UAW-GM Ergonomic Awareness

What Is Ergonomics… It is the field of study concerned with the design of environments, processes and products that are suitable for safe and effective worker use.  Making sure job demands do not exceed human capabilities jointly agreed upon by UAW and GM  Acknowledging that there is a relationship between certain types of work (risk factors) and injury  Attempting to eliminate risk factors to prevent and minimize injuries It is the field of study concerned with the design of environments, processes and products that are suitable for safe and effective worker use.  Making sure job demands do not exceed human capabilities jointly agreed upon by UAW and GM  Acknowledging that there is a relationship between certain types of work (risk factors) and injury  Attempting to eliminate risk factors to prevent and minimize injuries

What Ergonomics Can Do…  Reduce Injury/Illness & Cost associate with them  Reduce Absenteeism  Increase Worker Comfort  Improve Quality and Productivity  Verify if an operation is within acceptable risk factor limits  Identify improvements that make work less physically demanding  Reduce Injury/Illness & Cost associate with them  Reduce Absenteeism  Increase Worker Comfort  Improve Quality and Productivity  Verify if an operation is within acceptable risk factor limits  Identify improvements that make work less physically demanding

Ergonomics Injuries/Illness Most ergonomics injuries occur over a period of time and are considered cumulative injuries. EMSD – Ergonomically Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Most ergonomics injuries occur over a period of time and are considered cumulative injuries. EMSD – Ergonomically Related Musculoskeletal Disorder

Ergonomically Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (Commonly called CTD’s) Are damage to body tissue caused by outside forces. Over time, this damage interferes with a normal, healthy body.  Cumulative: building up or increasing over a long period of time  Trauma: the damage of body tissues by outside forces  Disorder: a condition that interferes with normal health functioning of the body Are damage to body tissue caused by outside forces. Over time, this damage interferes with a normal, healthy body.  Cumulative: building up or increasing over a long period of time  Trauma: the damage of body tissues by outside forces  Disorder: a condition that interferes with normal health functioning of the body

Ergonomics Injuries/Illness  Ergonomics MusculoSkeletal Disorder (EMSD) –To insure that our focus remains on ergonomics UAW-GM uses the acronym “EMSD” –Which looks at ergonomics injuries to muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs that are caused or aggravated by workplace risk factors.  Ergonomics MusculoSkeletal Disorder (EMSD) –To insure that our focus remains on ergonomics UAW-GM uses the acronym “EMSD” –Which looks at ergonomics injuries to muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs that are caused or aggravated by workplace risk factors.

Common Ergonomic Musculoskeletal Disorders Tendonitis Tenosynovitis Digital Neuritis Epicondylitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Tendonitis Tenosynovitis Digital Neuritis Epicondylitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Thoracic Outlet Syndrome De Quervain’s Disease Raynaud’s Phenomenon Rotator Cuff Tendonitis Low Back Pain

Areas Most Often Affected  Upper Extremities –Neck –Shoulders –Arms –Wrists –Hands  Lower Back  Upper Extremities –Neck –Shoulders –Arms –Wrists –Hands  Lower Back

Risk Factors An element or component of a job that increase a workers chance of injury or illness Force Awkward Posture Repetition

Common Risk Factors  Forcefulness –Lifting/Forceful Movement/Heavy Physical Work  Awkward Postures –Bending, Twisting, Extended Reaches and etc.  Repetitiveness  Mechanical Stress Concentration  Vibration –Segmental / Whole Body  Extreme Temperatures  Forcefulness –Lifting/Forceful Movement/Heavy Physical Work  Awkward Postures –Bending, Twisting, Extended Reaches and etc.  Repetitiveness  Mechanical Stress Concentration  Vibration –Segmental / Whole Body  Extreme Temperatures

Ergonomics Risk Factors We all have experienced these risks factors at one time or another. What makes them a hazard ? We all have experienced these risks factors at one time or another. What makes them a hazard ?

Risk Factors Hazard = Frequency * Exposure The possibility of worker injury greatly increases with frequency and exposure to one or more risk factors. Hazard = Frequency * Exposure The possibility of worker injury greatly increases with frequency and exposure to one or more risk factors.

