measuring Devices: film badges, pocket chambers, dosimeters, and film rings, and the Geiger Counter.

16. ASBESTOS, DUSTS, AND LUNG DISEASE • Chief Health Threat: Asbestosis and Lung Cancer. • Where it used to be used. • May take many years to manifest.

17. Working With ASBESTOS • Engineering Controls • PPE • Education • Training • HEPA Equipment • Wet-Wash Equipment • Monitoring

18. FETAL PROTECTION • Women of normal child bearing ages must be protected. • MSDS- Identification of common hazardous materials: lead, hydrogen sulfide, benzene, mercury, nicotine, phenol, xylene, toluene, vinyl chloride, and alcohol.

19. THE ENVIRONMENT Industry is currently dealing with such issues as acid rain, ground-level ozone, lack of straospheric ozone, radon gas, the need for additional cleanup of PCBs, polluted ground water, and over limit level limit lead in our drinking water. With good environmental management, industry and the environment can be compatible.

20. THE ENVIRONMENT • EPA • ISO 14000 • One oz. Of Gasoline contaminates 15000 gallons of ground water. • “Cradle to Grave Responsibility.”

21. Pollution • Carbon monoxide emissions • Volatile organic compounds • Sulfur oxides • Ocean dumping of industrial wastes • Cities without adequate sewage treatment • Polluted rivers

22. REVIEW:1. What is ergonomics?2. What are the usual causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?3. At what level should equipment controls be located?4. How is noise measured?5. Name three kinds of ionizing radiation.6. What factors control the seriousness of a radiation injury?7. What is a pocket dosimeter?8. What is asbestosis?9. Give to ways to protect yourself from airborne particles.10. What kind of vacuum unit is used to capture dust during asbestos removal?11. Give one use for the wet/wash recycle system