Managing Ergonomic Risk to improve Musculoskeletal Health in the Construction Sector Frank Power Ergonomist (Inspector) Health and Safety Authority CMG Construction Health & Safety Conference October 2nd 2019

Ergonomics and Ergonomic Risks Understanding the way work is carried out Quantifying the physical ergonomic risks such as excessive force, awkward posture, repetition. Developing better ways of carrying out a work activity and managing the risks so that the workers can work within their capabilities and protect their musculoskeletal health.

Stone Cladding on Scaffold

Why do we need to manage Ergonomic risks in the workplace? Legal duties (e.g. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Manual Handling of Loads Regulation, Chapter 4 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Protect the health of our workforce Encourage the development of innovative engineering or organisational solutions to reduce risk

Managing Ergonomic Risk: What does it require? Getting management to commit to addressing ergonomic risk and providing the required resources Ensuring those responsible for purchasing equipment and designing workplaces understand the importance of integrating ergonomics from the beginning of a project Taking steps to understand the nature of work carried out in the workplace

Managing Ergonomic Risk: What does it require? Developing competencies in managing ergonomics risk by using appropriate risk assessment tools such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Manual Handling Assessment Charts (Mac Tool) and other tools where appropriate (e.g. RAPP Tool) Developing innovative engineering or organisational interventions to manage ergonomic risk Communicating and consulting with employees at all stages of the process Implementing appropriate changes in work practices Providing relevant training and development such as training in the use of new equipment

Ergonomics Risk Management: Required Outcomes Meet the legal requirements Work activity designed and planned with the needs and capabilities of the worker in mind Engineering changes and organisational at workplace level to avoid or reduce the risk of back injury or other musculoskeletal injury Emphasis is on managing ergonomic risk

Task Description and collecting technical information

Solution

Where Ergonomics fits in the Health and Safety Authority Strategy? Strategy of the Health and Safety Authority An Increased focus on health risks in the workplace. Increase the knowledge and understanding of occupational health risks (e.g. Musculoskeletal injury/illnesses) Raise awareness of the value of controlling occupational health risks and promoting positive health and well-being Ensure legal compliance through proportionate enforcement

Increase Inspector knowledge and understanding Develop Inspector Competency in addressing ergonomic risk during inspection: Mac Tool Risk Assessment Training by Health and Safety Laboratory UK

Ergonomic Risk Assessment Workshops for Industry Raise awareness amongst stakeholders on the need to manage ergonomic risks at workplace level: Practical Ergonomic Risk Assessment Workshops

The Health and Safety Executive Manual Handling Assessment Charts (Mac Tool) This is a tool designed to assess and quantify the most common risk factors in lifting, carrying and team handling operations It is evidence based and validated It is widely used in the UK at workplace level to manage ergonomic risk It can be used in to determine whether or not there is a contravention of the Manual Handling of Loads Regulation

Risk Factors: Load Weight/Frequency (1 person lift)

Ergonomic Risk Assessment Guidance

Inspector Interventions on managing ergonomic risk Ergonomist and local Inspector had concerns about the manual lifting of 90kg stone cladding units on site

Risk Factors R 6 3 A 1 2 G 19 TOTAL SCORE: Insert the colour band and numerical score for each of the risk factors in the appropriate boxes below, with reference to your assessment using the tool Risk Factors Colour Band (G, A, R, or P) Numerical Score lift carry Team Load weight and lift/carry frequency R 6 Hand distance from the lower back Vertical lift region   3 Trunk twisting / sideways bending Asymmetrical trunk / load (carrying) A 1 Postural constraints Grip on load 2 Floor surface G Other environmental factors Carry distance (carrying only) Obstacles en route (carrying only) Communication and co-ordination (team handling only) Other risk factors e.g. individual factors, psychosocial factors, etc. TOTAL SCORE: 19

Inspector Interventions on managing ergonomic risk Engineering system to avoid lifting Stone Cladding Unit

Construction Specific Strategy 2019-2021 Construction Sector Focus on three areas: Work at Height Traffic Management on sites Occupational Health: Respiratory Dusts and Manual Handling Risk Management

Planned Installation of 600 Stone cladding Units at Office complex No action had been taken on site to assess health risks related to the task of installing the cladding units.

Interventions put in Place: Load Weight specification data

Identifying Risk Factors: Use of the Health and Safety Executive Mac Tool: Load Weight/Frequency

Key Issues Observed Risk Level for Load Weight: Purple: Unacceptable Level of Risk: such operations present a serious risk of injury . Other risks factors observed with respect to awkward posture. No Risk Assessment to take account of the manual handling risk factors with respect to this operation There were hundreds of cladding units to be installed. The Method Statement prepared by the PSCS and the sub contractor did not make reference to the use of any mechanical equipment to install the cladding units Preliminary Health and Safety Plan prepared by the PSDP did not reference this aspect of the job (installing stone cladding units), did not reference any foreseeable risks or need for an engineering solution to assist those who would be installing the cladding units on site. No information available on the load weight specifications for the cladding units on site and no weight information on labelling on cladding loads delivered to site

Key Parties Involved The PSCS/Main Contractor on site The PSDP The sub contractors installing the stone cladding units The scaffold contractor The Engineers who certify the load capacity of the scaffolding The stone cladding suppliers

Actions Taken on site Requested Load weight specification Data Requested copies of the Preliminary Health and Safety Plan prepared by PSDP Requested copies of the current method statement Enforcement Action in the form of Notice/ROI left on site with PSDP and PSCS identifying that there was evidence serious risk of injury as a result of the ergonomic risk factors that exist in installing the cladding units manually on site and directing the appropriate means including mechanical equipment be used to install the stone cladding units on site Requested that a revised method statement would be developed detailing the step by step process for stone cladding installation using the new mechanical handling system and that this would be communicated to all those involved in the stone cladding installation. Requested that they assess the scaffold safety to take account of the use of the new handling equipment, etc.

Interventions put in Place: Engineering Solutions

Key Points for consideration Is there evidence that heavy loads are to be manually handled and installed on site which will result in a risk of injury (e.g. cladding units stored on pallets at the site or in loading bays)? Does the PSCS or contractor have details of the load weight specifications for loads to be handled on site? Is there evidence that the PSCS or Contractor has completed a risk assessment to quantify manual handling/ergonomic risk factors for the handling of heavy loads on site? Does the Preliminary Health and Safety Plan prepared by the PSDP make any reference to arrangements manual handling risks / arrangements put in place for handling heavy loads on site (e.g. Use of Scaffold Hoists or Abaco lifter for handling loads? Does the PSCS or Contractor have a method statement which details how loads are to be installed on site? Does the method statement include the use of mechanical handling equipment (e.g. Abaco Lifter/Scaffold hoist) for handling heavy loads?

Wrap Up There are significant manual handling risks related to work activities such as stone cladding and other heavy load handling activities and they do result in irreversible musculoskeletal injury over time as a result of cumulative exposure to bio-mechanical forces. It is not acceptable if these risks are not being managed on site in a similar way to other safety risks on site. There is need for further follow up with designers/Architects and CIF to increase awareness of the need to manage these risks more effectively on site. Tool box talks and manual handling training are not appropriate interventions New Base Line survey being developed to gather evidence on how well manual handling risks are being managed on site with key questions to be included

Thank you