Ergonomics Awareness

1. Ergonomics Awareness NDSCS Employees and Supervisors

2. Ergonomics

3. Ergonomics

4. By the end of this presentation you will be able to: • Define ergonomics and its benefits • Identify work activities that lead to injury • List examples of ergonomic principles that reduce risk of injury

5. By the end of this presentation you will be able to: • Participate in your company’s ergonomic efforts • Identify parts of the body that get injured at work • Recognize and report signs and symptoms of injury early

6. NDSCS Ergonomics Promotes employee involvement and participation together with employers to analyze and fix hazards • You play an important part…

7. …Youplay an important part • You may be asked to participate in: • Analyzing jobs for hazards • Finding solutions to these hazards • Evaluating the success of the solutions • Later, you may… • Given job specific training on proper use of solutions • Keep in touch with ergonomics efforts through department meetings.

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

9. Ergonomics at Work

10. Benefits of Ergonomics • Helps to prevent injuries • Other benefits • Improved quality of work • Improved quality of life • Reduced fatigue and discomfort

11. Injuries and Risk Factors • What are Work-related MusculoSkeletal Disorders (WMSDs)? • Common types and symptoms of injury • Causes and prevention of injury

12. What are Work-related MusculoSkeletal Disorders (WMSDs)? • Also known as: • Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) • Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) • Overuse injuries • Soft tissue injuries • Develop gradually, but can appear suddenly • Can be serious, if not taken care of early

13. Symptoms of WMSDs • Discomfort • Pain • Numbness • Tingling • Burning • Swelling • Change in color • Tightness, loss of flexibility

14. What causes WMSDs? Risk Factors • Awkward Postures • High Hand Force • Repetitive Motions • Repeated Impacts • Heavy, Frequent, or Awkward Lifting • Moderate to High Hand-Arm Vibration

15. Risk Factors Risk of injury depends upon: • Duration (how long) • Frequency (how often) • Intensity (how much) • Combinations of risk factors

16. Risk Factors Duration • Usually need hours of exposure before risk factors become a concern • Can be all at one time or cumulative over the day

17. Head level Shoulders relaxed Elbows at sides Low back supported Wrists straight Feet supported Proper Neutral Postures Standing neutral posture Seated neutral posture

18. Risk factors for WMSDsHands over head or elbows above shoulders Same position/movement for more than 2 hours per day at one time

19. Risk factors for WMSDsNeck bent more than 30° Same position/movement for more than 2 hours per day at one time

20. Risk factors for WMSDsBack bent more than 30° Same position/movement for more than 2 hours per day at one time

21. Risk factors for WMSDsSquatting Same position/movement for more than 2 hours per day at one time

22. Risk factors for WMSDsKneeling Same position/movement for more than 2 hours per day at one time

23. Risk factors for WMSDsWrists bent Extension Ulnar deviation Flexion

24. Solutions for Reducing Awkward Postures Change station heights & display heights Tilt or rotate the work Use platforms Bring items within easy reach Pause to stretch

25. Risk factors for WMSDsHigh hand force A power grip can be 5 times stronger than a pinch grip = 2 lbs 10 lbs

26. Risk factors for WMSDsGripping with the whole hand 10 lbs. of weight or force for more than 2 hours per day at one time

27. Other Risk Factors • Grip strength decreases when you: • Bend your wrists • Pick up slippery items • Wear poorly fitting gloves • Have cold hands

28. Postures to Avoid and Reduce Chance of Injury Pick objects up from the bottom using whole hand Attach handles or use lift tools Build handles on small tools to reduce grip force Pick up smaller loads Use power tools instead of hand tools Keep tools in good working order

29. Postures to Avoid and Reduce Chance of Injury Use clamps to hold onto work Place items on carts rather than carrying Put down a tool when not actually using it Use lighter tools or tool balancers Use two hands Keep your wrists straight

