Managing an Ergonomics Program

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Chapter 29

• Managing an Ergonomics Program

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Ergonomic Program WMSD
ORGANIZATION
ERGO PROGRAM
HR
Engineering
Ops. Management Workers
Program Elements
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History of Ergonomics Programs

• 1993 OSHA Ergonomics Program Management
  Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants
• 1990s General Duty Clause (5a-1) citations
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and
  Health hazard evaluations
• 2000 OSHA Ergonomic Program Standard

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Development of Ergonomic Standards

• 2001 Ergonomic Program Standard rescinded
• Currently there is no federal ergonomics
  standard.
• OSHA continues to apply General Duty Clause.
• Some states have workplace ergonomics standards.
• ANSI provides a voluntary standard (Management of
  Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders)

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The Ergonomics Program as a System

• To reduce or eliminate potential for disorders.
• To provide treatment to reduce effects of
  disorders if they occur.
• Responsibilities depend on size of facility and
  manufacturing vs. service.
• Activities divide into
• Human resources
• Engineering and operations management
• Workers

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Human Resource Activities

• Collecting and maintaining employee information
• Occupational safety
• Medical
• Worker Compensation insurance

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Engineering

• Designing, installing, and maintaining workplace
  layout, work methods, tools, and equipment.
• Process engineering
• Maintenance
• Product engineering

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Operations Management

• Upper management sets goals and commits
  resources.
• Production supervisors
• Have familiarity with process and operators
• Are first to see problems
• Have a direct interest in efficiency and health

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Workers

• Are directly affected by ergonomics programs.
• Should be included in problem-solving efforts.
• Can suggest process improvements.
• Can detect and report symptoms of disorders early.

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Program Elements

• Basic goal is to provide an effective work
  environment that does result in biomechanical
  strain.
• Depend on size and characteristics of
  organization.
• Should include some form of all elements
  discussed here.

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Policies and Procedures Document

• Provides formal documentation to fulfill OSHA
  requirements.
• Communicates authority and accountability.
• Documents allocation of resources.
• May document improvements and accomplishments.

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Ergonomics Committee

• Should be separate from the safety committee.
• Should have representatives from production,
  safety, medical, human resources, maintenance,
  and engineering.
• Assist in prioritizing recommendations.
• Maintain documentation.
• Ensure periodic reviews of the ergonomics effort.

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Proactive Measures

• Integrate ergonomics into the workplace at the
  early stages of process design.
• Engineers must understand ergonomic implications
  of designs.
• Organizations can provide feedback to vendors.

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Worker Involvement

• Workers can suggest improvements and point out
  hazards.
• Provide feedback to the worker who makes a
  suggestion.
• Workers can help document effects of
  modifications.

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Identification of Problem Jobs Through
Surveillance

• Passive health surveillance
• Reviews of OSHA 300 logs
• Reviews of Workers Compensation insurance files
• Active health surveillance
• Ergonomics surveys of workers

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Identification of Problem Jobs Through Job-Site
Analysis

• Uses observations, interviews, and measurements
  to address existing operations
• Goal is to make recommendations to improve
  process as a whole
• Approaches
• Mathematical/computer models
• Qualitative and quantitative checklists
• Narrative text

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Checklists

• Qualitative checklists require categorical
  responses.
• Quantitative checklists provide a scaled number
  to indicate amount of risk.
• Checklists can be administered without technical
  understanding of ergonomics.
• Checklists may seriously misrepresent task
  requirements.

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Methods of Controlling WMSDs

• Administrative controls structuring workers
  jobs to reduce exposure to hazards
• Engineering controls modifying workplace
  design, equipment, and tools
• Work-practice controls addressing correct
  methods of performing tasks

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Training

• Signs and symptoms that indicate MSD might be
  developing
• Job-related risk factors associated with risk of
  disorders
• Procedures for addressing disorders, if they occur

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Medical Management

• Prevention of disorders or disabilities through
  early detection and treatment.
• Have individual workers understand early symptoms
  and report when they occur.
• Have health care providers tour the facility and
  understand task characteristics.

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Document and Evaluate the Program

• Periodically review documentation.
• Keep an ergonomics casebook.
• Prioritize proposed modifications.
• Follow up and evaluate to determine effectiveness
  of modifications.