Workplace ErgonomicsWorkplace Ergonomics

Lecture SixLecture Six

Egonomics DefinedEgonomics Defined

Ergonomics is the science of Ergonomics is the science of conforming the workplace and all conforming the workplace and all of its elements to the worker.of its elements to the worker.

The word ergonomics comes from the Greek word The word ergonomics comes from the Greek word ErgonErgon which means work and from which means work and from nomosnomos which which means laws. It means work laws.means laws. It means work laws.

BACK INJURIESBACK INJURIESMost commonly caused by improper lifting.Most commonly caused by improper lifting.Cost $12 million a year in compensation claims.Cost $12 million a year in compensation claims.Lower back injuries account for 20 to 30 percnt of Lower back injuries account for 20 to 30 percnt of all workers’ compensation claims.all workers’ compensation claims.33 to 40 percent of all claims related to lower 33 to 40 percent of all claims related to lower back.back.46,000 back injuries each year.46,000 back injuries each year.Back injuries cause 100 million loast work days Back injuries cause 100 million loast work days each year.each year.80 percent of the population will experience lower 80 percent of the population will experience lower back pain at some time in their lives.back pain at some time in their lives.

LIFTING TECHNIQUELIFTING TECHNIQUEPlan Ahead:Plan Ahead:

Determine if you can lift the load.Determine if you can lift the load.

Decide if you need assistance.Decide if you need assistance.

Check your route to see if it has obstructions or Check your route to see if it has obstructions or slippery surfaces.slippery surfaces.

Lift with Your Legs, Not Your BackLift with Your Legs, Not Your Back

Bend your knees, keeping your back straight.Bend your knees, keeping your back straight.

Position your feet close to the object.Position your feet close to the object.

Center your body over the load.Center your body over the load.

LIFTING TECHNIQUELIFTING TECHNIQUELift with Your Legs, Not Your BackLift with Your Legs, Not Your Back

Lift straight up smoothly; don’t jerk.Lift straight up smoothly; don’t jerk.

Keep your torso straight; don’t Keep your torso straight; don’t twist while twist while lifting.lifting.

Set the load down slowly and Set the load down slowly and smoothly with smoothly with a straight back and bent knees.a straight back and bent knees.

Push, Don’t PullPush, Don’t Pull

Pushing places less strain on your back.Pushing places less strain on your back.

Use rollers under the object when Use rollers under the object when

possiblepossible..

HAND AND WRIST INJURIESHAND AND WRIST INJURIESCarpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal Tunnel Syndrome

Caused when repeated flexing of hand Caused when repeated flexing of hand muscles causes median nerve to swell muscles causes median nerve to swell and exert pressure on the carpal tunnel and exert pressure on the carpal tunnel of the wrist.of the wrist.

CausesCauses

Heavy demand on handsHeavy demand on hands

Vibrating toolsVibrating tools

Cold temperaturesCold temperatures

ARM AND SHOULDER INJURIESARM AND SHOULDER INJURIES

Main cause is repeated lifting and Main cause is repeated lifting and stretching of the muscle group stretching of the muscle group leading to overuse damage.leading to overuse damage.

Equipment should be waist level.Equipment should be waist level.

Tools should control flexing of the Tools should control flexing of the wrist and elbow.wrist and elbow.

NOISENOISE

The modern industrial factory is a The modern industrial factory is a noisy place.noisy place.

Noise in the workplace poses two Noise in the workplace poses two safety and health related problems:safety and health related problems:– DistractionDistraction– Permanent Hearing LossPermanent Hearing Loss

NOISENOISECharacteristics of SoundCharacteristics of Sound

NoiseNoise is any is any unwantedunwanted sound soundSoundSound is any change in pressure that can be is any change in pressure that can be detected by the ear.detected by the ear.The unit for measuring sound is the The unit for measuring sound is the decibeldecibel..The weakest sound that can be heard, normally, The weakest sound that can be heard, normally, is 10dBA.is 10dBA.The maximum level that can be heard without The maximum level that can be heard without pain(pain threshold) is usually 140dBA.pain(pain threshold) is usually 140dBA.The unprotected ear is at risk when exposed to a The unprotected ear is at risk when exposed to a level higher than 115dBA.level higher than 115dBA.Exposure of 90 dBA for a period of 8 hours Exposure of 90 dBA for a period of 8 hours requires hearing protection. (OSHA 1910.95)requires hearing protection. (OSHA 1910.95)

NOISE NOISE (continued)(continued)

ExamplesExamples

Sound dBASound dBAWhisper 20Whisper 20

Quiet Office 50Quiet Office 50

Normal Conversation 60Normal Conversation 60

Noisy Office 80Noisy Office 80

Power Saw 90Power Saw 90

Chain Saw 90Chain Saw 90

Grinding Operations 100Grinding Operations 100

Passing Truck 100Passing Truck 100

Jet Aircraft 150Jet Aircraft 150

NOISE NOISE (continued)(continued)

Dosimeter-Noise measurement.Dosimeter-Noise measurement.

