Element 3 Flashcards
Identify typical musculoskeletal disorders (3)
- Back Injuries & Back Pain
- Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs)
- Other chronic soft-tissue injuries
Outline what Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is (1)
AND
Identify the symptoms (3)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is:
- Inflammation of a nerve in the wrist
- Tingling sensations, pins & needles, numbness in the fingers and arm pain
Outline what Tenosynovitis is (1)
AND
Identify the symptoms (2)
- Inflammation of the tendons in the forearm that makes finger movement difficult and painful
- Tenderness or pain around a joint
- Redness running along the length of the tendon
Identify some activities which involve significant risk of musculoskeletal disorders (5)
- DSE equipment use
- Keyboard operation
- Factory assembly of small components
- Supermarket checkout operation
- Bricklaying
Identify the main ergonomic risk factors of MSD’s (3)
- Task Factors
- Equipment Factors
- Environmental Factors
Identify the factors that increase the risk of MSD’s associated with the ‘Task’ (5)
- Repetition
- Force
- Posture
- Twisting
- Rest & Recovery Time
Identify the factors that increase the risk of MSD’s associated with the ‘Equipment’ (2)
- Equipment Design
- Equipment Adjustability
Identify the factors that increase the risk of MSD’s associated with the ‘Environment’ (3)
- Lighting
- Glare
- Other Environmental Parameters
Outline what is meant by ‘Equipment Adjustability’ and give an example (2)
- The scope there is for the user to adjust the equipment to suit their personal preferences.
- For example, the ability to adjust a computer seat or tilt a computer screen.
Outline what ‘Equipment Design’ refers to with regards to MSDs and the reasons why ‘Equipment Design’ has an impact on the risk of developing an MSD and provide an example. (2)
- Equipment design refers to the design of the equipment itself and how this affects ease of use.
- A larger handle on a file for example would make the file easier to hold and therefore less force would be required to maintain grip
- Outline why Glare could increase the risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (1)
- Excessive glare may cause a worker to adopt an award posture to avoid the discomfort caused by the glare
- Identify environmental factors other than lighting and glare that directly affect a workers ability to perform the task and their comfort (3)
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Ventilation
Define ‘Ergonomics’ (4)
- The study of the relationship between the worker, the work that they are doing, the tools and equipment that they are using and the environment in which they are working
Outline what the aim of ergonomics is and how this is achieved
- Minimise ill health effects
- Optimise efficiency
- By adapting the workplace to suit the individual
When applying the basic ergonomic principle of ‘Adapting the workplace to suit the Individual’ what must be taken into consideration when doing so (4)
Taking into account a persons:
- Physical Attributes (height, shape, muscle strength)
- Mental Attributes (processing speed, decision making ability)
Identify what the first step is to reducing the risks associated with MSD’s (2)
- Ergonomic Risk Assessment of activities where there is a high risk of MSD’s
- The Risk Assessment carried out with special focus and consideration of the ergonomic issues associated with the work
Outline why a bricklayer would be especially at risk of developing an MSD. (4)
- The work is repetitive
- Awkward posture and twisting is necessary
- Rest periods may be infrequent
- The work environment may be harsh
Outline what the risks of using Display Screen Equipment may be (4)
AND
Give reasons why (4)
- WRULD’s
- Back Pain
- Eye Strain
- Fatigue & Stress
- Repetitive use of a keyboard and mouse for long periods of time
- Poor Posture for long periods of time
- Prolonged use of the screen
- Long Hours, call centre staff being verbally abused
Outline control measures than can be taken to reduce the risks associated with using DSE (5)
- Carry out a workstation assessment to ensure the users workstation meets the minimum standards and that the workstation can be adjusted to suit the user
- Provide equipment that meets minimum standards in terms of good ergonomic design
- Plan the users work routine so they can take short frequent breaks from screen and keyboard use
- Provide free eye tests
- Provide information and training on the potential health risks and the preventive measures - ie: ergonomic use of the workstation
Give the name of the regulations associated with using display screen equipment (1)
- Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Outline good ergonomics of a DSE workstation (14)
- Adjustable height and angle to seat back
- Good Lumbar Support
- Adjustable seat height to bring hands to a comfortable position on the keyboard and a 5 star base
- Correct seat height adjustment and keeping feet supported to prevent excess pressures on the thighs and backs of knees
- Foot Support if user cannot get feet on floor
- Space for postural change - no obstacles under the desk
- Forearms Approximately horizontal
- Minimum extension, flexion or deviation of wrists, wrists straight and flat on the keyboard indicating proper seat height adjustment
- Screen height adjustable so as to allow comfortable head position
- Space in front of keyboard to support hands/wrists during pauses in typing - provide a wrist rest
- Desk laid out to avoid the need for twisting or over-reaching
- Document holder may be required
- Headset if using telephone frequently
- Lighting arranged so as to avoid reflections and screen glare
Outline good ergonomic principles when using a laptop (3)
- Allow only short duration use
- If short use is not possible, apply same management approach of workstation assessment (Frequent Breaks, Eye Test, Information and Training)
- Provide a docking station and/or separate screen and keyboard and mouse to allow user to convert to a more adjustable configuration.
