Ergonomics

1. Ergonomics OSHA Compliance for Temp Agencies and Host Employers

2. What is Ergonomics? • “Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with the design of workplaces, tools, and tasks that match the physiological, anatomical, and psychological characteristics and capabilities of the worker.” Vern Putz-Anderson • “The Goal of ergonomics is to ‘fit the job to the person,’ rather than making the person fit the job.” Ergotech • “If it hurts when you are doing something, don’t do it.” Bill Black

3. Why do we care about Ergonomics? OSHA Employee Turnover ADA Quality Injured Workers Insurance Costs Increased Productivity Absenteeism

4. Ergonomic Injuries - WMSDs

5. Ergonomic Injuries – Body Impacts • Repetitive Motion • Wrists – 43% • Shoulders – 13% • Back – 11% • Arms – 9% • Hands – 5% • Fingers – 5% • Overexertion • Back – 52% • Shoulders – 18% • Abdomen – 7% • Arms – 5% • Legs – 5%

6. 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 MSDs of the Back Upper Extremity MSDs Average Claim Average Costs per Claim ($) Costs of Ergonomic Injuries Source: Workers’ Compensation data from Insurance Companies 1993

7. The Bottom Line on Ergonomic Injuries • Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (2012) • #1 Cost Driver = Overexertion Injuries • $13.6 Billion in Direct Costs to Employers • 27% of all Injury Costs Resource: www.libertymutual.com/researchinstitute

8. OSHA and Ergonomics • OSHA can and will cite ergonomic hazards under the “5(a)(1)” General Duty Clause, if: • An ergonomic hazard exists, • The hazard is recognized, • The hazard is causing, or likely to cause, a serious injury, • And if a feasible means exists to reduce the hazard

9. Benefits of Good Ergonomics • Increased productivity • Decreased mistakes/rework • Increased efficiency • Decreased injury risk • Decreased lost work days • Decreased turnover • Improved morale

10. WMSD Risk Factors

11. Common WMSD Risk Factors • Force • Posture • Frequency • Duration • Vibration • Environment • Personal Factors

12. Risk Factors for Injuries • Forceful Exertions • Weight of load • Location • Frequency • Stability • Coupling • Awkward Postures • Bending • Twisting • Reaching

13. Risk Factors for Injuries • Repetitive Motion • Frequent reaching • Assembly tasks • Keying • Packaging • Vibration • Tools • Mechanized Equipment

14. Risk Factors for Injuries • Environmental • Visual • 150 Lux in MMH • Thermal • Increased accidents away from comfort zone • Hot: Added metabolic heat gain • Cold: Decreased blood flow to extremities

15. Risk Factors for Injuries • Environmental, cont. • Worker/Floor Surface Coupling • Maintain static coefficient of friction of 0.4, preferably 0.5 • ANSI A1264.2-2001: Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces • Floor Conditions/Housekeeping • Shoe style • Floor angle • Surface coatings

16. Risk Factors for Injuries • Personal Risk Factors • Gender • Age • Anthropometry • Lift Technique • Attitude • Strength • Training

17. Ergonomics Assessment Tools Tier I Tools: Tier II Tools Checklists:Quantitative: Quick Exposure Checklist Job Safety Analysis Washington State Checklists NIOSH Work Practice Guide to Manual Lifting NIOSH Checklists (97-117)Stover Snook’s Psychophysical Tables for Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) Job Strain Index Occupational Repetitive Action Methods

18. Awkward Postures - Low work Bending Kneeling Squatting These postures are hard on the back and the knees

19. WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

20. WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

21. WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

22. WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

23. Implementing Ergonomic Controls 8 Deadly Wastes Tools, Equipment, Processes Effectiveness Workstation Design, Mech. Assist Job Rotation, Rest Breaks, Safe Practices ???

24. 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

25. Ergonomics at Work Reducing low work Raise and tilt the work

26. Ergonomics at Work Reducing low work Raise the work

27. Ergonomics at Work Reducing low work Meter reader – golf club handle extension

28. Awkward Postures High work This posture is hard on the shoulders, neck and back

29. 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

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

31. WISHA Ergonomics Checklist • Hands and Wrists: • Pinch Grip • Grasp Grip • Repetitive Motion of Hands • Keying • Hand Impacts • Hand and Arm Vibrations • Neck and Shoulders • Neck Posture

32. What are some of the symptoms of WMSDs? Report symptoms if: • Pain is persistent, severe or worsening • Pain radiates • Symptoms include numbness or tingling • Symptoms keep you from sleeping at night

33. Why is it important to encourage reporting of symptoms? • Minor injuries can easily become chronic injuries • Injured workers, absenteeism, turnover, insurance costs • Can lead to surgery and disability • Early treatment is more successful

34. Ergonomics and Temporary Workers • Ergonomics Awareness Training • Risk Assessment • Solution Development and Implementation • Engineering Controls • Job rotation, rest breaks, safe practices • On-the-job training • Hazard or near-miss reporting • Injury reporting and recordkeeping