Protective Equipment NNRProtective Equipment NNR

Audiometric Testing-Periodic testing Audiometric Testing-Periodic testing of the noise threshold of employees.of the noise threshold of employees.

RADIATIONRADIATION

Radiation is the emission of energy in Radiation is the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or the form of electromagnetic waves or photons.photons.

There are two types of radiation that There are two types of radiation that are a health concern are a health concern ionizingionizing and and non-ionizingnon-ionizing..

Ionizing RadiationIonizing Radiation

The most important point to make is The most important point to make is that ionizing radiation, from emitting that ionizing radiation, from emitting radioactive sources, can create radioactive sources, can create permanent changes in the human permanent changes in the human body including death.body including death.

Sources: Alpha, Beta, GammaSources: Alpha, Beta, Gamma

Non-Ionizing RadiationNon-Ionizing RadiationChief Danger: Blisters and blindness. Chief Danger: Blisters and blindness. There is evidence to support There is evidence to support connection between non-ionizing connection between non-ionizing radiation and cancer.radiation and cancer.Sources: visible radiation, ultraviolet Sources: visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, lasers, radiation, infrared radiation, lasers, and video display terminals and and video display terminals and electromagnetic radiation from electromagnetic radiation from power lines and sub stations.power lines and sub stations.

MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION

An An ergerg is a unit of energy, 10 -7 is a unit of energy, 10 -7 Joules. One Joules. One radrad is equal to 100 ergs. is equal to 100 ergs.

A A radrad is a measure of the dose of is a measure of the dose of ionizing radiation absorbed by the ionizing radiation absorbed by the body.body.

Measuring Devices: film badges, Measuring Devices: film badges, pocket chambers, pocket chambers, dosimetersdosimeters, and , and film rings, and the film rings, and the Geiger CounterGeiger Counter..

ASBESTOS, DUSTS, AND LUNG ASBESTOS, DUSTS, AND LUNG DISEASEDISEASE

Chief Health Threat: Asbestosis and Chief Health Threat: Asbestosis and Lung Cancer.Lung Cancer.

Where it used to be used.Where it used to be used.

May take many years to manifest.May take many years to manifest.

Working With Working With ASBESTOSASBESTOS

Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls

PPEPPE

EducationEducation

TrainingTraining

HEPA EquipmentHEPA Equipment

Wet-Wash EquipmentWet-Wash Equipment

Monitoring Monitoring

FETAL PROTECTIONFETAL PROTECTION

Women of normal child bearing ages Women of normal child bearing ages must be protected.must be protected.

MSDS- Identification of common MSDS- Identification of common hazardous materials: lead, hydrogen hazardous materials: lead, hydrogen sulfide, benzene, mercury, nicotine, sulfide, benzene, mercury, nicotine, phenol, xylene, toluene, vinyl phenol, xylene, toluene, vinyl chloride, and alcohol.chloride, and alcohol.

THE ENVIRONMENTTHE ENVIRONMENT Industry is currently dealing with such Industry is currently dealing with such

issues as acid rain, ground-level ozone, issues as acid rain, ground-level ozone, lack of straospheric ozone, radon gas, lack of straospheric ozone, radon gas, the need for additional cleanup of PCBs, the need for additional cleanup of PCBs, polluted ground water, and over limit polluted ground water, and over limit level limit lead in our drinking water.level limit lead in our drinking water.

With good environmental management, With good environmental management, industry and the environment can be industry and the environment can be compatible.compatible.

THE ENVIRONMENTTHE ENVIRONMENT

EPAEPA

ISO 14000ISO 14000

One oz. Of Gasoline contaminates One oz. Of Gasoline contaminates 15000 gallons of ground water.15000 gallons of ground water.

““Cradle to Grave Responsibility.”Cradle to Grave Responsibility.”

PollutionPollution

Carbon monoxide emissionsCarbon monoxide emissions

Volatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compounds

Sulfur oxidesSulfur oxides

Ocean dumping of industrial wastesOcean dumping of industrial wastes

Cities without adequate sewage Cities without adequate sewage treatmenttreatment

Polluted riversPolluted rivers

REVIEWREVIEW::1. What is ergonomics?1. What is ergonomics?2. What are the usual causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?2. What are the usual causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?3. At what level should equipment controls be located?3. At what level should equipment controls be located?4. How is noise measured?4. How is noise measured?5. Name three kinds of ionizing radiation.5. Name three kinds of ionizing radiation.6. What factors control the seriousness of a radiation 6. What factors control the seriousness of a radiation injury?injury?7. What is a pocket dosimeter?7. What is a pocket dosimeter?8. What is asbestosis?8. What is asbestosis?9. Give to ways to protect yourself from airborne particles.9. Give to ways to protect yourself from airborne particles.10. What kind of vacuum unit is used to capture dust during 10. What kind of vacuum unit is used to capture dust during asbestos removal? asbestos removal?

11. Give one use for the wet/wash recycle system11. Give one use for the wet/wash recycle system