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Common WMSD* Hazards in Your Workplace and Some Solution Ideas (* W ork-Related M usculo- S keletal D isorders). This slide show outlines…. …some common WMSD hazards in workplaces, and some ideas for reducing or eliminating them.
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Common WMSD* Hazards in Your Workplace and Some Solution Ideas(*Work-Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorders)
This slide show outlines… …some common WMSD hazards in workplaces, and some ideas for reducing or eliminating them. • Links to the following PowerPoint slide shows can be found at the appendix at the end of this slide show. • A Five Step Process for Finding WMSD Hazards • Recommended Exposure Limits for Preventing WMSDs
Identify WMSD hazards in your workplace Locate resources and contacts for more assistance By the end of this slide show, you will be able to…
WMSD Hazards Some jobs include tasks which can produce injuries from: • Lifting • Awkward postures • Forceful gripping or pinching • Repetitive motions and intensive keying • Hand-arm vibration
WMSDs • WMSDs are occupational disorders of the soft tissues: • muscles • tendons • ligaments • joints • blood vessels • nerves
Forceful pinching, gripping Lifting Awkward postures Hand-arm vibration Hazards to watch for Repetitive motion & Intensive keying
Reduce the weight Increase the weight (so people truly can’t lift the item) Use mechanical assistance Slide instead of lift Team lifting Avoid unnecessary lifting Use mobile storage Job rotation Job enlargement Bring loads as close to the body as possible before lifting them Remove obstacles Place object at a good working height To lower the risks of lifting…
Raise and/or tilt the work for better access Use a stool for ground level work Alternate between bending, kneeling, sitting, and squatting 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 To lower the risk of awkward postures…
To lower the risk of forceful gripping… • Use lighter tools • Suspend the tool with tool counter-balancers • Use longer lever arms on tools • Use hand trucks, carts or conveyors instead of carrying loads
a Pinch Grip: To lower the risk of pinching… a Power Grip: Change from pinch to grip The upper box has cut out handles which allow a much more comfortable and less stressful grip on the box. is up to 5 times stronger than
Reducing pinching… Change pinching to gripping
To lower the risk of Repetitive Motion and Intensive Keying… • Eliminate unnecessary motions • Use power tool instead of hand tools (He is using a power drill rather than a ratchet) • Automate the task • Enlarge the job (add tasks which don’t include repetitive motions or keying)
Hand-Arm Vibration A link to a Hand-Arm Vibration database is in the appendix at the end of this presentation. When searching this database for a low vibration tool, look for the lowest VL (vibration level)
To lower the risk of Hand-Arm Vibration… • Use anti-vibration gloves • Isolate the vibration from the user • Use low vibration tools
The WISHA Ergonomics Ideas Bank This is a searchable database with over 700 ideas for solutions to ergonomic challenges you might have A link to this web page is in the appendix at the end of this presentation
Ergonomics Awareness PowerPoint Appendix - Links Recommended Exposure Limits for Preventing WMSDs PowerPoint WISHA Ergonomics Ideas Bank Low vibration tools A Five Step Process for Finding WMSD Hazards Contact an L&I ergonomist