PMA Companies

University of Scranton

Ergonomics presented by Mary Ann BubkaNovember 4, 2013

Ergonomics

What will be covered:

• What is Ergonomics?• Why should we be concerned?• Musculosketetal Disorders (MSDs).• Ergonomic Risk Factors.• What you can do to prevent injury?

3

What is Ergonomics

• the science of fitting jobs to people. – Ergonomics uses knowledge of physical

abilities, limitations & human characteristics that apply to job design.

4

Ergonomic DesignErgonomic Design

• considers the tasks, considers the tasks, equipment & environment equipment & environment to provide efficient use of to provide efficient use of worker capabilities while worker capabilities while ensuring that job demands ensuring that job demands do not exceed those do not exceed those capabilitiescapabilities

5

Proper ergonomics canProper ergonomics can• Improve EfficiencyImprove Efficiency• Increase Production CapabilityIncrease Production Capability• Reduce Workplace InjuriesReduce Workplace Injuries• Lower Workers’ Comp CostsLower Workers’ Comp Costs• Reduce AbsenteeismReduce Absenteeism

6

Muscular Skeletal DisordersMuscular Skeletal Disorders

• MSDs are medical conditions that MSDs are medical conditions that develop gradually over a period of timedevelop gradually over a period of time

• MSDs do not typically result from a single MSDs do not typically result from a single instantaneous event.  instantaneous event.  

7

Muscular Skeletal DisordersMuscular Skeletal Disorders

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are an injury or illness to soft body are an injury or illness to soft body tissue such as:tissue such as:

»MusclesMuscles»NervesNerves»TendonsTendons»LigamentsLigaments»JointsJoints»CartilageCartilage»Spinal DiscsSpinal Discs

Why do we focus on Ergonomics?

To minimize employee pain and the impact on the organization of

ergonomic exposures.

Ergonomic related injuries

• May be called:– CTDs - cumulative trauma disorders – RSIs - repetitive stress injuries

OR

MSD – musculoskeletal disorders

They normally affect muscles, nerves, tendons,

ligaments, joints.

Common types of MSDs

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Tendonitis• Tennis Elbow• Trigger Finger• Strains/Sprains

Common Symptoms

• Soreness

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Weakness

• Limited Range of Motion

• Swelling

Controlling MSDs

• Step 1.

– Identify the risk factors

Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Repetition• Force• Awkward Posture• Static Posture• Contact Stress• Temperature Extremes• Vibration• Psycho Social

Repetition

• Occurs when the same movements are performed frequently such as keying or clicking a mouse.

• Can result in injury when the tissues are overused and do not have time to recuperate.

Risk Factors

Force

• Force is the amount of physical effort required by a person to do a task.

• With excessive force the muscles are working much harder than normal, this can lead to strain on the muscles, tendons, and joints.

Risk Factors

16

Force & ExertionForce & Exertion• Forceful exertions place higher loads on Forceful exertions place higher loads on

the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints joints

• Factors Factors •Weight Weight •BulkinessBulkiness•SpeedSpeed

Awkward Posture

• Is a deviation from the “neutral” body position.

• A “neutral” body position is safest and most efficient position in which to work.

• Awkward posture puts stress on muscles, tendons and joints.

Risk Factors

Static Posture

• Static posture occurs when one position is held for a prolonged period of time.

• The muscles become fatigued.

• This fatigue can lead to discomfort and even injury.

Risk Factors

Contact Stress

• Contact stress is caused by any sharp or hard object putting localized pressure on a part of the body.

• Contact stress will irritate local tissues and interfere with circulation and nerve function.

Risk Factors

Temperature Extremes

• Extreme heat or cold may place stress on tissues.

Risk Factors

21

Heat & ColdHeat & Cold• Heat Heat effects blood circulation & causes effects blood circulation & causes

cramps, burns/rashes and general cramps, burns/rashes and general discomfort. discomfort.

