Ergonomics and Safety Ergonomics and Safety ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Environmental Health & SafetyEnvironmental Health & Safety Prospective Prospective HealthHealth

210 East Fourth Street210 East Fourth Street Warren Life Warren Life SciencesSciences

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EH&S AdministrationEH&S Administration Radiation Radiation SafetySafety

Industrial Hygiene & SafetyIndustrial Hygiene & Safety Biological SafetyBiological Safety

Environmental ManagementEnvironmental Management Infection Infection ControlControl

Workers’ CompensationWorkers’ Compensation Employee HealthEmployee Health

ErgonomicsErgonomics

The way we interact The way we interact with our environment with our environment at work, play and rest. at work, play and rest. Fitting the way we Fitting the way we work to the way our work to the way our body is built is the body is built is the key.key.

AgendaAgenda

What is ergonomics?What is ergonomics? What do I need to know What do I need to know

about musculoskeletal about musculoskeletal disorders?disorders?

Adapting my work place.Adapting my work place. More information.More information.

Ergonomics is…Ergonomics is…

Adapting the tasks to fit you.Adapting the tasks to fit you. Maximizing your health and Maximizing your health and

comfort by using your body in comfort by using your body in efficient ways.efficient ways.

Self-evaluation of the behaviors Self-evaluation of the behaviors and postures you use at work and and postures you use at work and play.play.

Learning to recognize the signs Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with an and symptoms associated with an action that may lead to action that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)(MSD)

Illness resulting from Illness resulting from cumulative trauma to the cumulative trauma to the muscles, nerves, tendons, muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels or spine discs. blood vessels or spine discs.

An injury caused by an acute An injury caused by an acute incident e.g., a fall or auto incident e.g., a fall or auto accident, or symptoms of a accident, or symptoms of a degenerative disease are not degenerative disease are not considered a MSD and must considered a MSD and must be treated differently.be treated differently.

Symptoms of a MSDSymptoms of a MSDSubjective indicators of potential Subjective indicators of potential concernconcern

Painful JointsPainful Joints Pain, tingling or numbness in Pain, tingling or numbness in

hands or feethands or feet Shooting or stabbing pains in Shooting or stabbing pains in

arms or legsarms or legs Swelling or inflammationSwelling or inflammation Pain in wrists, shoulders, Pain in wrists, shoulders,

forearms, kneesforearms, knees Fingers or toes turning whiteFingers or toes turning white Back and neck painBack and neck pain Stiffness or burning sensationsStiffness or burning sensations

MSD Signs

Objective indicators identified Objective indicators identified by a physician to help by a physician to help diagnose specific problems.diagnose specific problems.

Decreased range of motionDecreased range of motion DeformityDeformity Decreased grip strengthDecreased grip strength Loss of muscle functionLoss of muscle function Inability to physically perform Inability to physically perform

normal tasksnormal tasks

Risk Factors associated with Risk Factors associated with MSDMSD

RepetitionRepetitionForceful ExertionsForceful ExertionsAwkward PostureAwkward Posture

Contact StressContact StressVibrationVibration

Repetition

Doing the same motions over Doing the same motions over and over again places stress on and over again places stress on the muscles and tendons. The the muscles and tendons. The severity of risk depends on how severity of risk depends on how often the action is repeated, the often the action is repeated, the speed of the movement, the speed of the movement, the number of muscles involved and number of muscles involved and the required force.the required force.

E.g., steady computer use for 4 E.g., steady computer use for 4 hrs/day; a repeated cycle of hrs/day; a repeated cycle of motions 2 or more times per motions 2 or more times per minute.minute.

ForceForce

The amount of physical effort The amount of physical effort required to perform a task or required to perform a task or maintain control of equipment or maintain control of equipment or tools. tools.

Force depends upon type of grip, Force depends upon type of grip, weight of the object, body posture, weight of the object, body posture, type of activity, and duration of task.type of activity, and duration of task.

E.g., Lifting 75 lbs one time or 55lbs E.g., Lifting 75 lbs one time or 55lbs more than 10 times per shift or 25 more than 10 times per shift or 25 lbs below the knees or above lbs below the knees or above shoulder height. Pinching 2 lbs or shoulder height. Pinching 2 lbs or for 2 or more total hours per shift.for 2 or more total hours per shift.

Awkward PostureAwkward Posture

Repeated or prolonged reaching, Repeated or prolonged reaching, twisting, bending, kneeling, twisting, bending, kneeling, squatting, working overhead with squatting, working overhead with your hands or arms, or holding fixed your hands or arms, or holding fixed positions.positions.

E.g., Working with hands over head, E.g., Working with hands over head, kneeling or squatting for 2 hours/day; kneeling or squatting for 2 hours/day; working with back, neck or wrist bent working with back, neck or wrist bent for 2 hours/day.for 2 hours/day.

Potential fixes: portable stools, turn Potential fixes: portable stools, turn or move the work, use frequent mini-or move the work, use frequent mini-breaks, integrate the work with other breaks, integrate the work with other tasks to avoid prolonged use of the tasks to avoid prolonged use of the awkward posture.awkward posture.