Symptoms  Swelling  Numbness  Tingling  Burning Sensation  Pain Or Discomfort  Aching Or Cramping  Skin Discoloration  Weakness Or Stiffness  Swelling  Numbness  Tingling  Burning Sensation  Pain Or Discomfort  Aching Or Cramping  Skin Discoloration  Weakness Or Stiffness

Stages of Symptoms The symptoms often appear gradually in three stages becoming more severe as time goes on. Stage 3 Stage 2 Stage 1

Stages of Symptoms  Stage 1 –Symptoms appear during periods of activity and will disappear during periods of rest  Stage 2 –The symptoms progress and become persistent and fail to completely disappear during periods of rest –Your sleep may be disturbed at this stage.  Stage 1 –Symptoms appear during periods of activity and will disappear during periods of rest  Stage 2 –The symptoms progress and become persistent and fail to completely disappear during periods of rest –Your sleep may be disturbed at this stage.

Stages of Symptoms  Stage 3 –The symptoms become constant and your sleep is likely to be disturbed. –You feel pain with most activities and unable to perform most job tasks  Stage 3 –The symptoms become constant and your sleep is likely to be disturbed. –You feel pain with most activities and unable to perform most job tasks

Risk Factor Categories Workplace Environmental Individual Workplace Environmental Individual High Low Ability to Influence

UAW-GM Ergonomics Process

Purpose of the Ergonomics Program  To deal cooperatively and constructively with the risk factors associated with ergonomics-related musculoskeletal disorders (EMSD’s) in the workplace

Goal of Ergonomics To proactively reduce work- related EMSD’s and where possible, eliminate them completely. Everyone goes home safe and healthy To proactively reduce work- related EMSD’s and where possible, eliminate them completely. Everyone goes home safe and healthy

UAW-GM Ergonomic History 1983Sporadic activities in various plants and divisions 1989Corporate wide reactive ergonomics program began 1996Re – negotiated ergonomics program and established current roles and responsibilities (JETTs established) 2003Include the Quick Response Process (QRP) and Ergonomics Design Process 21 (EDP-21) 2007Improvements to EDP-21 process and Ergonomics tools (NIOSH HAL-TLV Recovery Tool) 1983Sporadic activities in various plants and divisions 1989Corporate wide reactive ergonomics program began 1996Re – negotiated ergonomics program and established current roles and responsibilities (JETTs established) 2003Include the Quick Response Process (QRP) and Ergonomics Design Process 21 (EDP-21) 2007Improvements to EDP-21 process and Ergonomics tools (NIOSH HAL-TLV Recovery Tool)

Ergonomic Process Two categories of Ergonomics involvement  Reactive Ergonomics – Assessing/correcting problems/risk factors on existing jobs in plants (current programs).  Proactive Ergonomics – Preventing ergonomics problems/risk factors by intervening with product and process design (EDP 21). This includes following jointly agreed upon applicable standards and best practices and assessing designs for potential risk factors. Two categories of Ergonomics involvement  Reactive Ergonomics – Assessing/correcting problems/risk factors on existing jobs in plants (current programs).  Proactive Ergonomics – Preventing ergonomics problems/risk factors by intervening with product and process design (EDP 21). This includes following jointly agreed upon applicable standards and best practices and assessing designs for potential risk factors.

Ergonomics Process  Identification  Analysis  Correction –Re-analysis  Identification  Analysis  Correction –Re-analysis

Ergonomics Process  Identification – identify jobs with potential ergonomics concerns –QRP (Quick Response Process) MI-QRP (Medically Initiated QRP) QRP (Non Medically initiated QRP) –Injury/Illness Data –Worker Compensation Data / Sickness and Accident Data –Referrals (medical workplace walkthroughs) –Medical daily log  Identification – identify jobs with potential ergonomics concerns –QRP (Quick Response Process) MI-QRP (Medically Initiated QRP) QRP (Non Medically initiated QRP) –Injury/Illness Data –Worker Compensation Data / Sickness and Accident Data –Referrals (medical workplace walkthroughs) –Medical daily log

The Quick Response Process  The quick response process is designed to identify potential ergonomics-related injury/illness process at the earliest point.  At anytime an employee, supervisor, committeeman, Health & Safety representative, JET, etc. may complete a QRP form for ergonomics concern.  You may identify a potential ergonomics concern and not be experiencing any medical symptoms. At these times, you may refer your job to the JETT for review.  The quick response process is designed to identify potential ergonomics-related injury/illness process at the earliest point.  At anytime an employee, supervisor, committeeman, Health & Safety representative, JET, etc. may complete a QRP form for ergonomics concern.  You may identify a potential ergonomics concern and not be experiencing any medical symptoms. At these times, you may refer your job to the JETT for review.

