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Ergonomics— The Case of the Ruptured Tendon ©2003 P O W E R P O I N T ® T R A I N I N G

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Ergonomics and MSDs  1.8 million work-related MSDs each year  Ergonomics—science of fitting job to the worker  MSD—injury of the nerve system or tissue  Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, etc.  Shooting pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Take a Look at the Facts  Employee is working at a manufacturing facility moving wood from shelving to pallet lift  Shelving is waist high  Pallet lift is slightly higher than shelving

Take a Look at the Facts (cont.)  Employee lifts wood stock off shelving  Wood stock is placed onto pallet lift  Employee ruptures tendon near bicep  Employee says he did nothing out of the ordinary

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. What Do You Think Went Wrong?  Do you think job repetition had something to do with this injury?  Do you think the weight of the wood stock contributed to the injury?  Do you think the worker was able to use correct lifting techniques?  How does the proper use of a lift reduce the potential for injury?

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Let’s Review the Causes Worker was:  Lifting two pieces at a time  Not using the pallet lift effectively  Exposed to repetitive motion  Lifting with an awkward posture

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Ergonomic Risk Factors  Repetition  Force  Awkward postures  Contact stress  Vibration

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Keys to Ergonomic Lifting  Use correct lifting techniques  Items between knee and shoulder height  Decrease weight of objects or distance carried  Use material-handling aids  Do not exceed your lifting limits

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Don’t Let It Happen to You  Change positions, take stretch breaks  Maintain good posture  Identify and eliminate ergonomic risk factors  Use material-handling aids  Report MSD symptoms

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Quiz 1.What is a musculoskeletal disorder? 2.Ergonomics is the science of what? 3.What are the three ergonomic risk factors of lifting? 4.Describe a couple of engineering controls that can reduce exposure to lifting hazards. 5.Name some examples of MSD symptoms.

Quiz (cont.) 6.Name an administrative control that can reduce exposure to repetition. 7.What can you do to improve posture when lifting? 8.Name some examples of common MSDs.

©2003 Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Quiz Answers 1.Q.What is a musculoskeletal disorder? A.Injury to soft tissue or nervous system. 2.Q.Ergonomics is the science of what? A.Science of fitting the job to the worker. 3.Q.What are the three ergonomic risk factors of lifting? A.Force, posture, repetition.

Quiz Answers (cont.) 4.Q.Describe a couple of engineering controls that can reduce exposure to lifting hazards. A.Mechanical lifts, conveyors, material-handling aids, etc. 5.Q.Name some examples of MSD symptoms. A.Shooting pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness, etc. 6.Q.Name an administrative control that can reduce exposure to repetition. A.Job rotation.

Quiz Answers (cont.) 7.Q. What can you do to improve posture when lifting? A. Lifting techniques, lift between knee and shoulder, reduce weight of object. 8.Q. Name some examples of common MSDs. A. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, sciatica.