Description
OSH 6301-21.01.01-3A24-S2, Advanced ErgonomicsUnit IV JournalAssignment ContentConsider tasks you complete on a daily basis. What personal protective equipment (PPE) do you use to make these tasks more comfortable? How do they help you?Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unformatted Attachment Preview
UNIT IV STUDY GUIDE
Controlling Ergonomic Risks
Factor Exposure: Job Design
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit IV
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
6. Apply contemporary methods of conducting workplace evaluation to ergonomic-related hazards.
6.1 Perform a task analysis of a simulated manual handling task.
7. Evaluate common controls for mitigating ergonomic-related hazards.
7.1 Discuss impact of the current job design on the worker’s efficiency, safety, and morale.
7.2 Summarize controls for addressing ergonomic risk related to work design.
7.3 Recommend control strategies for manual handling tasks.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 4: Standing and Sitting at Work, pp. 120–135,151–152
Chapter 6: Design of Manual Handling and Load Carriage Tasks, pp. 210–224
In order to access the following resource, click on the link below:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (1996). Back belts–Do they prevent injury? (DHHS
[NIOSH] Publication No. 94-127). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-127/default.html
Unit Lesson
Meet Mr. Jerry Spine-Bend
Jerry Spine-Bend is a parts handler for EuroGlass, a glass cooktop manufacturer in Boise, Idaho. As a parts
handler, Mr. Spine-Bend is required to perform various tasks repetitively throughout his eight-hour work shift,
including manually lifting uncut plates of glass onto a waist-high conveyor belt, where the glass is then
stacked vertically on a nearby L-shaped holder. A forklift is used to transport the strapped holder carrying the
glass. However, the holder presents the glass at knee-height, which makes Mr. Spine-Bend have to bend
each time he picks up a sheet of glass.
Mr. Spine-Bend has been employed with the company for almost eight years and often complains of pain in
his neck and lower back at the end of the work day. One day last week, Mr. Spine-Bend was returning to his
work area following the mid-morning break and began having muscle spasms in his lower back. After a few
minutes, the pain subsided, and he was able to continue walking to his work area. When the work activity
restarted, Mr. Spine-Bend tried to lift a sheet of glass but was unable to move. One of his co-workers noticed
Mr. Spine-Bend was bent over and walked over to find out if he was okay. Mr. Spine-Bend was transported to
the company’s occupational health unit where he reported pain in his lower back radiating down his left leg.
After a thorough examination, Mr. Spine-Bend was diagnosed with sciatica and placed on medical leave for
three weeks.
Following Mr. Spine-Bend’s incident, the company safety manager wanted to prevent a recurrence and
decided to evaluate the work area. After speaking with several employees, the safety manager contacted the
facility maintenance department and shared the concerns and suggestions offered by the employees
performing the parts-handling job task. Based on the feedback provided by the employees, the maintenance
department fabricated a stand using a wooden shipping crate and placed it beneath the L-holder to raise the
glass to waist height. A simple fix, to fix a back!
OSH 6301, Advanced Ergonomics
1
Controlling Ergonomic Risk Exposure with Proper Work Design
Job design is the process of
combining and organizing tasks to
complete a job. The process
includes consideration for factors
such as the job content, the
procedures, techniques, and
systems necessary to complete the
job, as well as the relationship of the
individual performing the job with
other workers. The nature and
number of tasks performed, the
method of performing the tasks, and
the order in which the tasks are
performed are all considered in job
design. Key elements of job design
include pacing tasks to coordinate
with machine cycles, scheduling
work and break hours, determining
work layout and handling procedures,
and identifying appropriate job rotations.
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Key elements of job design
Job design plays a crucial role in ensuring worker safety, workplace efficiency, and employee morale. The
way a job is designed determines whether the work is diverse or repetitive, whether the worker is comfortable
or working in awkward postures, and whether the task is interesting and stimulating or boring and
monotonous. The process of job design necessitates considering all factors that affect work, of which the
human factor is paramount. A job design that is interesting and satisfying for the employee results in
increased performance and productivity. Conversely, if a job fails to appear compelling or interesting,
employee dissatisfaction is likely to result.
Ergonomics is the science of understanding human performance capability and the application of the
information in the design, development, and deployment of products, processes, systems, equipment, and
services. From an ergonomics perspective, a well-designed job is one that most of the potential workforce can
perform well without excessive stress that impacts work performance, such as work overload or underload.
Work tasks designed without consideration for ergonomic principles may expose workers to undue physical
stress, strain, and overexertion, and lead to unwanted injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow,
and other conditions, arising from repetitive movements, awkward postures, use of improper tools, and other
work-related risk factors.
Factors that should be considered when designing jobs using ergonomic guidelines include the following for
all tasks.
Ergonomic guidelines
Additionally, a well-designed job should do the following:
•
allow the worker to vary the position of the body;
OSH 6301, Advanced Ergonomics
2
•
•
•
•
•
•
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
include a variety of mentally stimulating tasks;
allow the worker some decision-making latitude so he or she can varyTitle
the work activities according to
personal needs, work habits, and the workplace environment;
give the worker a sense of accomplishment;
provide adequate training to teach the worker what tasks are required and how to perform them;
provide adequate work/rest schedules that allow the worker enough time to complete tasks and to get
sufficient rest; and
allow an adjustment period for new job tasks, especially when they are physically demanding, so that
the worker can gradually become accustomed to the work.
Designing Manual Lifting Tasks to Control Back Injuries
Most jobs involve some type of manual lifting task. Whether it is stacking shelves, working on a conveyor line,
or entering data into a computer, if poorly designed or done incorrectly, manual lifting can become hazardous.
