Occupational Ergonomics 2005

							OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS
WELCOME!

Go Ergo
Risk Management Institute at COLLEGE Of The MAINLAND TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

Stacy Rose, Loss Prevention Consultant Texas Mutual Insurance Company

AGENDA
Opening comments Quiz
The Fundamentals of Ergonomics

8:00 – 8:10 8:10 – 8:30
8:30 – 9:30

9:30 – 9:40 9:40 – 10:45
10:45 – 11:15

Break Anthropometrics & Anatomy
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

11:15 – 11:25 11:25 - 12:00
12:00 – 1:00

Break VIDEO
LUNCH

Stacy Rose, Loss Prevention Consultant Texas Mutual Insurance Company

AGENDA
Occupational Risk Factors Break
Conducting An Ergonomics Review

1:00 – 2:20 2:20 – 2:30
2:30 – 3:15

3:15 – 4:00
4:00 – 4:10

Office Ergonomics
Break

4:10 – 5:00

Industrial Ergonomics

Stacy Rose, Loss Prevention Consultant Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Course Objectives


Develop an understanding of work-related musculoskeletal disorders

 

Learn to identify ergonomic risk factors in the workplace
Develop the knowledge necessary to conduct your own ergonomics review

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Learn how the principles of ergonomics apply to office & industrial environments

The Science of Ergonomics

Ergo 101

Objectives


Introduce ergonomics & define common terms
Review basic anatomy



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Identify common musculoskeletal disorders Define scope of the problem



Workplace Safety
Electrical Safety

Medical & First Aid

Lockout/Tag-out

Asbestos Control

Confined Space
Personal Protective Equipment Hazard Communication

Fire Prevention

Chemical Safety

Ergonomics Defined


Early 1700’s, Ramazzini’s study of ill-effects of poor posture & poorly designed tools on the health of workers

Greek Words Ergonomics

“Ergon = work, Nomikos = law” Study of Work Laws

What Is Ergonomics?
Modern Definition
Science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working

population

What Is Ergonomics?
Ergon – work Nomos – laws of Ergonomics is the laws of work that define the limits to human capability.

What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of improving employee performance and well-being in relation to the
» job tasks, » equipment, and » the environment.

Ergonomics is…
» a continuous improvement effort to design the workplace for what people do well, and design against what people don’t do well.

What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is fitting the job to the person.

Applying Ergonomics
1.

Study, research, & experimentation
– Evaluate human traits/characteristics we need to know for engineering design

2.

Application & engineering
– Design tools, machines, shelter, environment, work tasks, and job procedures to fit and accommodate the human

Ergonomics

Human

Machine

Work Environment Utmost Goal: “Humanization” of Work
Design with “E & E”: Ease and Efficiency

The Basics of Ergonomics

INDUSTRIAL
ATHLETE
SKILL
WILL

COACHING GREAT EQUIPMENT

Applications of Ergonomics
Anatomy Orthopedics Physiology Medicine Psychology Sociology

Anthropometry Biomechanics Work Physiology Industrial Hygiene Management Labor Relations
Industrial Engineering Bio-Engineering Systems Engineering Safety Engineering Military Engineering Computer-Aided Design

Occupational Ergonomics
Optimize worker well-being  Optimize productivity  Minimize workplace stress factors  Minimize medical/workers’ compensation costs


Increase Company Profitability

Occupational Factors Affecting The Worker……..
Physical Hazards Chemical Hazards Biological Hazards

Physical Hazards
Heat Stress/Cold Stress  Noise  Illumination  Ventilation  Vibration  Radiation  Falling, Tripping, Slipping


Chemical Hazards
Liquids  Solids  Gases  Dusts  Fumes  Mists  Fibers


Biological Hazards
Needle Stick Injuries  Blood Borne Pathogens  AIDS  Anthrax  Tuberculosis  Rabies  Hepatitis


Where Does Ergonomics Fit In?
Physical Hazards Chemical Hazards Biological Hazards
  

Ergonomics
Human Machine

Work Environment

Common Ergonomic Terms
Trauma Disorders (CTDs)  Repetitive Motion Disorders  Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)
 Cumulative

Cumulative Trauma Disorders
Bodily injuries or physical ailments that have developed gradually over periods of weeks, months, or even years as the result of repeated stresses on a particular body part

