08 Musculoskeletal Hazards And Risk Controls.

Question 1

What are the categories of health risk arising from poor task and workstation design? (5)

Answer 1

• Fatigue or strain on the eyes from excesive glare.
• Headaches.
• General fatigue due to temperature difference.
• Aches, pains and muscle strains from being required to make movements such as over-reaching.
• Aches and pains from poor seating design and positioning.

Question 2

Sum up the aims of ergonomics in a simple phrase.

Answer 2

The aim of ergonomics is to minimize ill-health effects and optimise efficiency by matching the worplace to the needs of the individual.

Question 3

Ergonomic factors influencing Risk (3 / 5-2-2)

Answer 3

• Task
  
  • Repetition
  • Force
  • Posture
  • Twisting
  • Rest
• Environment
  
  • Lighting
  • Other environmental parameters
• Equipment
  
  • Equipment design
  • Equipment adjustability

Question 4

Risks (4) and Control Measures (5) related to Display Screen Equipment

Answer 4

Risks

• WRULDs
• Eye Strain
• Back Pain and other MSDs
• Fatigue Stress- (Verbal abuse)

Control Measures

• Assessment of the user’s workstation to ensure equipment and environment meet minimum standards, and workstation can be adjusted to suit the user.
• Provide basic DSE workstation equipment that meet minimum standards
• Provide DSE users with free eye test
• Plant short, frequent breaks from the screen
• Provide information and training

Question 5

What do you have to adjust in your DSE workstation? (10)

Answer 5

• Adjustable height and angle seat back
• Good lumbar support
• Adjustable seat height
• Keeping the feet supported prevents excess pressure on underside of thighs and backs of knees
• Foot support
• Space for postural change, no obstacles under desk
• Forearms approximately horizontal when hands are on keyboard
• Minimal extension, flexion or deviation of wrists
• Screen height and tilt should be adjustable
• Space in front keyboard to support hands/wrists during pauses in keying
• Also it should be consider other aspects, as lighting, use of the telephone, accessibility of other elements, and a document holder.

Question 6

Risks (4) and Control Measures in a Factory Line Assembly (9)

Answer 6

Risks

• WRULDs
• Eye Strain
• Back Pain and other MSDs
• Fatigue Stress

Control Measures

• Carry out an ergonomic assessment
• Plan the worker routine so that they can take breaks Information and training to the workers on the potential MSD
• Automating the process
• Changing layout of workstation to suit the operator
• Provide seating
• Provide comfortable shoes and floor mats, if sitting is not possible
• Lighting Introduce ergonomically-designed hand tools

Question 7

Common types of manual handling injury (6)

Answer 7

• Back Injury
• Tendon and ligament injuries
• Muscle injuries
• Hernias
• WRUPDs
• Cuts, burns, dislocation and broken bones

Question 8

Manual handling Risk Assessment focus in four main factors, what are they?(4)

Answer 8

Task

Individual capabilities

Load

Environmental

Question 9

How to avoid or minimize manual handling risks (5)

Answer 9

Eliminate the manual handling

Assess manual handling that cannot be eliminated

Use handling aids

Modify the task, load or environment

Ensure individual capabilities are matched to the activity

Question 10

Risk (6) and Precautions (9) related to the use of trolleys, sacks trucks and pallet trucks.

Answer 10

Risk

• Manual handling risk associated with pushing or pulling the truck.
• Instability of the load causing the load to fall.
• Moving up, down or across slopes causing loss of control.
• Poor parking of the truck causing obstruction in a traffic route.
• Other pedestrians may be struck during maneuvering.
• Trapped feet under the wheels or when lowering the load.

Precautions

• Avoidance of uneven ground and slopes.
• Use of ramps over steps.
• Observing the safe working load limits of the truck.
• Securing the load if necessary.
• Using the brakes (if fitted) whenever the truck is stationary.
• Care when moving or lowering the load.
• Safe parking and storage to avoid obstruction.
• Routine inspection and maintenance.
• Use of safety shoes or boots to avoid crush injuries

Question 11

Cite Several general requirements for lifting operations (5)

Answer 11

• The equipment should be strong enough for the lifting task and suitable for the operation
• The equipment should be stable and secure
• Lifting equipment should be visibly marked with the safe working load (SWL)
• Lifting operations should be planned, carried out and supervised by competent persons
• Equipment that is used to lift people may be subject to additional regulatory inspections

Question 12

Risk (6) and Precautions (9) related to the use of forklift trucks.

Answer 12

Risks

• Overturn of the truck
• Fall of the load
• Striking of pedestrians
• Fall or entrapment of a person riding on the forks
• Fall from loading dock
• Depending of the engine type, it is possible also to find risk associated to the type. These can be Battery-powered trucks, Diesel-powered trucks or Liquid Petroleum Gas-powered trucks.

Precautions

• Restricting use to trained operators only.
• Routine visual inspection of the truck before use.
• Routine maintenance of the truck in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Never using the forklift to lift people unless a proper working platform is attached.
• Ensuring that the load on the forks is secure and stable.
• Ensuring that the safe working load limits of the truck are not exceeded.
• Observing site speed limits.
• Never travelling with the forks raised.
• Never travelling with obstructed vision.