NONOFFICE ERGONOMICS

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NON-OFFICE ERGONOMICS

• Safe Manual Handling Practices

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WHAT IS MANUAL HANDLING?

• Manual handling includes any task that requires
  an individual to move or handle objects by
• - lifting
• - lowering
• - Pushing
• - Pulling
• - Holding
• - Carrying
• - Restraining
• Manual handling is the most common cause of lower
  back pain, lower back injuries, and occupational
  fatigue.

Incorrect posture, twisting and lifting motion
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WHAT CAN MAKE MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDOUS?

• Incorrect posture/Worker actions such as
• - Lifting loads above the shoulder
• - Twisting while lifting
• - Bending forward and/or sideways
  while lifting
• - Sudden jerky movements
• - Carrying awkwardly shaped objects
• - Lifting or carrying loads too
  heavy for you
• - Pushing or pulling objects that
  are difficult to move
• - Performing tasks frequently or
  for long periods of time
• - The type of load and the
  environment in which you work

Do not twist while lifting
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TYPES OF MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES

• Injuries are either cumulative in nature or the
  result of a single event. Manual handling
  injuries include
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Neck and Back Injuries
• Hernia
  
• Broken Bones, Bruises, Cuts
• Crush Incidences (e.g. A palette is lowered onto
  a workers foot)
• Slips and Falls
• Sprains and Strains

Repetitive strain injury of the wrist
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BASIC ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES

• Maintain a neutral posture
• Use the correct tools and equipment
• Take adequate rest breaks
• Stay within your reach zone (extend your arms
  fully to the side and then sweep them together
  until they reach)
• Reduce/Control the frequency, duration and
  severity of exposures
• Maintain Safe Work Practices (the current best
  practices for the task being performed)
• Use your Power Zone (work done above the knees,
  close to the body and below the shoulders)

The power zone is close to the body, and between
the mid thigh and shoulder.
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ACTIVITY RISK FACTORS

• The presence of these risk factors may not
  result in an injury, however, exposure to one or
  more of these risk factors over a period of time
  will increase the likelihood of an injury
  occurring.
• - Awkward/Static Postures
• - Repetitive Motions
• - Forceful Exertions
• - Contact Stress

Forceful finger exertion
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ACTIVITY RISK FACTORS Continued

• AWKWARD/STATIC POSTURES
• Awkward/Static Postures occur anytime your body
  is placed outside of its comfortable range of
  motion.
• These include
• - Twisting
• - Bending forwards or backwards
• - Kneeling continuously
• - Working with your arms above your
  shoulders
• - Squatting

Painting with your head tilted back, places your
neck in an awkward position
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ACTIVITY RISK FACTORS Continued

• REPETITIVE MOTIONS
• Repetitive motion is the act of performing tasks
  repeatedly, using the same muscle groups with
  very little rest or modification. Some repetitive
  motion activities include
• - Mopping
• - Sweeping
• - Raking
• - Painting
• - Sorting
• - Using non-powered hand tools
• - Vacuuming

Mopping
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ACTIVITY RISK FACTORS Continued

• FORCEFUL EXERTIONS
• Forceful exertions occur when your muscles and
  joints must use force to complete a task. Not all
  forceful exertions are risk factors, but if they
  exceed your physical capabilities, contribute to
  early fatigue, or exceed upper level thresholds,
  then they can be considered risk factors. When
  one ergonomic risk factor is accompanied by
  another, such as repetition or awkward postures,
  the risk increases. Forceful exertions include
• - Lifting/lowering
• - Carrying/holding
• - Pushing/pulling
• - Gripping

To push a heavy object you should tighten your
stomach muscles and use your legs and the weight
of your body to move the object
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ACTIVITY RISK FACTORS Continued