Source: (Erdil & Dickerson, 1997)

Repetitive Motion Disorders
A variety of muscular conditions that result from repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or other daily activities.
RMDs may be caused by:
– – – – – – overexertion incorrect posture muscle fatigue compression of nerves or tissue too many uninterrupted repetitions of an activity or motion friction caused by an unnatural or awkward motion such as twisting the arm or wrist

Source: (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke )

Examples of Repetitive Motion Disorders
Carpel tunnel syndrome  DeQuervain’s disease  Raynaud’s syndrome (white finger)  Tendinitis  Tenosynovitis  Trigger finger


Musculoskeletal Disorders


An MSD is an injury or illness of
– Muscles – Nerves – Tendons – Ligaments – Joints – Cartilage – Spinal Discs

A - articular capsule B - ligament C - tendon (section view) D - muscle E - tendons

Anterior View: Muscles & Bones

Posterior View: Muscles & Bones

Musculoskeletal System
“Left Anterior Forearm”

“The Knee”

Work-Related MSDs
Disorders where the work environment & performance of work contribute significantly

Made worse or longer lasting by work conditions

Examples of WMSDs
Lower Body
– – – – – – – Low Back Pain Back Strain Disc Disorder Degenerative Disc Disorders Sciatica Knee Disorders Foot Disorders

Examples of WMSDs
Upper Body
– – – – – – – – – Tension Neck Syndrome Rotator Cuff Syndrome Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow) Tendinitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis Trigger Finger Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Common Physical Injuries/Illnesses
A - inflammation of the shoulder tendons B - tennis elbow C - inflammation of the wrist tendons D - lesion of the knee cartilage E - inflammation or tearing of the Achilles tendon F - spraining of the thigh muscles G - backache (due to a lesion of the ligaments or muscles)

Scope of Problem

Why is Ergonomics Important?


Financial Humanistic Regulatory Public relations Employee/labor relations
$
Human

 


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Regulatory Agencies
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Department of Labor Workers’ Compensation Insurance Companies

Bureau of Labor & Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. Number of Fatalities Number of Non-Fatal Injuries & Illnesses Lost Workday Cases Injury and Illness Incident Rates

Scope of the problem
Bureau of Labor & Statistics (BLS), 2002 Total cases of non-fatal injuries and illnesses 4,700,600

1,436,194 Cases Involved Days Away From Work

More about the injuries……
Carpal tunnel syndrome
cases had more median days away from work (30) than either fractures

(29) or amputations (26)

Source: BLS 2002

Musculoskeletal Disorders
Total musculoskeletal disorders 487.9 9 (1,000’s)
Occupations Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants Truck drivers Laborers, nonconstruction Janitors and cleaners Assemblers Construction laborers Registered nurses Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations Cashiers Stock handlers and baggers Sales workers, other commodities Number 44.4 36.8 24.9 15.2 15.2 11.1 10.8 9.9 9.3 8.8 7.8 Median Days AFW 6 12 8 7 14 10 6 7 8 5 7

More about the injuries……
Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for over 75.8% of the musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in days away from work in 2002.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome accounted for over 4.6% of the musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in days away from work in 2002.

More about the injuries……
A majority of injured or ill workers were 20 to 44 years old

Workers 20 to 44 had a higher incidence of injuries or illnesses, while workers 45 and older had a lower incidence of injuries or illnesses than each of their hours worked shares suggest

More about the injuries……
Two-thirds of the injured or ill workers were men, well above their 59 percent share of the nation’s hours worked.

Most workers (37.2%) had at least 1 to 5 years of service with their employer when they were injured or became ill.

Workers’ Compensation Claims
Texas Mutual Claims for 2002 26,175
For 3 month period, small business policyholders (premium less than $50,000): Total Claims: Strains Sprains
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

3,774 664 424
17

(18%) (11%)
(0.45%)

Workers’ Compensation Costs
Total Claims:
Total Dollar Loss:
Strains Sprains Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

3,774
$28,103,240
Total Incurred Cost Average Incurred Cost

$5,044,619 $2,549,584 $180,232

$7,597 $6,013 $10,602

Financial Burden
In year 2001, serious workplace injury & illnesses cost $45.8 billion

Source: Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, 2003; Published by The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

Questions?