SAFETY SOLUTIONS: Ergonomics
Employers and employees alike are faced with potentially mortal injuries on a daily basis. OSHA mandates numerous regulations to protect the worker against harm. However, more often than not, it is the highrisk categories that employers place their focus. Ergonomics, the study between workers and their environments, takes second seat to high profile injury prevention. Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of employee disability, afflicting over 19 million workers. Approximately one-half of the nation’s work force is affected at some with musculoskeletal disorder at some time during their working lives.

In the 1990s, OSHA listed ergonomics as one of its most important initiatives. There are definite policies and procedures that OSHA compliance officers expect to find in every workplace. The employer is required to evaluate all jobs for potential musculoskeletal injuries. This evaluation includes screening surveys, job hazard analysis and periodic surveys. Upon results of the survey, employers must then correct all ergonomic hazards identified.

In addition to job evaluations, employers must develop a written Ergonomics Protection Program. This program should include a thorough job analysis for each position, an abatement (prevention and control) plan, engineering controls, work practice controls, personal protective equipment, administrative controls and medical management. Medical management must include, but is not limited to, health care providers, symptoms survey, health surveillance and recordkeeping.

Per OSHA standard, all employees at risk must be provided training that includes signs and symptoms, prevention, use of equipment, engineering controls, work practice controls and administrative controls. Re-training is required upon re-assignment or transfer and as a refresher as needed to maintain the employees’ knowledge of the listed referenced topics. Accurate recordkeeping of all training provided will allow for easy assessment of need for refresher courses.

Various voluntary standards have been developed to help understand the wide variety of potential ergonomic problems. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in corroboration with Human Factors in Ergonomics Society implemented the Standard for Office Work Stations. ANSI independently developed the Control of Cumulative Trauma Disorders standard and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created a standard for Materials Handling. These few standards provide a great deal of information and prove that ergonomic safety is a serious concern within the work environment.

To prevent ergonomic injuries workers must perform their tasks within the natural range of joints and body structure. All joints in the human body have natural positions at which they are strongest. Deviation from these natural (optimum) positions creates increased susceptibility to injury. These types of deviations can occur from faulty body mechanics, repetitive lifting of awkward items, poor design of workstation, excessive reaching/twisting, heavy lifting and static bent postures.

Improvement of employee health and safety through a viable ergonomic program is a must in the workforce. Not only will it decrease the number of missed workdays, but it will also drastically reduce the amount of money lost due to an injury or illness. If your company does not have a designated Certified Ergonomics Technician/Specialist, consider designating a person with the correct knowledge and training to oversee the ergonomic safety of the company’s employees.

For more information, click on the author biography at the top of the page.