Contact StressContact Stress

Pressing the body (or body Pressing the body (or body part) against a hard or sharp part) against a hard or sharp edge can result in placing too edge can result in placing too much pressure on nerves, much pressure on nerves, tendons and blood vessels. tendons and blood vessels.

For example, using the palm For example, using the palm of your hand as a hammer of your hand as a hammer regularly or typing while regularly or typing while resting your arms or wrists on resting your arms or wrists on the hard desk edge.the hard desk edge.

VibrationVibration

Operating vibrating tools Operating vibrating tools such as sanders, grinders, such as sanders, grinders, chippers, routers, drills, chippers, routers, drills, saws and yard equipment saws and yard equipment on a regular basis can lead on a regular basis can lead to nerve damage.to nerve damage.

Potential fixes: vibration Potential fixes: vibration dampening gloves, job dampening gloves, job rotation, modified rotation, modified clutching mechanisms.clutching mechanisms.

Personal Risk FactorsPersonal Risk Factors

AgeAge GenderGender Previous injuryPrevious injury Personal Personal

healthhealth Physical Physical

conditioncondition Size and shapeSize and shape Life styleLife style Life stressLife stress

HobbiesHobbies Rest and Rest and

recovery time recovery time availableavailable

Short-term Short-term changes in changes in health.health.

Attitude Attitude towards making towards making changes to changes to improve long improve long term healthterm health

Neutral Standing Neutral Standing PosturePosture

Pretend you Pretend you have a string have a string tied to the top of tied to the top of your skull. your skull. Suspend your Suspend your entire body from entire body from that string. Your that string. Your back is straight, back is straight, your joints loose, your joints loose, your shoulders your shoulders relaxed. This is relaxed. This is a neutral a neutral standing standing posture.posture.

Neutral Seated Neutral Seated PosturePosture

A neutral seated A neutral seated posture imitates posture imitates the neutral the neutral standing posture.standing posture.

The seated position The seated position puts your hip and puts your hip and knee joints at a 90knee joints at a 90oo or slightly greater or slightly greater angle. When in angle. When in use, your elbow use, your elbow joints should also joints should also be at a 90be at a 90o o or or slightly greater slightly greater angle. Wrist joints angle. Wrist joints should maintain as should maintain as straight a posture straight a posture as possible.as possible.

Fixing the JobFixing the Job

Use neutral postures to perform tasks.Use neutral postures to perform tasks. Adjust the work station to remove the Adjust the work station to remove the

risk factor.risk factor. E.g., raise or lower the work E.g., raise or lower the work surface, turn the piece, etc. surface, turn the piece, etc.

Rotate between jobs.Rotate between jobs. E.g., break up long E.g., break up long typing sessions with some filing or copying, typing sessions with some filing or copying, break up leaf blowing with short raking break up leaf blowing with short raking sessions.sessions.

Use mechanical assistance.Use mechanical assistance. E.g., use a E.g., use a lift to move heavy parts, use a two wheeled lift to move heavy parts, use a two wheeled truck to move multiple boxes or one heavy truck to move multiple boxes or one heavy box.box.

Get help.Get help. E.g., use a buddy to help in heavy E.g., use a buddy to help in heavy lifting tasks.lifting tasks.

Fixing the Job Fixing the Job (continued)(continued)

Use personal protective equipment. Use personal protective equipment. E.g., anti-vibration gloves when using E.g., anti-vibration gloves when using vibrating hand or yard tools.vibrating hand or yard tools.

Observe micro-breaks. Observe micro-breaks. E.g., take a E.g., take a stretch break every hour you spend in stretch break every hour you spend in continuous typing, writing or telephone continuous typing, writing or telephone use.use.

Share your ideas. Share your ideas. If you find something If you find something that works let your supervisor, co-workers that works let your supervisor, co-workers and EH&S know so others may benefit.and EH&S know so others may benefit.

Use the self-help tools available on Use the self-help tools available on the web at the web at http://www.ecu.edu/oehs

Computer Computer WorkstationWorkstation

Comfortable does NOT Comfortable does NOT mean Healthfulmean Healthful

Neutral posture Neutral posture should be the should be the guide for guide for determining an determining an appropriate fix.appropriate fix.

Comfort can be Comfort can be misleading…misleading…Crossed legs may Crossed legs may seem comfortable but seem comfortable but restrict blood flowrestrict blood flowA slouch is definitely A slouch is definitely not a healthful not a healthful posturepostureWe often equate We often equate habit with comfort.habit with comfort.

If you have symptoms…If you have symptoms…

Report symptoms, discomforts or Report symptoms, discomforts or problems to your supervisor as problems to your supervisor as soon as noticed.soon as noticed.

Work together to try to identify the Work together to try to identify the source of the discomfort and source of the discomfort and creative solutions.creative solutions.

If the discomfort lasts more than 7 If the discomfort lasts more than 7 days and you have not located the days and you have not located the probable source or a way to correct probable source or a way to correct the problem, report your the problem, report your discomfort to EH&S for a worksite discomfort to EH&S for a worksite evaluation. evaluation.

