Protecting the Safety

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Protecting the Safety Health of Hispanic
Workers www.hispanicsworksafe.org
Ergonomics Taking care of your back!
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After completing this unit, you will

• Know more about Ergonomics
• Know about ergonomic risk factors
• Be able to identify the common musculoskeletal
  disorders among construction workers
• Know how to take care of your back

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What have you heard about ergonomics?
appropriate lifting?
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What is the picture showing us?
overexertion?
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And how about this picture?
arm and hand force?
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Defining Ergonomics
Fitting the job to the worker, not the worker
to the job
Use your brain, not your back. Work smarter, not
harder. Fix the job, not the worker.
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When is Ergonomics considered?

• When workers complain about
  discomfort or pain
• When workers performance goes down
• When workers get sick or injured on the job
• When management wants design input from the
  workers
• When a product is evaluated because of defects

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Examples of Ergonomic Issues

• Setting a lifting standard in a warehouse
• Proper use of power and hand tools
• Determining the need for rest breaks

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Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Force
• Repetition
• Awkward Postures
• Static postures

• Vibration
• Extreme temperatures
• Pressure and stress at work
• Forceful or twisting movements

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Ergonomic Risk Factors
Some examples

• Force (lifting, pushing)
• Repetition (screw driving, nailing)
• Awkward posture (overhead work, twisting,
  squatting)
• Static posture (holding arms out, prolonged
  standing)

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Ergonomic Risk Factors
More examples

• Vibration (using an electric drill, driving a
  truck, operating a jackhammer)

• Contact stress (pressing on tool handles, hand
  hammering, working on knees)
• Cold temperatures (gripping cold tools)

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Good news! Injuries caused by these risk factors
can be prevented!
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
Where does your body hurt after working on the
construction site all day?

• Mark the places that people in your group hurt
  after working on the construction site on
  your groups BODY MAP.

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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)

• Post your groups BODY MAP on the wall.
• Compare the BODY MAPS.

What seems to be the same about the BODY
MAPS? What do the BODY MAPS tell us about
construction work?
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
A study done by the University of Iowa has shown
that construction workers hurt!

• 70 report pain in their lower back
• 46 report pain in their knees
• 43 report pain in their wrists and
  hands
• 42 report pain in their shoulders
  and necks

(The University of Iowa Construction Survey,
1996)
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
Almost all work requires the use of the arms and
hands. Therefore, most MSDs affect the hands,
wrists, elbows, neck, shoulders, and back
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)

• Work using the legs can lead to MSDs of the legs,
  hips, ankles, and feet.
• Back problems also result from repetitive
  activities.

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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS or MSDs

• Also called
• Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs)
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)

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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
3 Facts about MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
1) They affect your musculoskeletal system - your
muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints,
cartilage and spinal discs. 2) They
develop cumulative - they happen gradually, as
opposed to accidents. 3) They are chronic - the
effects last a long time.
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
Multifactorial Nature of MSDs

• Individual factors
• Psychosocial factors
• Physical factors

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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
Thoracic outlet syndrome Rotator cuff tendonitis
Tension neck syndrome
DeQuervains syndrome Raynauds syndrome Carpal
tunnel syndrome
Slipped disc Low back pain Strained muscles and
ligaments Sciatica
Chondromalacia Torn meniscus
Plantar fascitis
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MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)

• MSDs are highly debilitating injuries
• They affect workers health longer than any
  other type of injury in construction.

• MSDs are the most costly injuries
• They incur a greater cost when compared to other
  type of injuries in construction
• Over 40 of worker compensation costs in
  construction are due to MSDs.

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Back Disorders

• Back troubles can be painful and reduce ones
  mobility and vitality
• Back troubles often lead to long absences from
  work

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Back Disorders
Low back pain occurs in 80 of adults at some
point in their lives
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Back Disorders are frequently caused by

• Repeated lifting
• Sudden movements
• Whole body vibration
• Poor posture
• Lifting and twisting at the same time
• Bending over for long periods of time
• Poor physical condition, stress, and aging

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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders

• Adjusting work surface heights
• Making work more accessible (e.g. bringing
  overhead work down)
• Changing work area layouts to fit the workers

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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders

• Reducing sizes/weights of objects lifted
• Padding hard or sharp surfaces (tools, materials
  and seats)
• Providing carts
• Using the buddy system

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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders
Other types of controls include

• Job rotation
• Shortened shift lengths
• Limiting overtime
• Providing frequent breaks
• Alternating repetitive tasks

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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders
PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES

• Size up the load before trying to lift it
• Make sure the load can be carried to its
  destination
• Bend the knees
• Do not twist or turn the body
• Set the load down properly
• Push, dont pull

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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders
PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES
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Preventing Musculoskeletal Back Disorders
SAFE PRACTICES

• Use kneepads or cushions for kneeling jobs
• Use the full-hand grip instead of the pinch grip
• Maintain tools and equipment

And

• Proper diet
• Exercise stretching

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Ah And dont forget!
Our families need us!
Everyday, they expect us to return home safe and
healthy.
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Questions?
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Training Evaluation
What did you like about this training?
What suggestions do you have for changes?
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Acknowledgements
This training program was developed by
Hispanics Work Safewww.hispanicsworksafe.org
How to contact us? Maria Julia
Brunette Department of Work Environment
University of Massachusetts LowellOne
University Ave., Lowell, MA 01854Phone
978-934-3248 Fax [phone]Email
Maria_Brunette_at_uml.edu
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Acknowledgements
This training program was funded by grants
from Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
This material was produced under grant number
46A3-HT15 from the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.  It
does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial products,
or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government.