Ergonomic Risk Factors

Eamest GS, Spencer AB, Smith SS, et al. 1995e. In-depth survey report Perchloroethylene exposures and ergonomic risk factors in commercial dry cleaners at Tuehman Cleaners (shop 24), Carmel, Indiana. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Publie Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Oeeupational Safety and Health. Report No. ECTB 201-19a. 61 pages. 

Keyserling, W. M., and Hankins, S. E. (1994), Effectiveness of Plant-Based Committees in Recognizing and Controlling Ergonomic Risk Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Problems in the Automotive Industry, in Proceedings of the XII Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Toronto, Vol. 3, pp. 346-348. 

According to the Draft Standard, the employer should analyze the problem job to identify the ergonomic risk factors that result in MSD hazards. The employer should eliminate the MSD hazards, reduce them to the extent feasible, or materially reduce them using the incremental abatement process in the standard. If the MSD hazards only pose a risk to the employee with the covered MSD, the job hazard analysis and control can be limited to that individual employee s job. In such a case, the employer should ... 

Observe the employees performing the job to identify which of the physiced work activities, workplace conditions, and ergonomic risk factors are present. 

Evaluate the ergonomic risk factors in the job to determine the MSD hazards associated with the covered MSD. As necessary, evaluate the duration, frequency, and magnitude of employee exposure to the risk factors. 

Keyserling, W. M., Stetson, D. S., SUverstein, B. A., and Brouwer, M. L. (1993), A Checklist for Evaluating Ergonomic Risk Factors Associated with Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Ergonomics, Vol. 36, No. 7, pp. 807-831. 

Keyserhng, M., Brouwer, M., tmd Silverstein, B. (1992), A Checklist for Evaluating Ergonomic Risk Factors Resulting from Awkward Postures of the Legs, Trunk tmd Neck, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol. 9, pp. 283-301. 

Jaffa, N., Abdul-Tharim, A. H., Mohd-Kamar, I. F., Lop, N. S. (2011). A literature review of ergonomics risk factors in construction industry. Procedia Engineering, 20, 89-97. 

The second step is to perform a more detailed analysis of those work tasks and positions previously determined to be problem areas for their own specific ergonomic risk factors. 

All employees who are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) who have daily exposure to ergonomic risk factors. 

Causes of WMSDs — Prolonged exposure to ergonomics risk factors can cause WMSDs. Conditions likely to cause WMSD problems include the following ... 

Chronic exposure to whole-body vibration may result in an increased risk of low back pain, sciatic pain, and prolapsed or herniated lumbar disks compared to control groups not exposed to vibration. These injuries occur predominantly in crane operators, tractor drivers, and drivers in the transportation industry (Bovenzi and Hulshof, 1998). However, it is difficult to differentiate between the roles of whole-body vibration and ergonomic risk factors, such as posture, in the development of these disorders. 

The evaluation process includes job or task analysis activities. Frequently, tasks are videotaped to permit a detailed evaluation of key ergonomic risk factors. Videotaped jobs are broken dow n into discrete behavioral steps so each step is monitored and frequency measures recorded. 

Use The Ergonomic Task Analysis Scoring Tool is limited to analysis of ergonomic risk factors impacting the upper extremities, and is appropriate for office work, assembly and process line work environments. The Initial Evaluation (IE Worksheet) is used to develop a baseline risk score and action level with possible control measures to reduce risk factor scores. It is suggested that videotape analysis be used to study task repetition, postures, lifts, pulls, pushes, carries, and other factors covered by the screening tool. 

Instructions For each row that applies, score the task based on the duration and observed risk factor. For individual scores of 2 or more, control measures may be needed and included in the screening tool worksheet. Add the scores in the sub-total and total columns. If the total sum of ergonomic risk factors identified is equal to or greater than 10 (Action Level 1), it indicates the need for further evaluation if the total is between 11 and 22 (Action Level 2) it requires intervention in the near future if the total exceeds 22 (Action Level 3) immediate intervention is required. 

Ergonomics hazard identification and analysis are processes for pinpointing work-related hazards or causes of MSDs and involve examining the workplace conditions and individual elements or tasks of a job to identify and assess the ergonomic risk factors that are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the reported MSDs. They can also be preventive measures used to identify jobs and job tasks where MSDs and MSD hazards are reasonably likely to develop in the future. Job hazard analysis is an essential element in the effective control of MSD hazards. In many situations, the causes of MSD hazards are apparent after discussions with the employee and observation of the job, but in other jobs the causes may not be readily apparent. In part, this is because most MSD hazards involve exposure to a combination of risk factors (i.e., multifactorial hazard). For example, it may not be clear in a repetitive motion job whether exposure to repetition, force, or awkward postures is the risk factor that is causing the problem. 

These employers find it helpful to be able to refer to a record of the job while evaluating the ergonomic risk factors or identifying and assessing possible control measures. 

Ergonomic risk factors are the aspects of a job or task that impose a biomechanical stress on the worker. Ergonomic risk factors are the synergistic elements of MSD hazards. The following ergonomic risk factors are most likely to cause or contribute to an MSD ... 

As mentioned above, ergonomic risk factors are synergistic elanents of MSD hazards. In other words, the total effect of these risk factors is greater than the sum of their parts. As such, employers need to be especially watchful for situations where risk factors occur simultaneously. Levels of risk factors that may pose little risk when found alone are much more likely to cause MSDs when they occur with other risk factors. 

Selection of the risk factor(s) to control, and control measures to try, can be based on numerous criteria. An example of one method involves ranking aU of the ergonomic risk factors and possible controls according to how well they meet these four criteria ... 

Physical Work Activities and Conditions Ergonomic Risk Factors That May Be Present Examples of Controls... 

Physical Work Activities Ergonomic Risk Factors ... 

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