What Is a QRP  The QRP is a form an employee completes when they have ergonomic concerns with a job.  Your supervisor will make the forms available to you in paper form or there is an electronic version as well.  This form will be sent to the JETT for evaluation.  The QRP is a form an employee completes when they have ergonomic concerns with a job.  Your supervisor will make the forms available to you in paper form or there is an electronic version as well.  This form will be sent to the JETT for evaluation.

What Is an MIQRP  An MIQRP is a QRP initiated by medical when an employee reports an ergonomic work related injury  The supervisor will fill out an SIR (safety incident report)  The JETT will complete a RFC  The analysis will determine what (if anything) needs to be corrected on the job  An MIQRP is a QRP initiated by medical when an employee reports an ergonomic work related injury  The supervisor will fill out an SIR (safety incident report)  The JETT will complete a RFC  The analysis will determine what (if anything) needs to be corrected on the job

Ergonomics Process  Job Analysis – Identify unacceptable levels of ergonomics risk –First level screening (RFC) –Second Level analysis tools (when necessary) –Skilled trades interview form (when appropriate)  Job Analysis – Identify unacceptable levels of ergonomics risk –First level screening (RFC) –Second Level analysis tools (when necessary) –Skilled trades interview form (when appropriate)

Ergonomics Process  Correction – Implement job changes –JETT monitors the correction process –Reanalyze the job after corrections have been implemented  Correction – Implement job changes –JETT monitors the correction process –Reanalyze the job after corrections have been implemented

Types of Ergonomic Improvements  Tooling  Hoists  Lifts  Gloves and Pads  Part Presentation  Platforms  Tooling  Hoists  Lifts  Gloves and Pads  Part Presentation  Platforms  Training & Technique  Rotation  Engineering Changes  Removing Bad Parts  Administrative Controls

Roles & Responsibilities  Everyone’s Involvement –Team Members –Plant Safety Review Board (PSRB) –Local Joint Health and Safety Committee (LJHSC) –GM Health Services –Group Leaders –Skilled Trades –Engineering –Production Resources  Everyone’s Involvement –Team Members –Plant Safety Review Board (PSRB) –Local Joint Health and Safety Committee (LJHSC) –GM Health Services –Group Leaders –Skilled Trades –Engineering –Production Resources

Roles & Responsibilities  JETT –Administer the ergonomics program under the leadership and direction of the PSRB –Conduct Job Evaluation –Conduct Job Analysis –Recommend Corrections –Monitor the Corrections –Re-Analyze Jobs  JETT –Administer the ergonomics program under the leadership and direction of the PSRB –Conduct Job Evaluation –Conduct Job Analysis –Recommend Corrections –Monitor the Corrections –Re-Analyze Jobs

Roles & Responsibilities  JETT –Participate in review of equipment and/or process –Report monthly to PSRB and keep minutes specific to Ergonomics –Properly Document all QRP’s in the Technical Ergonomics Database (TED) –Joint UAW-GM decision to intervene  JETT –Participate in review of equipment and/or process –Report monthly to PSRB and keep minutes specific to Ergonomics –Properly Document all QRP’s in the Technical Ergonomics Database (TED) –Joint UAW-GM decision to intervene

How Can You Help  Fill out a Quick Response Process form (QRP)  Report all injuries and illness to Medical  Talk to your supervisor about job concerns  Fill out a Quick Response Process form (QRP)  Report all injuries and illness to Medical  Talk to your supervisor about job concerns

Conclusion By working jointly with your supervisor and the UAW-GM Joint Ergonomics Technician Team (JETT) you can help us reach our goal of keeping everyone safe and injury free.