Job rotation means rotating employees through differen

1
Ergonomics

• Make the job fit the worker
• Ergonomics is defined as the study of work and is
  based on the principle that the job should be
  adapted to fit the person rather than forcing the
  person to fit the job.

2
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2000

• 27.3 Lost/restricted workdays were due to
  overexertion
• 15.4 Lost/restricted workdays were due to
  overexertion in lifting

3
Wisconsin Workers Comp 2001

• 46 of all claims were strains
• 22 of all claims involved the lower back
• The average cost for lost wages for these claims
  was
• 4,448

4
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2003

• 1,300,000 injuries and illnesses in private
  industry required recuperation away from work
  beyond the day of incident.
• Sprains and strains, most often involving the
  back, accounted for 43 of injuries and illnesses
  resulting in days away from work (43 of 1.3M
  559,000).

5
Ergonomics
Repetition
Force
Awkward posture
Lack of recovery time
6
Does your job give you a pain in the neck?

• Is there anything that can be done?
• Can the job be made more
• worker-friendly?
• Most likely YES!

7
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)Clues

• Employee fatigue or discomfort
• Employees restricting their movements or range of
  motion because of fatigue or discomfort (e.g., a
  stiff neck, sore shoulder, or backache)
• Employees modifying tools, equipment, or
  workstations on their own
• High absenteeism or employee turnover rates
• Poor product or service quality
• High error rates or waste of materials
• Employee complaints
• Work structure bottlenecks
• Employee reports of problems

8
Lets be Pro-Active

• Eliminate manual handling, if/when possible
• Keep objects high enough to avoid bending
• Keep items below shoulder height
• Keep objects close to the body
• Reduce the weight of lifted objects
• Reduce the size of objects
• Provide handles
• Utilize mechanical assists or get help
• Eliminate twisting
• Provide adequate workspace

9
Lets be Pro-Active

• Evaluate the tasks and hazards
• http//www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid2
  601
• Strengthen your back
• http//www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/ergonomics/shops.htm
  l

10
Lets be Pro-Active

• Select tools that are less likely to cause
  injury
• http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-164/pdfs/2004-1
  64.pdf

11
What must we do?

• Engineering Controls
• Raise or lower the work surface or the employee
  reduces bending, reaching, and awkward postures.
• Use cutout work surfaces allows employees to
  get closer to their work, reducing visual effort
  and awkward postures.
• Reposition the work reduces bending and
  reaching.
• Keep equipment in good repair (mufflers).

12
What must we do?

• Administrative Controls
• Job rotation and job enlargement strategies could
  be used to increase variety in jobs. Job rotation
  means rotating employees through different jobs.
  Job enlargement means increasing the variety by
  combining two or more jobs or adding tasks to a
  particular job.

13
What must we do?

• Personal Protective Equipment
• PPE includes gloves, knee and elbow pads, safety
  boots, eye protection, hearing protection,
  respirators, hard hats, and other items that
  employees wear.

14
Ergonomics Training

• An important part of an effective ergonomics
  program is training and education.
• For improvements to be effective, employees need
  to be trained thoroughly and given opportunities
  for hands-on practice with any new tools,
  equipment, or work procedures.
• The goals for training should include a mix of
  the knowledge and the skills needed to work
  safely.
• Employees should always be informed of any
  workplace changes before implementation.

15
Hearing Conservation

• NOW HEAR THIS
• Loud noises can cause hearing loss by damaging
  the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. Most of
  the time this damage happens gradually when
  prolonged exposure to loud sounds exhausts these
  hair cells, says Dr. Mark Stephenson, NIOSH
  audiologist. As noise levels increase, the tiny
  cilia at the top of the hair cells can be injured
  or broken off. Entire groups of these hair cells
  can even be torn away. Hair cells don't repair
  themselves. So when enough hair cells are
  damaged, a hearing loss results.

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Hearing Conservation

• HEARING CONSERVATION The occupational noise
  standard 29 CFR 1910.95 states that the employer
  must retain records of noise exposure
  measurements and audiometric tests for at least
  the following periods
• Noise exposure measurement records will be
  retained for two years.
• Audiometric test records will be retained for the
  duration of the affected workers employment plus
  30 years.

17
Hearing Conservation

• STANDARD THRESHOLD SHIFT AND ADJUSTMENT FOR AGE
• A Standard Threshold Shift is a change in hearing
  threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of
  an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and
  4000 Hz in either ear.
• In determining whether a standard threshold shift
  has occurred, allowance MAY NOT be made for the
  contribution of aging (presbycusis) to the change
  in hearing level by correcting the annual
  audiogram according to the statutes and
  administrative rules described in (DWD 80.25)

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Hearing Protection Devices

• Hearing protectors are available to all employees
  whose daily average noise exposures are 85 dBA or
  above.
• NIOSH recommends requiring HPD use if noises
  equal or exceed 85 dBA regardless of exposure
  time.
• Audiogram screenings are available annually
  (3667).

19
Hearing Conservation

• AUDIOGRAMS ARE MEDICAL RECORDS
• Audiograms are medical records. Audiograms can
  be retained in an employees employment medical
  file or by the healthcare provider doing the
  hearing test. The records are confidential but
  can be reviewed or obtained through a signed
  release from the employee (HIPPA form).

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Loud Equipment - 2005
21
Ergonomics Hearing Conservation

• Ergonomics
• Adapt the job to the worker.
• Major cause of injuries Sprains Strains -
  mainly back injuries (559,000 in 2003).
• Jobs can usually be made more worker-friendly.
• Evaluate tasks, strengthen your back, implement
  engineering controls, administrative controls,
  personal protective equipment, and use ergonomic
  tools.
• Hearing
• Hearing losses are permanent. HPDs are available.
• Noise measurements can be/have been made.
• Audiogram screenings are available and free
  (3667).