30. Use tool balancers Wrong Posture Right Posture

31. 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

32. Postures to Avoid and Reduce Chance of Injury Spread keyboard work throughout the day Use macros for common functions Take stretch pauses Improve your posture and move around Intensive keying for more than 4 hours per day

33. Postures to Avoid and Reduce Chance of Injury • Lifting 75 lbs. once per day • Lifting 55 lbs. more than 10 times per day • Heavy, frequent or awkward lifting

34. Reduce Chance of Injury • Smaller loads at a time • Use mechanical assistance - handtrucks, carts, hoists, conveyors • Get help from a co-worker Reducing heavy lifting

35. Reduce Chance of Injury • Frequent lifting • Lifting more than 10 lbs., • more than twice per minute, • for more than 2 hours per day • Use mechanical assistance • Slide objects instead of lifting them • Rotate lifting tasks with co-workers

36. Reduce Chance of Injury • Awkward lifting • Lifting more than 25 lbs. above the shoulders, below the knees or at arms length more than 25 times per day • Reducing awkward lifts • Store items where you won’t have to bend or reach to lift them • Use rolling stairs to get items down from high shelves

37. EYE STRAIN • Dry Burning Eyes • Blurred Vision • Delayed Focusing • Altered Color Perception • Headaches • Neck Pain

38. EYE STRAIN SOLUTIONS • Place monitor in front of you, not off at an angle. • Set contrast/brightness – reduce glare • Increase/decrease lighting – use task lighting • Color or print (black print on white is the best) • Dust/Clean Screen.

39. EYE STRAIN SOLUTIONS • Avoid “turtle necking” and blink often • Move document holder closer to monitor • Avoid looking to the side and down

40. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP • Adjust height of work surface for standing workers • Place most used task materials within nearest reach zone • Prioritize materials according to reach zones • Improve housekeeping

41. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP • Organize storage areas to minimize hazardous lifting • Avoid leaving items on the floor, not even temporarily • Organize work and work area to avoid awkward postures • Request help with heavy, bulky, or awkward lifting tasks

42. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP • Provide regular equipment checks and maintenance • Repair or replace damaged equipment • Assure the most natural body positions are being used • Eliminate clutter

43. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP Take use rest breaks Don’t rest wrists on edges Place mouse within easy reach Blow dust from mouse ball cavity and wash ball with mild soap and water

44. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP • Top of the monitor should be no higher than eye level • Bifocal wearers may wish to have monitor somewhat lower • Use “soft-touch” when keyboarding • Locate monitor to minimize glare

45. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP • Keep VDT screen clean and free from dust • Reduce excessive light, especially for computer work • Do not cradle phone on the shoulder – get a hands free headset • Organize work and area to minimize bending and squatting

46. ERGONOMIC AIDS FOR OFFICE SET UP Plan work to break up extended periods of repetitive motion tasks Use screen hoods or glare guards to minimize glare Maintain natural “s” curve of your spine Support lower back Keep feet supported on floor or use a foot rest

47. OFFICE SET UP • Proper Seating: • The height of your seat and position of your backrest should be adjustable. • Chair should be on wheels so you move. • Arm rests on the chair, though optional, are often helpful

48. OFFICE SET UP • Table Height: Average height of 27 to 29 inches • If table adjusts, set your 90 degree waist height in your chair, • then adjust your table so that your elbow makes a 90 degree angle when your hands are on the keyboard.

49. OFFICE SET UP • Elbow Angle: • With hands resting comfortably at the keyboard and your upper arms vertical, measure the angle between your forearm and your upper arm (elbow angle) • If less than 90 degrees, raise seat • If greater than 90 degrees, lower seat

50. OFFICE SET UP • Waist Angle: • Elbows at 90 degrees, measure the angle between your upper legs and your spine (waist angle) • If less than 80 degrees, your chair may be too low and your knees too high • Or alter the position of the backrest or adjust your own posture