• CONTACT STRESS
• Contact stress occurs when soft tissue areas of
  your body such as wrists, forearms, palms, thighs
  and feet, come into continuous or repeated
  contact with hard or sharp objects. The pressure
  created on these soft tissue areas can reduce
  muscle movement, blood flow to the area as well
  as reduce nerve function. Contact stress
  includes
• - Pressing tool handles into your palms
  (such as small wire clippers)
• - Using your hand as a hammer
• - Standing on hard edges or kneeling
  for long periods
• - Leaning against a work bench with a
  square edge

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MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING

• SAFETY
• Use good body mechanics
• Ensure walking surfaces are clean, dry, level,
  and wide enough.
• Know your intended route (check for obstacles)
• Get assistance when necessary
• Know your physical limits such as
• - Size of the object
• - Weight of the object
• - Repetitive nature of the task
• - Whether you need to bend or reach
  for objects
• - Know the work method (Is there a
  safer way to complete the task)

Vision is obstructed
In this example the handling size, weight and
work method need to be examined
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MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS

• Manual handling will always pose some risk, but
  the level of hazard will depend on what you are
  handling, what the conditions are at the
  workplace, and what the task is.
• When you are doing manual handling tasks,
  consider the LOAD, ENVIRONMENT, TASK, and
  OPERATOR.

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MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS-continued

• LOAD
• A load may be hazardous due to these factors
• - Weight
• - Size
• - Shape (Is it awkward to handle?)
• - Imbalanced (load contents are able to
  shift such as
• when a box is only half full)
• - Inappropriate or absent handles
• - The load is slippery

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MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS-continued

• ENVIRONMENT
• Environmental factors can create hazardous
  situations when
• - Temperatures go beyond comfort ranges
  of between 20-27 degrees Celsius
• - Relative humidity falls outside of the
  30-60 range
• - Lighting is inadequate for the job
  task being performed
• - There are time constraints such as
  deadline pressures
• - Noise levels go beyond 80 dB
  (decibels)
• - Obstacles are in your work path
• - Floor surfaces are uneven, damaged, or
  slippery

Wear hearing protection
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MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS-continued

• TASK
• The task may become hazardous if it involves
• - Moving a load over a long distance.
• - Requires multiple handling (lifting,
  carrying, unloading).
• - Requires awkward or static postures such as
  twisting, bending, extended reaching.
• - The materials are positioned too low or too
  high.
• - You are lifting/lowering too quickly,
  repeatedly, for long periods of time, shortly
  after a rest period, or while sitting or kneeling.

Avoid twisting
Multiple handling task
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MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS-continued

• THE OPERATION
• Characteristics of the operator that can affect
  the handling of loads include
• - The workers overall general health.
• - Any pre-existing MSI issues they may have.
• - Physical factors such as the persons
  height, weight, strength, reach, flexibility,
  aerobic capacity.
• - Psychological factors such as stress,
  motivation and overall morale.

The importance of good health!
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BASIC FACT SHEET-LIFTING

• LIFTING
• The only weight that is completely safe to lift
  is NO WEIGHT at all. In most cases this tends to
  be impossible to achieve, however there are many
  factors that influence the amount of weight that
  can be safely handled by an individual. These
  include
• - Whether you are lifting an object
  with one hand or two
• - If there are space restrictions
  during the lift
• - The height at which the lift begins
  and ends
• - How often and for how long is the
  lift performed
• - The size, texture and shape of the
  object
• - Whether the object is alive or has a
  changing centre of gravity
• - The distance the object is held from
  the body

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BASIC FACT SHEET LIFTING Pre-lift checklist

• Incorrect lifting is one of the major causes of
  lower back sprains and strains. The use of proper
  lifting techniques will help reduce the chances
  of injuries occurring.
• Pre-lift checklist
• 1- Examine the load
• - Determine its shape, weight and whether
  the load can shift
• - Can you get a secure grasp on the load?
• - Does the load have good handholds?

