ERGONOMICS

Steps In Deveoping an Ergonomic Program

Problem Identification
Establish commitment from management & the employees
Increase workforce awareness & empowerment
Worksite analysis
Define the controls
Establish a health care management protocol
Establish a proactive approach
Step 1 IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
Recognize the signs:
Task that cause the complaint that are not relieved
overnight
Repetitive, forceful exertion
Frequent, heavy & overhead lifting
Awkward position
Step 2 ESTABLISH COMMITMENT FROM MANAGEMENT & EMPLOYEES
INVOLVEMENT
Management Commitment
Spearhead the development of a policy that is:

Considered an integral part of the overall

company performance
Enlist the participation of employees
Documented
Designates a senior company official as point
person
Set a program objective, targets, & plans
Provide a venue or mechanism to discuss
issues
Provide needed resources
Monitor & evaluate performance
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Employees Involvement
Give inputs on issues
Participate in the health & safety Committee of the
company
Participate in other company OHS programs
Management Commitment

Employees

Legislated into company operation

Performed a cost benefit analysis
Innovation expected from the line
Involvement
Budget setting & expenditures responsibilities given to
them interfacing with other ( facilities, health care
provider, vendors, etc.)
Step 3 INCREASE AWARENESS & EMPOWERMENT
Training Objectives
Recognize workplace risk factors & controls
Identify signs & symptoms
Know relevant administrative procedures such as operating
& health management
Management Training aimed at:
Understanding the impact on productivity & quality
Relationship of ergonomics issues & prioritization process
Inclusion of ergonomics issues & prioritization process
Engineers Training
System for handling ergonomic projects
Follow up system
General health & safety topics
Supervisors Training
Reporting system & its importance
Prioritization process
Rank File Training
Basic recognition & analysis of ergonomic issues
Prioritization process
Reporting process
Step 4 WORKSITE ANALYSES
Evaluate Medical Indicators
Attend to all consultations with seriousness
Review medical records
Perform a symptom survey
Perform a more extensive P.E.
Evaluate the workplace
Screen task for risk factors through:
a) Walk - through survey
b) Interviews
c) Checklist scoring against risk factors
Step 5 DEFINE THE CONTROLS

Hierarchy of Controls
Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls
PPE
Step 6 ESTABLISH HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
Components of the protocol
a) Should be advocated by management
b) Be part of the operational
c) Must be free from repercussion
d) Documented & communicated to all
Step 7 ESTABLISH A PROACTIVE APPROACH
Emphasize prevention by anticipating, recognizing & reducing risk
factors
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT
Low back pain statistics:
49 60% of LBP dut to lifting / lowering
56% with low onset of symptoms
90% resolves in 4-7weeks; 5-10% persist for 6months or >
75 83% recurrence rate; 50 60% within the year of initial episode
Precise diagnosis in 20% of cases
DETERMINANTS OF MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LOAD
1. LOAD WEIGHT
2. WORKER
size
strength
fitness
motivation
at risk behaviour

Lower Back Loading

1. Static
a) Prolonged sitting with trunk flexion leads to energy depletion
causing muscle fatigue
b) During unsupported sitting, lumbar spine flattens increasing
energy consumption of the muscles.

2. Dynamic
a) Greater forces are exerted on ligaments as motion speed
increases
b) Lifting at 10% max muscle strength at 6x/min is more
fatiguing than 20% strength at 3x/min
c) Combo lifting, twisting, bending is a frequent cause of LBP (
Anderson, 1981)

WORK MANAGEMENT
Automation or limit manual handling
Improve work posture & motion
Short breaks
Improve on temperature, lighting, floor surface, working space

HANDLING HEAVY OBJECTS

Weight limit should not be more than 40% of lifters weight(male)
If more than 40% of lifters weight, do 2 man lift
Female limit is 60% of male lifters limit
Compact the load
Indicate the weight of the load & lifter during a lift
Keep a low center of gravity at start if lift
Use work tables
In providing lifting aids, consider:

Accessibility
Ease of use
Time of use