Ergonomics OSHA

Maurice works for a company that removes dead or dying trees and other plant life from clients' properties and regularly uses a chainsaw to help him with his job. Recently, he has been feeling numbness and tingling in his fingers and hands. What is a possible cause of these symptoms?

Exposure to vibration

When lifting a load of any size, you should:

Keep your head up and your back straight and bend at your hips. Bring the load as close to you as possible before lifting. Lift with your legs, not your back. Shift your feet to turn. Keep the load directly in front of your body. Try to perform lifts at waist height with your elbows in close to your body. Limit lifting by hand. Use mechanical lifts or get help. Stay fit to help avoid injury.

What does having a neutral posture mean?

Keeping your body vertically aligned. Looking straight ahead. Relaxing your shoulders; don't hunch forward. Allowing arms and hands to hang comfortably. Keeping your legs straight, but don't look your knees.

How should you plan ahead before lifting?

Know what you are lifting and how you will lift it, be aware of the weight of the object, determine whether or not it's safe to lift on your own, and make sure the work area is flat, dry, and clear of debris.

When lifting a load of any size, make sure you don't:

Lift heavy loads (35 pounds or more) without getting help. Reach across something to lift a load. Lift bulky or uneven loads. Reach to the side or lift while twisting.

By understanding and practicing ergonomics, you can:

Make your job less physically stressful. Increase your safety and productivity. Create a more comfortable environment. Prevent injuries and illnesses.

How do you know when to report your symptoms?

Pain is persistent, severe, or worsening. Pain radiates (spreads or "travels") down an arm or leg. Symptoms include numbness or tingling. Symptoms keep you from sleeping at night. Fingers blanch or turn white.

The best way to StartSafe with any task is to think about safety before you begin. When it comes to ergonomics, much of the responsibility for starting and staying safe is up to you. To StaySafe:

Pay attention to any physical pain, discomfort, or limitation you may have. Recognize the risk factors that may affect your health. At work, talk to your employer about correcting any poor ergonomic conditions you may find.

Musculoskeletal disorders: Back

Symptoms: Lower back pain, shooting pain or numbness in the upper legs Possible Causes: Whole body vibration Workers Affected: Truck and bus drivers, tractor and subway operators; warehouse workers; nurses aides; grocery cashiers; baggage handlers Disease Name: Back disability

Musculoskeletal disorders: Fingers/Hand

Symptoms: Numbness, tingling; ashen skin; loss of feeling and control Possible Causes: Exposure to vibration Workers Affected: Chain saw, pneumatic hammer, and gasoline-powered tool operators Disease Name: Raynaud's syndrome (white finger)

Musculoskeletal disorders: Shoulders

Symptoms: Pain, stiffness Possible Causes: Working with the hands above the head Workers Affected: Power press operators, welders, painters, assembly line workers. Disease Name: Rotator cuff tendinitis

Musculoskeletal disorders: Hand/Wrists

Symptoms: Pain, swelling Possible Causes: Repetitive or forceful hand and wrist motions Workers Affected: Core making, poultry processing, meatpacking Disease Name: Tenosynovitis

Musculoskeletal disorders: Fingers/Wrists

Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, severe pain; loss of strength, sensation in the thumbs, index, or middle or half of the ring fingers Possible Causes: Repetitive and forceful manual tasks without time to recover Workers Affected: Meat and poultry and garment workers, upholsterers, assemblers, VDT operators, cashiers Disease Name: Carpal tunnel syndrome

HAVS is a more ______ condition, and the entire hand or arm may be affected by exposure to vibration.

advanced

What does compression or contact stress interfere with?

circulation and nerve function

A worker with advanced HAVS may be __________ for a long time.

disabled

Changing tasks, work stations, tools, and equipment so that they fit you better helps you work more _________, puts less physical strain on your body, and ______ your risk of developing a disabling physical disorder.

effectively, reduces

Where can Ergonomics be helpful?

everywhere

What risk factor is present while lifting boxes and loading them onto a truck?

exerting excessive force

What are injuries caused by in ergonomics?

exerting excessive force, working in awkward positions for long periods, repeatedly performing the same tasks, localized pressure, cold temperatures, vibration, or a combination of exposure to several risk factors.

You should reach across something to lift a load. Is this true or false?

false

If you have to turn while lifting, be sure to use both your torso and your feet. Is this true or false?

false (never turn your torso, only your feet).

Which are parts of your body that can be affected by poor ergonomics?

fingers, wrists, hands, back, neck, legs, feet, shoulders, arms.

White fingers, or Raynaud's Syndrome, is a disease of the....

hands in which the blood vessels in the fingers collapse due to repeated exposure to vibration.

What can you do for static and awkward postures?

hanging your workflow, changing your work setup, or using different equipment to help reduce the likelihood of injury.

What is static posture?

how you hold yourself when you are not moving, like when you are sitting, standing, or sleeping.

