HARDHAT ERGONOMICS Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 1 Ergonomics Awareness Training for Construction Workers A workshop for workers and supervisors in identifying and solving ergonomic problems on construction sites

Training Agenda & Objectives Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 2

Introductions Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 3 “Experience is the best teacher.” è Introduce yourself to the people at your table. è Add up how many years your group has worked in the construction industry. è Report your group’s total number of years worked to the large group.

Defining Ergonomics Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 4 What have you heard about ergonomics?

Defining Ergonomics Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 5 Use your brain, not your back. Work smarter, not harder. Fix the job, not the worker. Ergonomics is… the science and the art of fitting the job and the workplace to workers’ needs.

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders): Where does your job hurt you? Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 6 Where does your body hurt after working on the construction site all day? è Mark the places that people in your group hurt after working on the construction site on your group’s BODY MAP.

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 7 è Post your group’s BODY MAP on the wall. è Compare the BODY MAPS. What seems to be the same about the BODY MAPS? What do the BODY MAPS tell us about construction work?

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 8 A study done by the University of Iowa has shown that construction workers hurt! 70% report pain in their lower back 46% report pain in their knees 43% report pain in their wrists and hands 42% report pain in their shoulders and necks (The University of Iowa Construction Survey, 1996)

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 9 MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS or MSDs Also called: Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 10 3 Facts about MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 1) They affect your musculoskeletal system - your muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. 2) They are cumulative - they happen gradually, as opposed to accidents. 3) They are chronic - the effects last a long time.

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 11 è In your group, brainstorm a list of MSDs that your know of, or that you have had. è Choose one MSD that your group has talked about to discuss with the class. Tell us how you got it.

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 12 Thoracic outlet syndrome Rotator cuff tendonitis DeQuervain’s syndrome Raynaud’s syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome Chondromalacia Torn miniscus Plantar fascitis Slipped disc Low back pain Strained muscles and ligaments Sciatica Tension neck syndrome

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 13 MSDs are the longest lasting injuries:  They damage workers’ health more than any other type of injury in construction. MSDs are the most costly injuries:  They cause greater financial damage than any other type of injury in construction  Over 40% of worker compensation costs in construction are due to MSDs.

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis): How does your job hurt you? How can the job be changed? Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 14 The RISK FACTORS for MSDs are: Force Vibration Repetition Extreme temperatures Awkward Postures Work stress Static postures

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 15 Doing an EJA: Step 1 è With your group, choose a construction job or task that you think needs to be changed. è Complete Part 1 of the Ergonomic Job Analysis(EJA) on the first page of the EJA Handout: Quickly draw the job -- Include the tools, the equipment, and the workers.

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 16 Doing an EJA: Step 2 è Turn to the next page of the EJA Handout and work together to complete Part 2 - the Risk Factor Checklist: Check off all the ergonomic risk factors that are part of the job.

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 17 Doing an EJA: Step 3 è Turn to the next page of the EJA Handout and work together to complete Step 3 - Identifying Solutions: Identify ways of changing how the job is done to eliminate or reduce the risk factors.

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 18 EJA Report Back How would you change the job you analyzed to eliminate or reduce the ergonomic risk factors?

“Best Arguments”: How can you make ergonomic job redesign happen? Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 19 Who will you show your EJA to in order to get the changes made?

“Best Arguments” Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 20 è Go to the corner of the room of the person you would talk to in order to get an ergonomic change made to your job. What would you say to convince the person to make the ergonomic changes?

“Best Arguments” Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 21 What are the “best arguments” to get ergonomic changes made on construction jobs?

Training Evaluation Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 22 What did you like about this training? What suggestions do you have for changes?

Acknowledgements Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 23 Construction Occupational Health Program Department of Work Environment University of Massachusetts Lowell One University Ave., Lowell, MA Phone: Fax: Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance 256 Freeport St., Boston, MA Phone: Fax: This training program was developed jointly by:

Acknowledgements Hardhat Ergonomics-PowerPoint Presentation 1.2 (November 2000) Slide 24 This training program was funded by grants from: Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR) Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund We thank the Hunter College Center for Occupational and Environmental Health for permission to reprint the graphic on Slide 13 from “Working Without Pain.” The graphic was originally designed by Richard Sheinaus of Gotham Design. ©2000 Construction Occupational Health Program, UMass Lowell