• Cold Cold effects the body's blood effects the body's blood circulation, causes hypothermia, loss circulation, causes hypothermia, loss of flexibility, distraction and poor of flexibility, distraction and poor dexterity.dexterity.

• Comfortable temperature rangeComfortable temperature range •68 to 74 degrees 68 to 74 degrees •Humidity 20 – 60%Humidity 20 – 60%

Vibration

• Vibration is typically not found in an office environment but can occur when using tools.

• Vibration places stress on the tissues of the fingers, hand and arms.

• Whole body vibration from driving puts stress on the spinal tissues.

Risk Factors

23

VibrationVibration• Excessive vibration causes pain to Excessive vibration causes pain to

muscles, joints and internal organsmuscles, joints and internal organs• Soft tissue trauma to the hands, arms, Soft tissue trauma to the hands, arms,

feet and legs. feet and legs.

Psycho-social Issues

• Stress, boredom, job dissatisfaction and anxiety can contribute to the possibility of developing a MSD.

• Psycho-social issues can create increased muscle tension and reduce a person’s awareness of work technique.

Risk Factors

Other contributory factors

• Smoking• Diabetes• Obesity• Age • Gender• Lifestyle• Physical activity level

26

MSDs are caused byMSDs are caused by»BendingBending»ClimbingClimbing»CrawlingCrawling»ReachingReaching»TwistingTwisting»OverexertionOverexertion»Repetitive ExposureRepetitive Exposure

27

Environment Risk FactorsEnvironment Risk Factors• Heat or coldHeat or cold• LightingLighting• VibrationVibration• Tool designTool design• NoiseNoise

28

Activity Risk FactorsActivity Risk Factors• Static or awkward posturesStatic or awkward postures• Improper grippingImproper gripping• Improper liftingImproper lifting• Repetitive MotionRepetitive Motion

29

LightingLighting• Under & over lighted areas causes:Under & over lighted areas causes:

»HeadachesHeadaches»Muscle strainsMuscle strains»FatigueFatigue»Eye strainEye strain

• Poorly lighted areas also contributes to Poorly lighted areas also contributes to trip & fall hazards & poor coordinationtrip & fall hazards & poor coordination

30

NoiseNoise• Noise peaks above 100 decibels cause:Noise peaks above 100 decibels cause:

»Headaches»Increased blood pressure»Muscle tension & fatigue»Irritability & distraction

31

PosturePosture• Prolonged standingProlonged standing - -

varicose veins, back stress, varicose veins, back stress, pooling of blood in legspooling of blood in legs

• Sitting without back supportSitting without back support - low back stress- low back stress

• Seat too highSeat too high - decreased - decreased circulation, (legs dangling circulation, (legs dangling over end) bruisesover end) bruises

32

PosturePosture• Shoulders roundedShoulders rounded - Upper/lower - Upper/lower

back stress, respiratory distressback stress, respiratory distress

• Leaning forwardLeaning forward - Lower back stress - Lower back stress

• Arms extendedArms extended or over-reaching  - or over-reaching  - Stress to arm muscles, upper back Stress to arm muscles, upper back stressstress

33

PosturePosture• Elbows "winged"Elbows "winged" - Joint stress at - Joint stress at

shoulder, poor use of bicep musclesshoulder, poor use of bicep muscles• Stepping backwardsStepping backwards - Loss of - Loss of

balance, displaced gravity, muscle balance, displaced gravity, muscle stressstress

• Locking kneesLocking knees - Stress to back of - Stress to back of knee, poor blood circulationknee, poor blood circulation

• Bent WristBent Wrist – excessive force when – excessive force when grippinggripping

34

RepetitionRepetition• Frequent & prolonged repetition of the Frequent & prolonged repetition of the

same movements cause muscle fatigue same movements cause muscle fatigue and stressand stress

• Factors that increase repetition hazardsFactors that increase repetition hazards•Number of cycles per minuteNumber of cycles per minute•Force requiredForce required•PosturePosture