Outline what the risks of Factory Assembly work may be (4)
AND
Give reasons why (4)
- WRULD’s
- Back Pain
- Eye Strain
- Fatigue & Stress
- Repetitive Handling of Parts for long periods of time
- Standing for long periods of time, over reaching, twisting, stooping to reach parts
- Eye Strain by focusing on small parts
- Infrequent rest breaks and demanding work rate
Outline typical control measures which can be implemented to reduce the risk of MSDs associated with Factory Assembly Line work (9)
- Perform an ergonomic risk assessment of the workstation
- Automate the process to eliminate the MSD risk entirely
- Arrange the workstation to eliminate the need to stoop, twist or over reach
- Provide seating if not already available
- Provide comfortable shoes and floor mats to reduce pressure on the feet if sitting is not possible
- Short, Frequent Breaks, Job Rotation
- Lighting levels suited to level of detail
- Provide ergonomically designed hand tools
- Information and training to workers on potential risks of MSDs
Outline the risks of MSD’s for Bricklaying (2)
AND
Give reasons why (2)
- WRULD’s
- Back Pain
- Repetition
- Twisting
- Force (Gripping Heavy Bricks)
- Infrequent rest breaks
- Weather Conditions
- Carrying heavy loads
- Adopting awkward postures
Outline typical control measures which can be implemented to reduce the risk of MSDs associated with Bricklaying (5)
- Suitable PPE to protect against injury and weather
- Training in good handling techniques
- Provision of lifting aids
- Rest breaks, job rotation
- Assistance from other workers when transporting bricks to worksite
Outline the risks of MSD’s for Checkout Operators (4)
AND
Give reasons why (6)
- WRULD’s
- Back Pain
- Eye Strain
- Fatigue & Stress
- Repetition (Scanning, Keying In)
- Twisting (To Scan Items)
- Sitting/Standing for long periods of time
- Lifting & Pulling of items moved from belt to scanner
- Use of small, fixed, non adjustable displays
- Dealing with public (potential verbal abuse)
Outline typical control measures which can be implemented to reduce the risk of MSDs associated with Checkout Operator work (9)
- Make workstations as adjustable as possible
- Provide hand scanners for larger items
- Mechanise Conveyors
- Training on Manual Handling
- Frequent rest breaks and job rotation
- Design checkouts so not all operate from the same side & rotate staff
- Training in customer service & management
- Supervisors available to help deal with complaints
- Ensure checkouts are well manned
Define ‘Manual Handling’ (1)
- The lifting, carrying, pushing & pulling of a load by bodily force
Identify the factors to focus on when performing a manual handling risk assessment (4)
T.I.L.E
- Task
- Individual
- Load
- Environment
Identify typical injuries associated with manual handling (5)
- Back Injury
- Tendon & Ligament Injury
- Muscle Injury
- Hernias
- WRULD’s
- Cuts, Burns, Dislocation & Broken Bones
Explain ‘Back Injury’ (5)
- Spine made up of individual bones (vertebrae) and tough pads (intervertebral disks)
- Wear and tear occurs and discs become distorted (Prolapsed Disc)
- Causes Extreme pain & Discomfort
- Distorted discs trap nerves where they enter the spinal cord
- Recovery slow & Potentially Incomplete
- Casualty may have to undergo surgery