MSDI Hazards shift start info & discussion points Monday Identifying hazards Background It is widely accepted that implementation of a comprehensive ergonomics program is likely to be the most effective means of reducing exposure to musculoskeletal injury risks associated with manual tasks within individual workplaces. The core elements of a successful ergonomics program include management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification, risk control, and employee training and education. . Benefits of the participative approach include: expertise of workers is used to identify problems and solutions resulting in a better quality of risk assessment and control workers develop ownership of the process and are consequently more likely to support rather than obstruct suggested changes to work practises improved team work and team cooperation positive impact on general safety climate and culture. August 2004.  Copyright © Australian Coal Research Limited.

Identifying hazards Identifying hazards is different to assessing risk. A hazard is something that might cause harm. Risk is about how bad the harm could be and how often it could happen.

Identifying hazards Assessing risk isn't about ticks and crosses in boxes. It’s about you - mind and body, your work, the work equipment, tools and tasks.

MSDI Hazards shift start info & discussion points Tuesday How to assess musculoskeletal risk accurately Background It is widely accepted that implementation of a comprehensive ergonomics program is likely to be the most effective means of reducing exposure to musculoskeletal injury risks associated with manual tasks within individual workplaces. The core elements of a successful ergonomics program include management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification, risk control, and employee training and education. . Benefits of the participative approach include: expertise of workers is used to identify problems and solutions resulting in a better quality of risk assessment and control workers develop ownership of the process and are consequently more likely to support rather than obstruct suggested changes to work practises improved team work and team cooperation positive impact on general safety climate and culture. August 2004.  Copyright © Australian Coal Research Limited.

How to assess musculoskeletal risk accurately A hazard is something that might lead to harm, risk is about how bad the harm could be and how often it could occur. First identify hazards in the workplace.

How to assess musculoskeletal risk accurately Physical hazard factors such as: Whole body vibration (e.g. driving a forklift) and hand-arm vibration (e.g. using a hand-held drill) Highly repetitive movements Forceful exertions such as lifting, pushing, pinching or gripping Low-level exertions in awkward postures Jerky actions Awkward hand grips

How to assess musculoskeletal risk accurately Personal hazard factors – for example muscle fatigue and stress – that increase the risk of injury, and these also need to be taken into account. Cumulative hazard factors - many musculoskeletal injuries are cumulative, which means that rather than being caused by one event (for example, lifting a heavy load incorrectly) they build up over time. Static or awkward postures Repetitive low force actions.

How to assess musculoskeletal risk accurately What is being done before and after matters just as much as the task physical factors: What was the task before What was the recovery (change, movement & rest) afterwards?

MSDI Hazards shift start info & discussion points Wednesday Severity Background It is widely accepted that implementation of a comprehensive ergonomics program is likely to be the most effective means of reducing exposure to musculoskeletal injury risks associated with manual tasks within individual workplaces. The core elements of a successful ergonomics program include management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification, risk control, and employee training and education. . Benefits of the participative approach include: expertise of workers is used to identify problems and solutions resulting in a better quality of risk assessment and control workers develop ownership of the process and are consequently more likely to support rather than obstruct suggested changes to work practises improved team work and team cooperation positive impact on general safety climate and culture. August 2004.  Copyright © Australian Coal Research Limited.

Severity Assess the SEVERITY (not just the presence) of the hazards identified. Some hazards are more hazardous than others! This is something that a “tick the box” checklist approach often gets wrong. It is important to know which workplace hazards are the most severe so that risk management can be prioritised properly.

Severity Remember that risk accumulates over the course of a shift: hazard severity will vary from task to task, but it is the overall level of exposure that matters. “Snapshot” approaches – which look at hazard exposure at one point in time – do not give an accurate idea of risk. It is more useful to look at “job” or “shift” exposure, rather than “task” exposure.

MSDI Hazards shift start info & discussion points Thursday Dose is the key to understanding musculoskeletal risk accurately Background It is widely accepted that implementation of a comprehensive ergonomics program is likely to be the most effective means of reducing exposure to musculoskeletal injury risks associated with manual tasks within individual workplaces. The core elements of a successful ergonomics program include management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification, risk control, and employee training and education. . Benefits of the participative approach include: expertise of workers is used to identify problems and solutions resulting in a better quality of risk assessment and control workers develop ownership of the process and are consequently more likely to support rather than obstruct suggested changes to work practises improved team work and team cooperation positive impact on general safety climate and culture. August 2004.  Copyright © Australian Coal Research Limited.

Dose Assess the “dose” of risk Calculate “dose,” to know both how severe hazards are, and for how long particular employees are exposed to particular hazards. DOSE = Average severity of hazard X Duration of exposure to it. Tolerance Time Load Dose

MSDI Hazards shift start info & discussion points Friday Fatigue, rest, movement & recovery Background It is widely accepted that implementation of a comprehensive ergonomics program is likely to be the most effective means of reducing exposure to musculoskeletal injury risks associated with manual tasks within individual workplaces. The core elements of a successful ergonomics program include management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification, risk control, and employee training and education. . Benefits of the participative approach include: expertise of workers is used to identify problems and solutions resulting in a better quality of risk assessment and control workers develop ownership of the process and are consequently more likely to support rather than obstruct suggested changes to work practises improved team work and team cooperation positive impact on general safety climate and culture. August 2004.  Copyright © Australian Coal Research Limited.

Fatigue, rest, movement & recovery Micro pauses, rest and recovery during the task, during breaks and off-shift

Fatigue, rest, movement & recovery Physical impact may accumulate across rest breaks and even across shifts. Depending on the pattern of rest breaks, some physical impacts – like fatigue and damage to muscles – accumulate across breaks, across shifts and even across the working week. Use the JointAction sources of advice and information to help you find what works for you.