Good handholds
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BASIC FACT SHEET LIFTING Pre-lift
checklist-continued

• 2- Plan the lift
• - Determine a safe route, free of clutter and
  potential tripping hazards.
• - Is there adequate space to place the object
  down safely?
• - Organize your work to avoid lifting from the
  floor.
• - Finish the lift by having a waist high area
  to place the item.
• - Do not lift loads that will obscure your
  vision.

Watch for tripping hazards
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BASIC FACT SHEET LIFTING Pre-lift
checklist-continued

• 3- Wear the proper clothing and protection
• - Use proper fitting protective gloves when
  necessary.
• - Clothing should allow for free movement but
  wont get snagged on machinery.
• - Wear non-slip soles on shoes.

CAUTION
DO NOT WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING WHILE OPERATING THIS
MACHINE
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BASIC FACT SHEET LIFTING

• The Lift
• a) Test the load to check the weight before
  lifting.
• b) Place your feet a shoulders width apart
  (12-18 inches), with one foot slightly ahead of
  the other.
• c) Squat down, bending at the knees and hips.
  Put one knee on the floor and the other knee in
  front of you.
• d) Using good body posture, look straight
  ahead, keep your back straight, shoulders back,
  and your chest out.
• e) Get a good grip and slowly lift the object
  by straightening your knees and hips. Keep your
  back straight and do not twist while lifting.

Straight back with head up
Proper lifting technique
Hunched back with head looking down
Improper lifting technique
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BASIC FACT SHEET LIFTING

• The Lift continued
• f) Keep your feet apart and turn with your
  feet, not your body, in the direction of the
  lift.
• g) Never jerk or twist while lifting.
• h) Hold the load in a neutral position (around
  belly button level) and as close to your body as
  possible.
• i) Set down your load on a waist high counter
  if possible, or by carefully squatting with the
  knees and hips to lower the object onto the
  floor.
• j) Alternate lifting tasks with lighter tasks
  to allow your body a chance to recover.
• k) Avoid carrying loads more than 10 feet
  without using a dolly, cart, or mechanical lift.

Do not lift objects higher than eye level
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TYPES OF LIFTS

• There are 4 basic lifts you can do depending upon
  the objects you are lifting.
• 1- The Basic Squat Lift Where you squat close
  to your load, and with a straight back straighten
  your hips and knees into a standing position.
• 2- The Golfers Lift Used to pick up light,
  small objects out of deep containers or bins.
  This is a good lift for people with knee or leg
  pain or weakness.

Straight back-Squat lift
Straight legs- Golf lift
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TYPES OF LIFTS-continued

• 3- The Tripod lift This lift can be used when
  the object has an uneven weight distribution, or
  when the worker has decreased arm strength.
• - Raise bag upright
• - Place bag against knee
• - Pull the bag up the leg
• - Rest the bag on the opposite knee
• - Stand up
• - Carry object at belt level

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TYPES OF LIFTS-continued

• 4- The straight leg lift This lift should be
  used when obstacles prevent you from bending your
  knees while lifting. Ensure that you bend at your
  hips, and do not bend your back.

Straight leg lift with a straight back
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BASIC FACT SHEET PUSHING/PULLING

• Pushing/pulling
• Pushing or pulling can place the worker at risk
  of an injury if the worker tries to move the
  object with jerky actions, or if the workers
  hands are placed above shoulder height while
  pushing or pulling.
• NEVER push one load while pulling another load
  at the same time.

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PUSHING/PULLING-continued

• The pushing/pulling of loads have a number of
  risk factors. When you are considering pushing or
  pulling a load, consider the task, individual,
  load, and environment.
• Task
• - Consider the distance and frequency you
  must push /pull the object.
• - Is the surface rough or steep, increasing
  the amount of force you are required to exert to
  move the object?
• - Is there sufficient area to place your
  hands when pushing or pulling? Are your hands
  placed between waist and shoulders (power zone)?
• - Do you require a large amount of effort to
  stop or start the movement, or to keep the object
  moving?

