Ergonomics Programs Flashcards
Ergonomics
The science of designing and arranging the physical environment, equipment and organization of work to most safely and effectively fit the human body of the worker
WMSDs
Work related musculoskeletal disorders
Field of ergonomics is concerned with…
- Design of the worksite
- Equipment
- Physical environment
- Organization of work
- Interaction of the worker with the job
Ergonomics considers knowledge from the following areas
- Human factors engineering
- Anthropometry
- Occupational biomechanics
- Work physiology
Human factors engineering
Aka engineering psychology or cognitive ergonomics
Focuses on:
- Perceptual and information processing requirements
- Psychomotor actions of job
Anthropometry
Looks at the worker’s body size, dimensions, or measurements when designing work space or equipment
Occupational biomechanics
Examines the mechanical properties of the human body and their responses to mechanical stressors
Work physiology
Is concerned with the responses of the body (respiratory, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems) to the metabolic demands of work
WMSDs account for greater then ——- of all occupational injuries and illnesses reported to Bureau of Labor Statistics every year
1/3
WMSDs accounted for —– of injuries and illnesses with days away from work
34%
Among major disabling injuries and illnesses, median days away from work were the highest for ——–
Carpal tunnel syndrome
——- resulted in the longest absences from work
Repetitive motion, such as grasping tools, scanning groceries and typing
Repetitive motion had a median of —- days absent from work
23
More than —– employees suffer lost workday WMSDs each year in the US
600,000
WMSDs result in an estimated —– in workers compensation and days lost
$13-20 billion
Injuries or illnesses resulting from poor biomechanics are called….
- Ergonomic injuries
2. Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)
WRMSDs typically include:
Soft tissue injuries to:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Joints
- Blood vessels
- Nerves
Common locations of WRMSDs
- Upper extremities
- Lower extremities
- Cervical spine
- Lower back
Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders
- Pain
- Swelling
- Erythema
- Numbness
- Paresthesia
WMSDs exclude injuries from:
- Slips
- Trips
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Being struck by objects
Contributing factors for WMSDs
- Physical factors
- Environmental factors
- Work organizational factors
- Personal factors and activities outside the workplace
Examples of physical factors that contribute to WRMSDs
Physical working conditions
Examples of environmental factors that contribute to WRMSDs
- Hot/cold temperatures
- Noise
- Lighting
Work organizational factors that contribute to WRMSDs
Organizational structure of the work environment such as restrictive, high demand-low control jobs
WMSDs may result from exposure to the following risk factors:
- Awkward postures
- Forceful exertions
- Highly repetitive motions
- Repeated impact
- Heavy, frequent and/or awkward lifting
- Moderate to high hand-arm (segmental) vibration
- Whole body vibration
- Compression at pressure points, or local contact stress, that inhibits nerve function and blood flow
- Lack of sufficient rest periods or machine paced work
- Combinations of any of these conditions
Examples of awkward postures that are a risk factors for WMSDs
Working with hands above head
Examples of forceful exertions that are risk factors for WMSDs
High hand force, in gripping an unsupported object or using a pinch grip
Example of highly repetitive motions that are risk factors for WMSDs
Intensive keying
Example of repeated impact activity that is risk factor for WMSDs
Using the hand as a hammer
Equipment that causes moderate to high hand-arm vibration
- Grinders
2. Sanders
Equipment that causes whole body vibration
Driving heavy equipment
Examples of work related musculoskeletal injuries
- Muscle strains and tears
- Ligament sprains
- Joint and tendon inflammation
- Pinched nerves
- Ganglion cysts
- Degeneration of spinal discs
Conditions associated with musculoskeletal injuries
- Tendinitis
- Tenosynovitis
- Epicondylitis
- DeQuervain’s syndrome
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Sciatica
- Trigger finger
- Synovitis
- Rotator cuff syndrome
Nerve entrapment syndromes include
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow or wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome is cause by what type of nerve entrapment?
Median nerve entrapment at the wrist
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is caused by what type of nerve entrapment
Tibial nerve entrapment at the ankle
Hand-arm vibration syndrome
- a form of peripheral nerve impairment
- thought to result from vibration such as that experienced with the use of power tools
Studies suggest that the greater the ———— the more likely it is that a worker will sustain a WMSD
Intensity, duration and frequency of exposure to physical risk factors
US workers are protected through the ——— from hazards created by not addressing ergonomic issues in the workplace
OSHA general duty clause
In 1990 OSHA developed ergonomics program-management guidelines for…..
Meat-packing plants
——- and ——— also provide a legal framework for ergonomic concerns
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Workers’ compensation laws
In 2002, OSHA developed a four pronged ergonomic strategy, including a combination of….
- Industry-specific and task-specific guidelines
- Outreach
- Enforcement
- Research