Hazards ergonomic risk factors

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 ... 

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. 

A safety and health review that addresses muskoskeletal hazards, the risk factors that pose the hazards, and the cause of the risk factors. See also Ergonomics Program. Ergonomics... 

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. 

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. 

The application of ergonomics in a system that includes the following components health and risk factor (job or worksite) surveillance, job analysis and design (hazard prevention and control), medical management, and education and training. 

Analyzing planned new facilities, processes, materials, relocated equipment, and any plant, machine, and process modifications Performing standard job hazards analyses, to include assessing ergonomic risk and other related factors with regard to employees tasks... 

The workers in the poultry industry in any region are exposed to a number of risk factors in the execution of their activities, including exposure to dust, harmful gases, excessive noise and heat stress, and is subject to biological hazards chemical, physical, mechanical, ergonomic, social and accidents. 

Description of hazard. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the worker. Effective and successful "fits" help ensure high productivity, reduce illness and injury risks, and increase satisfaction among the workforce. Although the scope of ergonomics is much broader, the term here refers to assessing those work-related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and recommendations to alleviate them. 

Zimolong, B., Hazard perception and risk estimation in accident causation, in Eberts, R.E. Eberts, C.G. (Eds.), Trends in Ergonomics/Human Factors II, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1985, pp. 463-470. 

Ergonomics and human factors are often used interchangeably. Ergonomic hazards refer to workplace conditions that pose the risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system of the worker. Ergonomic hazards include repetitive and forceful movements, vibration, temperature extremes. 

The ergonomics (or human factors) approach to safety refers essentially to any adjustment of working conditions or equipment in order to reduce the frequency or probability of an environmental hazard or at-risk behavior (Kroemer, 1991). An essential ingredient in these... 

Hazardous environmental elements. There are potential unseen problem areas within a warehouse that can cause serious harm or even death, including toxic or hazardous elements such as vapors from chemicals being handled or stored, carbon monoxide, dust, noise, and ergonomic factors. In some cases the danger goes unnoticed because the human senses cannot always detect the risk. 

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