i am into a textile factory hr department. and responsible for employees health & safety, can any one help me on the Ergonomics Training?
From Pakistan, Lahore
5From Pakistan, Lahore
Dear Arooj,
In factories, ergonomics are more related to complaints on frequent back pain. giving you below, general problems encountered on back problem.
also attached two files. these will help you to provide guidlines for both workers and staff. hope it will be useful for you.
Back disorders can develop gradually as a result of microtrauma brought about by repetitive activity over time or can be the product of a single traumatic event. Because of the slow and progressive onset of this internal injury, the condition is often ignored until the symptoms become acute, often resulting in disabling injury. Acute back injuries can be the immediate result of improper lifting techniques and/or lifting loads that are too heavy for the back to support. While the acute injury may seem to be caused by a single well-defined incident, the real cause is often a combined interaction of the observed stressor coupled with years of weakening of the musculoskeletal support mechanism by repetitive micro-trauma. Injuries can arise in muscle, ligament, vertebrae, and discs, either singly or in combination.
Although back injuries account for no work-related deaths, they do account for a significant amount of human suffering, loss of productivity, and economic burden on compensation systems.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BACK DISORDERS. Back disorders result from exceeding the capability of the muscles, tendons, discs, or the cumulative effect of several contributors:
Reaching while lifting.
Poor posture--how one sits or stands.
Stressful living and working activities--staying in one position for too long.
Bad body mechanics--how one lifts, pushes, pulls, or carries objects.
Poor physical condition-losing the strength and endurance to perform physical tasks without strain.
Poor design of job or work station.
Repetitive lifting of awkward items, equipment, or (in health-care facilities) patients.
Twisting while lifting.
Bending while lifting.
Maintaining bent postures.
Heavy lifting.
Fatigue.
Poor footing such as slippery floors, or constrained posture.
Lifting with forceful movement.
Vibration, such as with lift truck drivers, delivery drivers, etc.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. Signs and symptoms include pain when attempting to assume normal posture, decreased mobility, and pain when standing or rising from a seated position.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. These factors usually account for very few work-related back injuries.
Congenital defects of the spine.
Increase in static standing or sitting tasks.
An aging work force.
Decreases in physical conditioning and exercise.
Increased awareness of workplace hazards.
Job dissatisfaction.
MANUAL MATERIALS HANDLING. Manual materials handling is the principal source of compensable injuries in the work force, and four out of five of these injuries will affect the lower back.
EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE INTERVIEWS.
Walkaround.
a. Ask employees about their opinion on the difficulty of the task as well as personal experiences of back pain.
b. Observe worker postures and lifting.
c. Determine weight of objects lifted.
d. Determine the frequency and duration of lifting tasks.
e. Measure the dimensions of the workplace and lift.
Manual lifting:
Repetitive material handling increases the likelihood of a disorder.
Principal variables in evaluating manual lifting tasks to determine how heavy a load can be lifted are:
the horizontal distance from the load to the employee's spine,
the vertical distance through which the load is handled,
the amount of trunk twisting the employee utilized during the lifting,
the ability of the hand to grasp the load,
and the frequency with which the load is handled.
Additional variables include floor and shoe traction,
space constraints,
two-handed lifts,
size and stability of the load.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS.
General. Alter the task to eliminate the hazardous motion and/or change the position of the object in relation to the employee's body -- such as adjusting the height of a pallet or shelf.
Manual Handling Tasks.
a. Material handling tasks should be designed to minimize the weight, range of motion, and frequency of the activity. max 25 Kgs.
b. Work methods and stations should be designed to minimize the distance between the person and the object being handled.
c. Platforms and conveyors should be built at about waist height to minimize awkward postures. Conveyors or carts should be used for horizontal motion whenever possible. Reduce the size or weight of the object(s) lifted.
d. High-strength push-pull requirements are undesirable, but pushing is better than pulling. Material handling equipment should be easy to move, with handles that can be easily grasped in an upright posture.
e. Workbench or workstation configurations can force people to bend over. Corrections should emphasize adjustments necessary for the employee to remain in a relaxed upright stance or fully supported, seated posture. Bending the upper body and spine to reach into a bin or container is highly undesirable. The bins should be elevated, tilted or equipped with collapsible sides to improve access.
f. Repetitive or sustained twisting, stretching, or leaning to one side are undesirable. Corrections could include repositioning bins and moving employees closer to parts and conveyors.
g. Store heavy objects at waist level.
h. Provide lift-assist devices, and lift tables.
CONTROLS AND WORK PRACTICES.
Engineering controls are preferred.
Worker training and education:
Training should include general principles of ergonomics, recognition of hazards and injuries, procedures for reporting hazardous conditions, and methods and procedures for early reporting of injuries. Additionally, job specific training should be given on safe work practices, hazards, and controls.
Rotating of employees, providing a short break every hour, or using a two-person lift may be helpful.
Rotation is not simply a different job, but must be a job that utilizes a completely different muscle group from the ones that have been over-exerted.
OTHER.
Standing for extended periods places excessive stress on the back and legs. Solutions include a footrest or rail, resilient floor mats, height-adjustable chairs or stools, and opportunities for the employee to change position.
Where employees are seated the chairs or stools must be properly chosen.
Proper adjustable lumbar support may be provided.
Static seated postures with bending or reaching should be avoided.
nandish
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
In factories, ergonomics are more related to complaints on frequent back pain. giving you below, general problems encountered on back problem.
also attached two files. these will help you to provide guidlines for both workers and staff. hope it will be useful for you.