How to report a How to report a discomfort or a job that discomfort or a job that needs evaluated.needs evaluated.

Email Email safety@mail.ecu.edu

Call EH&S at Call EH&S at 328-6166328-6166

Stop by our Stop by our office at 210 office at 210 E. 4E. 4thth St St

Tell us…Tell us… About your job.About your job. Where you are Where you are

located. located. What is What is

uncomfortable.uncomfortable. How long the How long the

discomfort has discomfort has existed. existed.

What you have What you have already tried.already tried.

Are you the only Are you the only one doing this one doing this job?job?

Additional InformationAdditional Information

http:www.ecu.edu/http:www.ecu.edu/oehsoehs

Ergonomics self help Ergonomics self help checklist and training checklist and training program on the web.program on the web.

Safety@mail.ecu.edu

EH&S Web PageEH&S Web Page

EH&S Policy EH&S Policy StatementStatement

Protect and promote the health and safety Protect and promote the health and safety of students, employees, patients, visitors, of students, employees, patients, visitors, and the environment and the environment

Primary responsibility rests with the Primary responsibility rests with the Chancellor and, by delegated authority, to Chancellor and, by delegated authority, to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and the Vice Chancellor for Administration and FinanceFinance

Operational component delegated to the Operational component delegated to the Directors of EH&S and Prospective HealthDirectors of EH&S and Prospective Health

The ultimate success of the safety and The ultimate success of the safety and environmental programs depends upon the environmental programs depends upon the conscientious and cooperative efforts of allconscientious and cooperative efforts of all

Expectation thatExpectation that every employee actively every employee actively promote and support the safety and promote and support the safety and environmental programenvironmental program

Employer Employer ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Employer must comply with Employer must comply with OSHA and other safety and OSHA and other safety and health standardshealth standards

““General duty” to provide General duty” to provide workplace free of recognized workplace free of recognized hazards likely to cause injuryhazards likely to cause injury

University subject to University subject to inspection by OSHA, EPA and inspection by OSHA, EPA and other regulatory agenciesother regulatory agencies

Employee Rights and Employee Rights and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Comply with applicable rules, Comply with applicable rules, regulations and policiesregulations and policies

Participate in trainingParticipate in training Notify supervisor of accidents Notify supervisor of accidents

(including near misses), spills, (including near misses), spills, damaged equipment, safety damaged equipment, safety deficiencies, prescription drug deficiencies, prescription drug use or other conditions that use or other conditions that may affect alertness or may affect alertness or ability, etc.ability, etc.

Employee Rights and Employee Rights and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Employee has basic right to make a Employee has basic right to make a complaint regarding unsafe or complaint regarding unsafe or unhealthy workplace conditionsunhealthy workplace conditions

Address complaint in-house by Address complaint in-house by notifying supervisor and/or EH&S at notifying supervisor and/or EH&S at 328-6166328-6166

Contact NCDOL if issue cannot be Contact NCDOL if issue cannot be resolved in-house (1-800-LABOR-NC)resolved in-house (1-800-LABOR-NC)

Employer cannot retaliate against Employer cannot retaliate against an employee for making a complaintan employee for making a complaint

Employee confidentialityEmployee confidentiality

Required Training for Required Training for All University PersonnelAll University Personnel

Hazard CommunicationHazard Communication ErgonomicsErgonomics Accident Reporting Accident Reporting

ProceduresProcedures Emergency Action PlansEmergency Action Plans

Required Training for Required Training for Clinical and Lab Clinical and Lab PersonnelPersonnel

Hazard Communication, Hazard Communication, Ergonomics, Accident Ergonomics, Accident Reporting Procedures and Reporting Procedures and Emergency Action PlansEmergency Action Plans

Lab SafetyLab Safety Bloodborne PathogensBloodborne Pathogens Radiation SafetyRadiation Safety Other Toxic and Hazardous Other Toxic and Hazardous

SubstancesSubstances

Required Training for Required Training for Facilities Services Facilities Services PersonnelPersonnel Hazard Communication, Ergonomics, Accident Hazard Communication, Ergonomics, Accident

Reporting Procedures and Emergency Action Reporting Procedures and Emergency Action PlansPlans

Asbestos AwarenessAsbestos Awareness Electrical SafetyElectrical Safety ExcavationsExcavations PPE, Respiratory Protection, Hearing PPE, Respiratory Protection, Hearing

Protection, Fall ProtectionProtection, Fall Protection Lockout/TagoutLockout/Tagout Power Tools, Woodworking Machinery, Power Tools, Woodworking Machinery,

Platforms, Forklifts, Scaffolding, Ladders and Platforms, Forklifts, Scaffolding, Ladders and other equipmentother equipment

Confined SpacesConfined Spaces HazwoperHazwoper EH&S Monthly and Quarterly Training EH&S Monthly and Quarterly Training

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Safety and Environmental Safety and Environmental Compliance at ECUCompliance at ECU

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Environmental Health & SafetyEnvironmental Health & Safety Prospective Prospective HealthHealth

210 East Fourth Street210 East Fourth Street Warren Life Warren Life SciencesSciences

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safety@mail.ecu.edusafety@mail.ecu.edu