Title Sub title

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Porcupine North-Eastern Ontario Mine Safety Group
Conference (PNOMSG)
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Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention At the Metsite
MSDs and Risk Factors History of MSD Team Metsite
Program RAC MSD Hazards Projects Benefits of MSD
Prevention
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Introduction

• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons,
  ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels, or
  related soft tissue
• May be caused or aggravated by work
• Often called sprains and strains
• Common examples include bursitis, tendonitis,
  trigger finger white hand, tennis elbow and
  include conditions such as back injuries
  involving muscles, ligaments or spinal discs

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Introduction

• Primary Risk Factors

Secondary Risk Factors - contact stress -
work organization - local or body vibration -
work methods - personal factors - ergonomic
factors - cold and hot work environments
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Introduction

• Regulations under the Occupational Health and
  Safety Act
• Duty of the employer to take every reasonable
  precaution to ensure the health and safety of
  workers
• MSD Prevention introduced to the Health and
  Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC

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How We Started
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History

• MSD Prevention Program
• Delivery of General Awareness and Education
• Developed Survey and with opportunities for
  Feedback
• Survey Analysis

• Identified as a key safety initiative for
  Concentrator
• Employees participated in ergonomics training
• Committee formed

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MSD Prevention Program

• Goals and Objectives
• Commitment
• Scope of Program
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Procedures
• Education and Training

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General Awareness and Training

• New hires and existing employees receive(d) MSD
  Awareness Training
• Contractors receive training through
  indoctrination
• Training includes
• recognizing new and existing hazards through risk
  factors
• Ensures understanding of MSD Prevention and
  hazard identification
• Requirements for reporting equipment problems,
  incidents and unsafe tasks

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Surveys

• General Survey and Workstation Ergonomic Survey
• Classification of Employees
• Maintenance
• Service Crew
• Operation
• Office Employees
• Identification of potential Hazards for each
  group
• Common MSD symptoms
• Common MSD hazards

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Analysis
CLASSIFICATION OF MSD RELATED SYMPTOMS FOR THE CONCENTRATOR CLASSIFICATION OF MSD RELATED SYMPTOMS FOR THE CONCENTRATOR CLASSIFICATION OF MSD RELATED SYMPTOMS FOR THE CONCENTRATOR CLASSIFICATION OF MSD RELATED SYMPTOMS FOR THE CONCENTRATOR
SERVICE CREW OFFICE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
ELBOW NECK SHOULDERS NECK
LOWER BACK UPPER BACK UPPER BACK UPPER BACK
KNEES LOWER BACK LOWER BACK LOWER BACK
- - KNEES SHOULDERS
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Problem Solving usingRecognizeAssessControl
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Recognize

• Proactive Approach
• Identifying risk factors before accidents occur

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Recognize

• Training (co-chairs, supervisors, JOHSC members
  and workers)
• Standardized surveys
• Workplace inspections
• Qualitative and quantitative assessments
• Recognizing symptoms (early reporting)

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Recognize

• Target certain tasks or areas of workplace
• HSEC project management
• Capture in project design
• Drawings reviews, HAZOPs and risk assessments

• Pre-Construction Engineering Checklist
• Site Specific Orientation
• Contractor Crew Toolbox meetings
• Contractor Work Procedures, Health and Safety
  and Environmental Procedures
• General Specifications for Engineering
  Consultants
• General Specifications for Contract Labour

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Assess

• Qualitative and quantitative tools
• Standardized surveys and assessments
• Discomfort surveys
• Questionnaires
• Industry Standard Tools
• (RULA, Wash. State, Niosh Lifting Equations, etc.)

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Control

• Risks are minimized to lowest reasonably
  practical using to standard control hierarchy
• Goal is to design controls, systems and
  workstation to the employee

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MSD Committee Functions

• Review Program through MSD and JOHSC committees
• Review of committees goals and objectives by
  completing
• Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle
• Align MSD program with Sustainable Development
  and health and safety programs

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MSD Committee Functions

• Team brainstorming and strategic planning
  meetings
• Development of annual action plans
• Continuous preventative training and awareness
• Team member professional development

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MSD Initiatives
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Project Valve Replacements

• Problem
• Process valves used by employees have known
  associated risks factors when opening and closing
• Solution
• Replace valve with larger handles and/or replace
  with different type of valves to reduce risk
  factors
• Continuous improvement initiative

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Project Valve Replacements

• Problem
• Process Operator opens Tomlinson Valves to drain
  pumpboxes. Valve located in poor location under
  pumpbox requiring operators to exert force in
  awkward postures
• Solution
• Relocate existing valves to the sides of pumpbox
• New pumpbox installations have location included
  in the design

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Project Cyclone Replacement

• Problem
• Cramped space and poor design for inspections and
  sampling of Cyclones
• Solution
• Enlarged catwalk design and removal of tripping
  hazards
• Easier access to cyclone overflow and underflow
  sampling ports and inspections

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Project Dryer Hopper Hammers

• Problem
• Dewatering Operator bangs chutes every 3 hours
  with heavy sledge hammer exerting excessive force
  and awkward posture
• Solution
• Install hopper hammers on Cu1, Cu2, Zn1 and Zn2
  dryers
• These hammers will help to dislodge the
  concentrate that builds-up in the chute walls

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Project Workstation Seating

• Problem
• Loco Operator complaining of sore back and legs
  falling asleep on Locos 054 and 055
• Chair not equipped with proper hardware (foot
  pedal) creating height problem. Operators
  compensate by leaning forward at lowest setting
  to reach pedal, causing discomfort and awkward
  sitting posture over course of 8 hour shift
• Solution
• Installation of Industry Standard and ergo
  seating for operators with proper hardware
• Change process plant control room seating (Ergo
  and CSA Standards)

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Project Drill Core Sample Prep

• Problem
• Address ergonomic and musculoskeletal hazards in
  the Drill Core Sample Prep Lab for Manual
  Handling of Samples, Crushing, Pulverizing and
  associated work
• Solution
• Identified 29 item with risk factors
• Made changes to reduce high force activities,
  non-neutral postures, repetitive motions and long
  duration

Replace manual forklift with battery operated forklift Replace castors on carts with pneumatic tires Rolling tables and lifting devices Vibration study anti-fatigue matting and dampening mats
Replace sample buckets to a smaller size Grease block retrofits Modification of crusher to remove redundant lip Changes to procedures and job rotation
Replacement of air hoses with wands for cleaning Relocation of disconnects Improved dust control
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Project Water Treatment Plant

• Problem
• Equipment was built for very tall people.
  Changing panel parameters and reading panel
  required operators to be in awkward posture
• Solution
• Build platform for worker to stand on for viewing
  and making changes on panels
• Platform height build to the 95 height percentile

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Project Improvements and Opportunities

• Improvements
• Ergonomic Tools (design and vibration rating)
• Vibration Studies
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Mechanical Assist
• Opportunities
• Central Control Room re-design
• Dryer Refractory and Hearth Rebuilds
• Physical Demands Analysis

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Benefits

• Maintained health
• Enhanced productivity for individuals and work
  groups
• Cost of injuries to worker and employer (quality
  of life)
• Improved workstation design
• Early management of symptoms
• Compliance with government regulations
• Employee satisfaction

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MSD Team
Alan Chow -Training and Development Tammy
Harper -Analytical Lab Guy Lamb -Safety Gary
Kader -Maintenance Wanita Muzyka -Occupational
Health Mathew Street -Industrial Hygiene Shawn
Connors -Worker Rep. All Employees -Metsite
Kidd Operations
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