Back disorders can develop gradually as a result of microtrauma brought about by repetitive activity over time or can be the product of a single traumatic event. Because of the slow and progressive onset of this internal injury, the condition is often ignored until the symptoms become acute, often resulting in disabling injury. Acute back injuries can be the immediate result of improper lifting techniques and/or lifting loads that are too heavy for the back to support. While the acute injury may seem to be caused by a single well-defined incident, the real cause is often a combined interaction of the observed stressor coupled with years of weakening of the musculoskeletal support mechanism by repetitive micro-trauma. Injuries can arise in muscle, ligament, vertebrae, and discs, either singly or in combination.
Although back injuries account for no work-related deaths, they do account for a significant amount of human suffering, loss of productivity, and economic burden on compensation systems.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BACK DISORDERS. Back disorders result from exceeding the capability of the muscles, tendons, discs, or the cumulative effect of several contributors:
Reaching while lifting.
Poor posture--how one sits or stands.
Stressful living and working activities--staying in one position for too long.
Bad body mechanics--how one lifts, pushes, pulls, or carries objects.
Poor physical condition-losing the strength and endurance to perform physical tasks without strain.
Poor design of job or work station.
Repetitive lifting of awkward items, equipment, or (in health-care facilities) patients.
Twisting while lifting.
Bending while lifting.
Maintaining bent postures.
Heavy lifting.
Fatigue.
Poor footing such as slippery floors, or constrained posture.
Lifting with forceful movement.
Vibration, such as with lift truck drivers, delivery drivers, etc.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. Signs and symptoms include pain when attempting to assume normal posture, decreased mobility, and pain when standing or rising from a seated position.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. These factors usually account for very few work-related back injuries.
Congenital defects of the spine.
Increase in static standing or sitting tasks.
An aging work force.
Decreases in physical conditioning and exercise.
Increased awareness of workplace hazards.
Job dissatisfaction.
MANUAL MATERIALS HANDLING. Manual materials handling is the principal source of compensable injuries in the work force, and four out of five of these injuries will affect the lower back.
EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE INTERVIEWS.
Walkaround.
a. Ask employees about their opinion on the difficulty of the task as well as personal experiences of back pain.
b. Observe worker postures and lifting.
c. Determine weight of objects lifted.
d. Determine the frequency and duration of lifting tasks.
e. Measure the dimensions of the workplace and lift.
Manual lifting:
Repetitive material handling increases the likelihood of a disorder.
Principal variables in evaluating manual lifting tasks to determine how heavy a load can be lifted are:
the horizontal distance from the load to the employee's spine,
the vertical distance through which the load is handled,
the amount of trunk twisting the employee utilized during the lifting,
the ability of the hand to grasp the load,
and the frequency with which the load is handled.
Additional variables include floor and shoe traction,
space constraints,
two-handed lifts,
size and stability of the load.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS.
General. Alter the task to eliminate the hazardous motion and/or change the position of the object in relation to the employee's body -- such as adjusting the height of a pallet or shelf.
Manual Handling Tasks.
a. Material handling tasks should be designed to minimize the weight, range of motion, and frequency of the activity. max 25 Kgs.
b. Work methods and stations should be designed to minimize the distance between the person and the object being handled.
c. Platforms and conveyors should be built at about waist height to minimize awkward postures. Conveyors or carts should be used for horizontal motion whenever possible. Reduce the size or weight of the object(s) lifted.
d. High-strength push-pull requirements are undesirable, but pushing is better than pulling. Material handling equipment should be easy to move, with handles that can be easily grasped in an upright posture.
e. Workbench or workstation configurations can force people to bend over. Corrections should emphasize adjustments necessary for the employee to remain in a relaxed upright stance or fully supported, seated posture. Bending the upper body and spine to reach into a bin or container is highly undesirable. The bins should be elevated, tilted or equipped with collapsible sides to improve access.
f. Repetitive or sustained twisting, stretching, or leaning to one side are undesirable. Corrections could include repositioning bins and moving employees closer to parts and conveyors.
g. Store heavy objects at waist level.
h. Provide lift-assist devices, and lift tables.
CONTROLS AND WORK PRACTICES.
Engineering controls are preferred.
Worker training and education:
Training should include general principles of ergonomics, recognition of hazards and injuries, procedures for reporting hazardous conditions, and methods and procedures for early reporting of injuries. Additionally, job specific training should be given on safe work practices, hazards, and controls.
Rotating of employees, providing a short break every hour, or using a two-person lift may be helpful.
Rotation is not simply a different job, but must be a job that utilizes a completely different muscle group from the ones that have been over-exerted.
OTHER.
Standing for extended periods places excessive stress on the back and legs. Solutions include a footrest or rail, resilient floor mats, height-adjustable chairs or stools, and opportunities for the employee to change position.
Where employees are seated the chairs or stools must be properly chosen.
Proper adjustable lumbar support may be provided.
Static seated postures with bending or reaching should be avoided.
nandish
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
Dear Friends,
All of you have made excellent contributions. My Congratulations.
Ergonomics is very important in life and had become an almost forgotten subject.
And then too, it is mostly viewed from the factory perspective only.
But we need it in our daily lives as much as a factory/office worker does.
Thanks for the good contributions and a sort of re-awakening.
Sunil Chandra
From India, Gurgaon
All of you have made excellent contributions. My Congratulations.
Ergonomics is very important in life and had become an almost forgotten subject.
And then too, it is mostly viewed from the factory perspective only.
But we need it in our daily lives as much as a factory/office worker does.
Thanks for the good contributions and a sort of re-awakening.
Sunil Chandra
From India, Gurgaon
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