UPPER LIMB DISORDERS

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UPPER LIMB DISORDERS
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• What are Upper Limb Disorders (ULDs)
• Risk factors associated with them
• Some things to look for when using the check list
• Where to get further guidance

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ULDs What are ULDs?
Disorders in the tissues of the upper limbs
Tissues Soft tissues, muscles, ligaments
tendons
Upper Limbs fingers, hand, arm, shoulder and
neck
Disorders Effects of tissue change stiffness,
weakness, pain, swelling, etc.
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Also known as

WRULDs RSI CTDs OOS MSDs WRMSDs
Upper Limb Disorders
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ULDs Risk Management
Understand the issues commit to action
Create the right organis- ational environment
Assess the risk of ULDs in the workplace
Reduce the risk of ULDs
Educate inform the workforce
Manage any episodes of ULDs
Carry out regular checks on effectiveness
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ULD Risk Factors
Key risk factors can be thought of as
task, individual worker, or environment related
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ULD Risk Factors - Task

• the following may be considered highly
• repetitive actions (and so high risk)
• shoulder movements gt 2.5 per minute
• elbow bends gt 10 per minute
• forearm/wrist bends gt 10 per minute
• trigger fingers gt 200 per minute

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ULD Risk Factors Task

• Working Posture
• increased risk of injury when posture is
• awkward and/or fixed.

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ULD Risk Factors Task
Niosh 1988
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ULD Risk Factors Task
Force can affect various structures of the
musculoskeletal system.
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ULD Risk Factors Task
Force

• Effects Muscles
• tendon/muscle tears
• post exercise soreness

Effects Tendons over stretching fraying of
tendon shearing synovium
Effects Nerves friction stretching squashing
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ULD Risk Factors Task
Force Hand/wrist forces
Low force 1kg or less Moderate force 1 4
kg High force more than 4kg
Silverstein 1986
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ULD Risk Factors Task
Rest Breaks Short frequent breaks
generally better than long infrequent
breaks
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ULD Risk Factors Task
Dababneh et. al. 2001 meat-processing plant

36 minutes extra 9 minute break every 51
minutes most acceptable to workforce reduced
worker discomfort for lower extremities production
rates improved in later hours of workday.
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ULD Risk Factors Environment
- alters sensation leading to over
gripping - increases muscle activity -
increase in carpal tunnel syndrome
Vibration
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ULD Risk Factors Environment
etc.
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ULD Risk Factors Individual

• new employees
• competence skill level
• body size
• vulnerable groups
• health status and disability
• individual attitudes/compliance

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ULDs Risk Factors
All risk factors work together to create an
overall effect on people
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ULDs Risk Assessment (TILE)

• Task Individual
• Movement frequency arms, wrists, fingers, neck
• Duration of work / rest break patterns
• Posture (full body and arms)
• Workstation set-up / design
• Individual differences / vulnerable people
• Forces being applied
• Gripping, pushing, twisting, pinching etc.
• Environmental factors
• Physical environment
• Psychosocial factors

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ULDs Ergonomic Guidelines
Recommended working heights
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ULDs Ergonomic Guidelines
Recommended reach / work zones
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ULDs Ergonomic Guidelines

• Work station layout
• Achieve better working heights
• Reduce reach distances
• Use of deflectors on conveyors

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ULDs Ergonomic Guidelines

• Good lighting
• Use of job aids/ jigs to improve accessibility
• Suitable tools for tasks
• E.g. tools with sufficient power / sharpness /
  accuracy

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ULDs Ergonomic Guidelines

• Production line speed
• Reduce speed
• Increase number of staff on the production line
• Improve preparation
• Deal with stopping the line
• Control / limit the forces being applied /
  weights being handled
• Deal with reluctance to stop lines

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ULDs Useful Guidance and Links
www.hse.gov.uk/msd