If the risks associated with hazardous manual tasks are not eliminated or minimized, they can cause
significant and even irreversible injuries or disorders. The best and most cost effective means of eliminating or
minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) is to consider hazards and risks during the initial
design of a work task. During this phase, hazards and risks can be “designed out” before they are introduced
into the workplace.
Understanding the contribution of improper work design to injury and MSD risk is key to determining potential
solutions to address hazards. Evaluating jobs to identify factors associated with risks for MSDs lays the
groundwork for developing measures to minimize or eliminate exposure to ergonomic risk factors. Once MSD
risk factors have been identified and measured, appropriate control strategies need to be implemented to
increase the overlap between worker capabilities and task demands to improve the fit of the job with the
worker.
As a hierarchy of controls is widely accepted among safety professionals as the preferred intervention
strategy for controlling workplace hazards, a variety of workplace intervention strategies have also been
implemented to address ergonomic hazards resulting from poor work design. It is important to note, like most
systems and solutions, the hierarchy of hazard control works best when used correctly. The preferred method
for controlling ergonomics hazards is through elimination, substitution, or engineering techniques. For
example, a manual lifting task could be redesigned by implementing simple interventions, like modifying
existing equipment or purchasing new tools or lifting devices to eliminate unnecessary (manual) lifting.
Another more costly approach might involve the automation of the process to eliminate the manual lifting.
Engineering controls might include changing the weight of objects being lifting, relocating the objects being
lifting by changing the work surface heights, or purchasing lifting aids to assist with the manual lifting.
When ergonomic hazards cannot be addressed using elimination, substitution, or engineering controls, it may
be appropriate to consider administrative or work practice controls that establish efficient processes and
procedures. For example, the manual lifting task may be redesigned by changing the lift policy and requiring a
two person lift when materials exceed a certain weight or are awkward in shape and/or size. Other
administrative controls might involve establishing a job rotation system to minimize the duration of continual
exertion, repetitive motions, and awkward postures required during the lifting task or implementing policies
that mandate the use of lifting assist devices.
OSH 6301, Advanced Ergonomics
3
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is
another option that can be utilized to address
MSD risks; however, they have limited
effectiveness in controlling ergonomic
hazards. Examples of personal protective
equipment include hard hats, safety shoes,
respirators, earplugs, safety goggles, and
chemical aprons (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, n.d.). One of the
most questionable options for prevention of
MSDs is the use of devices, such as wrist
supports and back braces. These devices
are often referred to as PPE even though
safety and health professionals generally
consider PPE as devices, which provide a
barrier between the worker and the hazard.
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
Because back braces are often worn by
grocery store clerks, airline baggage
Personal protective equipment
handlers, and warehouse workers to prevent
(Lbarn, 2011)
injuries during lifting tasks, The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been tasked to provide input on the belt that
provides the best protection (NIOSH, 1996). Rather than address the question of which belt is best, NIOSH
has approached back belt usage by evaluating the effectiveness of the belts in protecting workers. A review of
the scientific literature indicates back belts may be effective in some settings; however, NIOSH (1996) still
believes the evidence is inconclusive and recommends implementation of an ergonomics program focused on
redesigning the work environment and work tasks as the most effective way to prevent back injuries.
Conclusion
MSD injuries can be associated with a wide range of issues relative to the design of work. To reduce the risk
of injury, work tasks should be designed to minimize exposure to ergonomic risk factors. When hazards are
identified through either observation of workplace conditions, review of injury records, or early reporting by
employees, appropriate measures should be implemented to reduce, control, or eliminate work-related MSDs.
Elimination, substitution, and engineering controls are the most desirable approaches to controlling injuries. In
cases where engineering controls cannot be implemented or when different procedures are warranted
following the implementation of engineering controls, administrative or work practice controls may be
appropriate. Personal protection solutions have limited effectiveness when dealing with ergonomic hazards
and should only be used as a last resort. Using ergonomic intervention to address the design of work lessens
the magnitude of risk factors and minimizes the likelihood of injury/illness (Michael, 2001).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics.
https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/health-strategies/musculoskeletaldisorders/index.html
Lbarn. (2011). Personal protective equipment (ID 22337977) [Photograph]. Dreamstime.
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-personal-protective-equipmentimage22337977
OSH 6301, Advanced Ergonomics
4
Michael, R. (2001). Control strategies: Engineering, administrative and PPE. Ergoweb.
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (1996). Back belts–Do they prevent injury? (DHHS
[NIOSH] Publication No. 94-127). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94-127/default.html
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click on the links below.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has compiled several resources to provide
guidance to employers on controlling ergonomic hazards. This information is recommended reading to
enhance your understanding of the impact of job design on the development of work-related musculoskeletal
disorders (WMSDs).
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Ergonomics: Solutions to control hazards.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/controlhazards.html
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). Controlling ergonomic hazards [Fact Sheet E].
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy11_sh-22240-11_ErgoHazards.pdf
The below manual defines material handling and provides useful guidelines for safety.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2007). Ergonomic guidelines for manual material
handling (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 2007–131). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007131/pdfs/2007-131.pdf
This below resource is a refresher from Unit III and discusses the causes and preventions of work-related
musculoskeletal disorders.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Ergonomics. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Complete exercise number 1 on page 199 in the course textbook. Additionally, identify three ways the task
could be redesigned to improve efficiency, worker comfort, and safety.
OSH 6301, Advanced Ergonomics
5
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