Early reporting, diagnosis, and intervention can limit the severity of your injury, _______ the effectiveness of any treatment, and minimize the likelihood of disability or permanent damage.

improve

What are the early signs of HAV?

infrequent feelings of numbness and/or tingling in the fingers, hands, or arms, or numbness and whiteness in the tip of the finger when exposed to cold.

What is related to poor ergonomics are a significant health concern and a major workplace safety issue in the United States?

injuries and illnesses

Daisha recently got a job as a cashier at a local supermarket, and she's noticed that she's performing repetitive and forceful manual tasks without time to recover, since the store gets very busy when she's on her weekend and evening shifts. What symptoms could be a result of this action at her job?

loss of strength and sensation in the thumbs, index, or middle or half of the ring fingers

What is the most important part of the S-curve while sitting?

lower back or lumbar

As HAV progresses what does a worker experience?

more frequent attacks of numbness, tingling, and pain and finds it difficult to use his or her hands.

What is the important category related to poor ergonomics?

musculoskeletal disorders.

A good posture is one that places the least amount of stress on your muscles and joints. This may also be referred to as a....

neutral posture.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a work-related musculoskeletal disorder as an injury of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, cartilage, bones, or blood vessels in the arms, legs, head, neck, or back that is caused or aggravated by work tasks such as lifting, pushing, and pulling. Symptoms include:

pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness, and tingling.

Before you lift you should...

plan ahead.

What is the first group of task-related risk factors?

posture

What does good or neutral postures help you with while performing tasks?

prevent injuries from occurring.

What is RSI an acronym for?

repetitive strain injury

What can repetitive movements cause?

repetitive strain injury irritating your tendons and putting pressure on your nerves.

To place the load below waist level, follow the same procedures for lifting, but in _____ order.

reverse

What can Ergonomics help you do?

start safe and stay safe by teaching you to identify body movements or positions that may cause you discomfort and potentially lead to injuries.

Mary's job requires her to sit at a computer terminal inputting student data. Her only breaks include a 1-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. What type of hazard is Mary most likely to encounter?

static posture

Musculoskeletal disorders: Thumbs

symptoms: pain at the base of the thumbs possible causes: twisting and gripping workers affected: butchers, housekeepers, packers, seamstresses, cutters disease name: De Quervain's disease

What is Ergonomics?

the science of adjusting environments, tasks, or procedures to fit you, the worker.

What happens if the skin and muscle tissue don't get the oxygen they need?

they will eventually die.

What can RSI cause?

tissues and muscles to be overused if adequate time is not allowed for recovery.

If you absolutely have to turn while carrying a load, turn using your feet, not your _____. Ideally, you should only have a straight path while carrying a load.

torso

Before you lift, you should check your lift pathway to make sure it's clear, flat, and dry. Is this true or false?

true

When does compression or contact stress occur?

when a part of your body is subjected to extreme or constant pressure, such as from a sharp or hard object.

When does RSI occur?

when the same physical movements are repeated over an extended period of time.

Both hand-held and stationary tools that transmit vibration through a work piece can cause vibration "_____ _____" or hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)

white fingers

What happens when an environment or task isn't designed Ergonomically?

a hazard can be created.

When lifting awkward or heavy loads you should utilize...

a two person lift and make sure you lift at the same time and keep the load level.

What is the proper lifting technique?

1: stand close to the load with your feet shoulder width apart, one foot slightly in front of the other for balance. 2: squat down, bending at the knees. You should keep your back as vertical as possible. 3: get a firm grasp of the object before beginning the lift. 4: slowly begin straightening your legs, lifting slowly. You should never twist your body during this step. 5: once the lift is complete, keep the object as close to your body as possible. If the load's center of gravity moves away from your body, the stress applied to the lumbar region of your back dramatically increases.

Studies have found that pipetting for more than ____ hours per year contributes to an increased risk of hand and shoulder ailments.

300

Awkward postures:

Awkward postures are unsupported positions that can stretch your physical limitations. These postures can compress your nerves and irritate tendons. They may include bending, twisting, working with your hands above your head, or working with your elbows above your shoulders.

Before you lift you should....

Check your pathway to be sure it's clear from any hazards. Use Ergonomic equipment such as lift assists (make sure you're training before using) Get help when needed. Wear the correct PPE for lifting equipment.

What are some Ergonomic equipment for lift assists?

a forklift, a dolly, a cart, a hand truck, or a hoist.

Leah works on an assembly line for electronic parts, where she monitors her area for defects and quality checks individual pieces by hand. Since about a month ago, Leah has noticed that her finger has been jerking sometimes when she moves it. What is a possible cause of this symptom?

Repeatedly using the index fingers

Static postures:

Static postures occur when you are performing work that causes you to hold the same posture or position for an extended period of time. Working in these positions can restrict your blood flow and damage your muscles.

Musculoskeletal disorders: Fingers

Symptoms: Difficulty moving finger; snapping and jerking movements Possible Causes: repeatedly using the index fingers Workers Affected: Meatpackers, poultry workers, carpenters, electronic assemblers Disease Name: Trigger Finger