CENTERS FOR DI SEASE CONTROL

AND PREVENTI ON
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health D E P A
R
T
M
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U
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AN SERVIC
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A
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Nati o nal Ins ti tute fo r
Occupati o nal Safe ty and He al th
IOSH
A Primer based
on Workplace
Evaluations of
Musculoskeletal
Disorders
ELEMENTS OF
ERGONOMICS
PROGRAMS
A Pathway to Contr olling Wor k-Related
Musculoskeletal Disor der s ( WMSDs)
LOOKING FOR
SIGNS OF WMSDs
SETTING THE
STAGE FOR ACTION
TRAININGBUILDING
IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE
GATHERING AND EXAMINING
EVIDENCE OF WMSDs
DEVELOPING CONTROLS
ESTABLISHING HEALTH
CARE MANAGEMENT
CREATING A PROACTIVE
ERGONOMICS PROGRAM
Cu es a n d tip -o ffs
to p r o b lems
Man agemen t co mmitmen t
an d emp lo yee r o les
Op tio n s fo r r ed u cin g r isk s an d
e va lu a tin g th e ir e ffe c tive n e ss
He a lth a n d r isk fa c to r d a ta
c o lle c tio n a n d a sse ssme n t
Du tie s o f h e a lth c a r e
p r o vid er s an d o th er s
Accen t o n p r even tio n
Gen er al an d sp ecialized tr ain in g
n eed s an d access to r eso u r ces
vii
Awkward Postures
Wrist Deviations Poor Shoulder/Wrist Position
Overhead Work Twisting and Carrying Loads
Contact Stress
Lifting Bulky Loads Hand - Arm Vibration Whole Body Vibration
Figure 1. Illustrations of selected risk factor conditions. (Illustrations adapted from UAW-GM Center for Health &
Safety [1990]; Putz-Anderson V [1988]; Grant et al. [1995]; Canadian Center of Occupational Safety and Health [1988];
American Meat Institute and Ergo Tech, Inc. [1990].
21
Figure 2. Illustrations of some basic ways for controlling selected risk factor conditions.
Raise and tilt the
container for easier
access and to reduce
bending and lifting
burdens.
Use a turntable
with fixture to hold
the work; select a tool that
reduces wrist deviations.
Round or pad edges
of guards, contain-
ers, or work tables.
Use mechanical
assist devices for
less stressful handling.
Select power tools
with anti-vibration
properties. Use handle
coatings that suppress
vibrations; increase
coefficient of friction to
reduce force requirements.
Use balancers,
isolators and
damping materials to
reduce vibrations at the
source or along trans-
mission path. Make
driving surface smooth.
Raise worker with
platform and use
in-line tool to reduce wrist
bending.
Extend and support
tool to reduce
stress on arm and shoulder.
Use conveyors to
reduce twisting
and eliminate lifting and
carrying.
33
Front Back
(Continued)
Yes No (If NO, stop here)
Have you had any pain or discomfort during the last year?
If YES, carefully shade in area of the drawing which bothers you the MOST.
Symptoms Survey: Ergonomics Program
Job Name
Hours worked/week Time on THIS Job Shift
Date
years months
Plant Dept #
Other jobs you have done in the last year (for more than 2 weeks)
(If more than 2 jobs, include those you worked on the most)
Time on THIS Job
Time on THIS Job
Job Name
Job Name
months weeks
weeks months
Plant Dept #
Plant Dept #
Tray 4A. Symptoms Survey Form
87
1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 6 months
4. How many separate episodes have you had in the last year?
5. What do you think caused the problem?
6. Have you had this problem in the last 7 days? Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
7. How would you rate this problem? (mark an X on the line)
NOW
None
None
When it is the WORST
8. Have you had medical treatment for this problem?
8a. If NO, why not?
8a. If YES, where did you receive treatment?
1. Company Medical
2. Personal doctor
3. Other
Did treatment help?
9. How much time have you lost in the last year because of this problem? days
10. How many days in the last year were you on restricted or light duty because of this problem?
days
11. Please comment on what you think would improve your symptoms
Times in past year
Times in past year
Times in past year
(Complete a separate page for each area that bothers you)
2. When did you first notice the problem? (month) (year)
1. Please put a check by the words(s) that best describe your problem
Check Area:
3. How long does each episode last? (Mark an X along the line)
Shoulder Elbow/Forearm Hand/Wrist Fingers Neck
Unbearable
Unbearable
Low Back Thigh/Knee Low Leg Ankle/Foot
Upper Back
Stiffness Loss of Color
Numbness (asleep) Aching Tingling
Pain Burning Weakness
Swelling Cramping Other
Tray 4A (Continued).
88
Work Surface
Footrest
4"
ADJ.
25
510
Precision work Light work Heavy work
28"35"
37"43"
34"37"
64
56
48
40
32
24
16
8
0
0 8 16 24 32 40
Occasional
extended
reach
I
N
C
H
E
S
INCHES
60"
20"
40"
13"17"
10"
6"12"
7" Minimum 8"212"
14"21"
25
SEATED WORK:
Primary and secondary areas for table top work.
Optimal work surface height varies with the work performed:
Precision work = 3137 in.
Reading/writing = 2831 in.
Typing/light assembly = 2128 in.
Seat and back rest heights should be adjustable
as noted in chair requirements below.
SEATED WORK:
Boundaries for vertical reaches
for grasping objects.
STANDING WORK:
Shelf heights to which a free-
standing person can reach and
place a hand flat on a shelf
should not exceed 60 in.
STANDING WORK:
Workbench heights should be
above elbow height for
,
just below elbow height for
, and
46 in. below elbow height for
.
precision work
light work
heavy work
*Adapted in part from Grandjean E [1982] ( .
London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.) and UAW-GM [1990] ( Madison
Heights, Michigan: Center for Health & Safety).
Fitting the Task to the Man: An Ergonomic Approach
UAW-GM Ergonomics Handbook.
Tray 6A. Recommended Workstation Measurements*
21"25"
102