LOAD
LOAD
PUSH WITH A STRAIGHT BACK
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PUSHING/PULLING-continued

• Individual
• - What are the characteristics of the
  individual? Is a tall person having to push a
  cart with low handles, placing them in an
  awkward, bent posture?
• - Has the worker had a previous MSI issue that
  may make a physical task such as pushing/pulling
  more hazardous?
• - Does the task require the worker to have
  specialized training?

PULL WITH A STRAIGHT BACK, USING YOUR BODY WEIGHT
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PUSHING/PULLING-continued

• Load
• - Plan the route in advance and ensure your
  vision is unobstructed.
• - Is the load too bulky for the available
  route (i.e. are you required to push a heavy load
  over grass)?
• - Ensure the weight of the load and the
  environment are not outside of the workers
  capabilities.
• - Ensure the load is stable enough to
  negotiate corners, slopes or rough surfaces.

This wheelbarrow would be heavy and unstable for
negotiating corners, slopes or rough surfaces
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PUSHING/PULLING-continued

• Environment
• - Hot and humid environments can result in
  early fatigue, and reduce the workers gripping
  ability when pushing or pulling.
• - Insufficient space such as narrow
  passageways may put constraints on the workers
  posture as well as provoke tripping or abrasion
  injuries.
• - Environments with poor or excessive
  lighting may affect the workers judgment.
• - Ensure the trolley wheels suit the flooring
  and environment (i.e. suited for use on carpet).
• - A lack of good handles or handle placement
  areas can increase the amount of effort needed to
  move the load.

The load in this picture is too large and
unstable for the cart and the person. The
workers arms are in an unsafe position.
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BASIC FACT SHEET STANDING FOR LONG PERIODS

• Standing for long periods of time can result in
• - Poor posture
• - Sore feet
• - Increased pressure on your back
• - Decreased blood flow to your tissues
  resulting in muscle fatigue, pain and swelling.
• Using a foot rest will help to
• - Maintain a proper posture
• - Allow rest breaks for your feet to reduce
  discomfort and fatigue
• - Reduce the pressure placed on your lower
  back

Using a footrest while standing will help to
maintain a nice straight back
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STANDING FOR LONG PERIODS-continued

• Proper shoes
• - Wear comfortable shoes that have a slight
  heel (no more than 2 inches)
• - Ensure adequate arch support
• - Allow space for your toes to move
• Anti-fatigue mats
• - Reduce fatigue and help promote circulation.
• AVOID slouching/leaning forward or standing in
  one position for a long time.

Good shoes should offer equal pressure
distribution and stability
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BASIC FACT SHEET CARRYING

• Carrying items is hardest on the upper back, neck
  and upper extremities. Ensure that you carry
  items as close to your body as possible and do
  not twist your trunk. If you are carrying more
  than one item
• - Try to carry similar weight in both arms.
• - Ensure there is room to lift and carry the
  item.
• - Ensure the lighting is sufficient, the
  floor is not slippery, and there are no obstacles
  in the way.
• - When picking up the items (i.e. buckets)
  keep your back straight and bend at your knees.
• - Use good grips or handles to make the work
  safer and easier.
• - Do not twist while carrying the loads.
• - Lower the items down by bending the knees
  and keeping a straight back.

Carry similar weight in both hands
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FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DOING MANUAL
HANDLING TASKS

• 1- Basic Ergonomic Principles
• 2- Activity Risk Factors
• 3- Manual Handling Safety
• 4- Manual Handling Hazards
• 5- Basic Manual Handling Tasks
• - Lifting
• - Pushing/pulling
• - Standing for long periods
• - Carrying

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REMEMBER

• Think before you handle or lift the load.
• Keep the load close to your body at about belt
  height.
• Adopt a stable position (feet shoulder width
  apart with one foot slightly in front of the
  other).
• Get a good grip
• Begin and end the task using good posture.