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Ergonomic Assessment Tools for Construction Safety

Learn about ergonomic risks in construction, effective tools to identify risks, and control measures. Focus on trade-specific hazards and solutions for various construction trades.

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Ergonomic Assessment Tools for Construction Safety

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  1. ERGONOMICS ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Ita Leyden Consultant Ergonomist and Forensic Engineer CMG Construction Health & Safety Conference October 2nd 2019

  2. Overview • Ergonomic risks in construction industry. • Introduce effective tools to identify ergonomic risk factors • Examples of control measures for construction industry

  3. First step… • Need to recognise risk factors exist • Construction workers • Employers • Work together towards controlling and eliminating risk factors

  4. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) • Caused by job activities and conditions, like lifting, repetitive motions, and work in confined areas – typical in construction: • Carrying heavy loads • Working on knees / restricted spaces • Twisting hands or wrists • Stretching to work overhead • Use of poorly designed tools • Use of vibrating tools or equipment

  5. Trade specific hazards Trade Risks Exposure to whole body vibration from earthmoving equipment Ergonomic problems from poor seat and cab design Working in awkward postures Excavation Work

  6. Trade specific hazards Trade Risks Awkward postures Repetitive motions Use of pneumatic tools Crane operators exposed to whole body vibration Structural Steel Work

  7. Trade specific hazards Trade Risks Cramped work conditions Overhead work conditions Welding associated with injuries due to poor design of welding gun Plumbing Work

  8. Trade specific hazards Trade Risks Using tools with poor ergonomic design leading to wrist injury Back issues due to straining while pulling cables Electrical Work

  9. Ergonomics of Masonry Work • >1000 forward bending movements/shift – low back disorders • Frequent work above shoulder height • Exposure to extremes of temperature • Use large trowels to increase efficiency • Wear gloves which can reduce the effective grip on trowels • Restricted/cramped spaces • High production rate

  10. Improvements • Develop information and training on trade-specific ergonomic practices, including work pacing. • Plan and organize sites to facilitate access, reduce unnecessary materials handling, and avoid work in constricted spaces that force workers into awkward postures and twisting movements. • Use height-adjustable mortarboards to reduce forward bending. Similarly, keep platforms for stocking brick and block no lower than knee-height. • Work with manufacturers to develop more ergonomically favorable bricks and blocks

  11. Brick sizes • 390mm x 90mm x 90mm  • 240mm x 70mm x 80mm • Approximately a 50% increase in relative risk of injury to the upper extremity and only a 5% increase in productivity Construction Safety Association of Ontario research – Aug 2000

  12. Assessment Tools • MAC – Manual Assessment Charts • ART – Assessment of Repetitive Tasks • RAPP – Risk Assessment for Pushing and Pulling • RULA – Rapid Upper Limb Assessment • REBA – Rapid Entire Body Assessment

  13. HSE MAC Tool • MAC was developed to identify high-risk manual handling. • Not appropriate for some manual handling operations (pushing and pulling). • Not designed to access risks associated with workplace upper limb disorders.

  14. How to complete a MAC assessment 1. Observe task (videoing may help). 2. Select the appropriate type of assessment (Lifting, Carrying or Team handling). → If a task involves lifting and carrying, consider both. 3. Follow the appropriate assessment guide and flow chart to determine the level of risk for each risk factor. 4. Enter the colour band and corresponding numerical score on the MAC Score sheet. 5. Identify which risk factors need to be examined.

  15. Score Sheet

  16. Flow chart for lifting operations

  17. Assessment guide for lifting operations

  18. Assessment guide for lifting operations

  19. Assessment guide for lifting operations

  20. Assessment guide for lifting operations

  21. Sample Completed Score Sheet Prioritise action by addressing the task with the highest total score first. The total scores do not relate to specific action levels. 9 17 13

  22. HSE ART Tool

  23. Task description

  24. Risk factors

  25. Stage A : Frequency and repetition • Rapid or prolonged repetition may not allow sufficient time for recovery

  26. Stage B : Force • Handling heavy objects • Fast movement or excessive force generated by the muscles of the body • Local compression and stress from items that come into contact with parts of the upper limb • Impact or shock

  27. Stage C : Awkward postures • Awkward posture: a part of the body is used well beyond its neutral position • Static postures: a part of the body is held in a particular position for extended periods of time without the soft tissues being allowed to relax.

  28. C1. Head / neck posture

  29. Step 3 : Score sheet

  30. What the scores mean ? • Help prioritise those tasks that require the most urgent attention; and • Help check the effectiveness of any risk reduction measures put into place. • The colours assigned to the risk factors help identify where to focus risk reduction measures.

  31. RAPP • Type A assessment –wheeled equipment • Type B assessment – non wheeled equipment

  32. Weight

  33. Posture

  34. RAPP Score sheet

  35. RULA • Use of the RULA worksheet

  36. REBA • Use of the REBA worksheet

  37. Interventions

  38. Fastening Tools that Reduce Stooping • Use an auto-feed screw gun with an extension that allows an upright posture.

  39. Motorized Concrete Screeds

  40. Rebar tying tools

  41. Skid plates for concrete hoses

  42. Tool selection Source: NIOSH Easy Ergonomics: A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools

  43. Tool selection

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