35

GrippingGripping• Factors that increase gripping hazardsFactors that increase gripping hazards

•Bent wristBent wrist•Surface areaSurface area•Surface frictionSurface friction•VibrationVibration•Type of gripType of grip

36

LiftingLifting• Factors that increase lifting hazardsFactors that increase lifting hazards

•WeightWeight•SizeSize•RepetitionRepetition•TwistingTwisting•BendingBending•ReachingReaching•MethodMethod

37

Hazard ControlsHazard Controls• Engineering Controls• Work Practice Controls

38

Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls• Re-design of work stationRe-design of work station• Re-design of toolsRe-design of tools• Lighting modificationLighting modification• Vibration controlVibration control• Noise ControlNoise Control• AutomationAutomation• Mechanical LiftingMechanical Lifting• Material FlowMaterial Flow

39

Work Practice ControlsWork Practice Controls

• Work techniques & proceduresWork techniques & procedures• Conditioning period Conditioning period • Training Training Lifting techniquesLifting techniques• Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment

40

Hazard IdentificationHazard Identification

• Reports of signs, symptoms & hazards • Recommendations from employees &

supervisors • Records review of existing safety &

health records• Routine facility safety & health

inspections

41

Information & TrainingInformation & Training• Signs & symptoms Signs & symptoms • Importance of early reporting Importance of early reporting • Specific hazards & controlsSpecific hazards & controls• Reporting MSDs & hazardsReporting MSDs & hazards• How to recommend control methods How to recommend control methods • Protective MeasuresProtective Measures• Ergonomics program & their roleErgonomics program & their role

42

Employee InvolvementEmployee Involvement• Report of signs, symptoms & hazardsReport of signs, symptoms & hazards

• Hazard control recommendations Hazard control recommendations

• Access to informationAccess to information

43

RecordkeepingRecordkeeping• Reports of MSD or hazardsReports of MSD or hazards• Responses to employee reportsResponses to employee reports• Job hazard analysisJob hazard analysis• Hazard control recordsHazard control records• Ergonomics program evaluationErgonomics program evaluation• MSD management recordsMSD management records

A Typical Workday

Controlling MSDs

Step 2 –

•Fit the workstation to you.

Adjusting Seat Height

• Knees and hips should be level.

• Feet should be flat on the floor or footrest.

• Back of knees should not come in direct contact with the front of the seatpan.

Seat Back

• Support your low back using the chair’s backrest.

• The curve of the backrest should match the curve of your low back.

Arm Rests

• Adjust to lightly support arms.

• Use only for breaks or non keying/mousing activities.

• Lower arm rests slightly for typing or mousing.

Variable Back Stop

• Slight reclining gives the spine a rest.

• Keep the buttocks back, don’t slouch.

Not all chairs have this feature

Seat Tension

• Turn knob or adjust lever under the chair.

• Adjust tension to body weight.– Soft enough to recline.

– Firm enough to support you.

Not all chairs have this feature

Keyboard / Mouse

Keyboard

• Wrists should be in a neutral position.

• Keyboard should be flat.

• Key strokes should be light.

Adjustable Keyboard trays

• Make sure that your arms are in a relaxed position.

• Ensure adequate leg clearance under tray.

Mouse

• Mouse should be located adjacent to keyboard on same level.

• Hold hand lightly on the mouse.

• Use Scroll features.

Monitors

• Placement: – directly in front of you at

arm’s length– top of the screen is eye-

level or lower– parallel to bright windows

• Adjustments: height, angle contrast, brightness, color and refresh rate.

Reach Zones

Frequent Used ItemsOccasional Used Items

Rarely Used Items

Supporting Equipment

• Wrist and mouse rests – called “RESTS” for a reason!

• Copy/document holders• Headsets• Footrests• Back supports

What’s wrong with this picture?

What’s wrong with this picture?

What’s wrong with this picture?

What’s wrong with this picture?

62

Thank you for your attendance!Thank you for your attendance!

Questions?Questions?