Ergonomics and Biomechanics Flashcards
What is an MSD?
Disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels or spinal discs
-most frequent in back or arms
CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO RISKS:
▪ Repetition
▪ Force
▪ Awkward postures or static postures
▪ Contact stress, compression
▪ Vibration
▪ Inadequate recovery time
▪ Cold temperatures
JOB SITE ANALYSES COMPONENTS
IDENTIFY PURPOSE/REASON FOR ANALYSIS
-ergonomic or biomech.
IDENTIFY KEY PLAYERS
-who can follow through with recs
-identify company stakeholders
-current employee or supervisor
-subject matter expert
-health care provider
OBTAIN JOB DESCRIPTION
-Occupational Requirements Survey (BLS)
-O*NET (Dept of Labor)
INTERVIEWS/QUESTIONNAIRES
-informal or semi-structured interview with SMEs
▪ Targeted questions:
▪ “What is the heaviest item that workers in this position are
expected to lift or carry?” ▪ “What is the hardest/most difficult physical part of this job?” ▪ “What training does someone in this position receive?” ▪ “Tell me about the types of items you lift when performing
your job.”
GATHER TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
-wear PPE
-bring own tools to measure (ex: dynamometer, measuring wheel to measure distances)
Biomecanics and occ med
-defines the job regardless of who is performing it
-quantifies the job tasks and determines the essential job functions
Ergonomic vs Biomechanical analysis
ERGONOMIC
▪ Evaluates how a specific person performs the job
▪ Identifies their risk factors–> recs for how to eliminate or minimize risk factors
BIOMECHANICAL
▪ Evaluate the JOB (regardless of who is performing)
▪ quantifies essential job functions
▪ provides a basis for ergonomic interventions, pre-employment screens, and return-to-work recommendations, helps companies with insurance rates
Role of a PT
-objectively describe work tasks, work practices, and work environment
-determine essential job functions: “basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation” (EEOC)
-perform PROACTIVE biomechanical job site analysis
–> basis for developing pre-employment screens
–> basis for objective return to work programs
-perform REACTIVE ergonomic job site analysis
—> reduce or eliminate MSD risk factors
RISK FACTORS/HAZARDS
-identify them
-establish a baseline measurement of hazards
-identify needed hazard changes or modifications –> modify workstation, tools, equipment (ex: telephone headset)
-address how the employee performs the job (lifting technique, tool usage, pace)
-implementation of health and safety strategies or policies (stretch breaks, job rotation, mandated two-person lifts, pre-employment screening, policies and procedures for reporting of equipment problems
Job Hazard analysis tools
-used to evaluate exposure to risk factors/hazards
Examples of essential job functions
- CNA must transfer with assistance resident to/from bed, wheelchair, toilet, shower chair, sitting chair.
- Truck Delivery Driver must transfer cases of product from truck, down stack on two wheeler, hand stack at customer location.
Biomechanical Job Analysis
*Determine essential job functions
-MEASURING PHYS DEMANDS:
–material handling: lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling
–> how much?
–> how far/high?
–> how frequently?
–> frequency (OCCASIONAL, FREQUENT, CONSTANT)
-look at tools and equipment:
–> Lifting: weight scale or force gauge
-note the height of to and from lift
–> carrying: weight scale or force gauge
-note distance item is moved
–> pushing/pulling: force gauge or dynamometer
-note the distance of push or pull
-NON-MATERIAL HANDLING:
-movement and postural demand components are measured by total duration (occasional, frequent, constant)
–> Sitting, Standing, Walking, Climbing (Ladders or Stairs), Balancing, Bending, Stooping/Crouching, Kneeling, Squatting,
Crawling, Twisting, Reaching (Above Shoulder Height or Below
Knees), Grasping, Pinching, Fine Dexterity, Reading & Writing
Occasional frequency
0-33% of time in day
Frequent frequency
34-66% of time per day
Constant frequency
67-100% of time per day
FIT FOR DUTY ASSESSMENT/RTW ASSESSMENT
-Objective assessment performed on EXISTING employees to determine RTW status after a disability or limitations in work participation after an injury or illness
-supervisor observes and documents difficulties
-employee demonstrates direct threat to safety performing essential job functions
-med conditions impairs the ability to perform essential job functions
-periodic testing and monitoring are job-related and consistent with business necessity
Education provided during job site analysis
TRAIN EMPLOYEES:
▪ MSD signs, symptoms & hazards
▪ How & why to report MSDs early
▪ How to prevent MSDs
▪ Proper use of tools & equipment
▪ Self-responsibility at home & work
▪ Review company ergonomic and safety policies
-in-depth training for trainers, supervisors, and ergonomic committee members
Pre-employment screen/test
-Objective assessment to evaluate a candidate’s ability to perform the essential functions of a job
-minimize risk of injury and risk
-“Can this person physically
perform the job?”
-documents pre-existing medical conditions to decrease potential worker’s compensation liability
-attract better quality employee
-decrease turnover
**know legal and regulatory considerations for functional employment testing
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
-job specific tasks - mimic task performed on the job
-ex: drag a dummy 20 ft to rescue them from burning building
