What are the major physical risk factors for MSI?
force
repetition
work posture
local contact stress
When looking at risk factors (such as repetition and force), what is it important to consider?
duration (how long)
magnitude (how much)
What are the three types of activity that require force?
- Force involved in lifting, lowering, or carrying
- Force involved in pushing or pulling
- Grip force
What are some situations in which additional grip force may be required?
- gripping a small tool
- handling slippery or weirdly shaped objects
- objects that are too large to grip comfortably
- vibrating tools/equipment
- when you use a pinch grip instead of power grip
What things can make awkward postures worse?
- applying force in an awkward position, such as lifting a heavy object with arms above the body or using a strong grip with bent wrist
- holding an awkward position for a prolonged period such as holding a telephone between the head and shoulder
what is local contact stress?
this occurs when a hard or sharp object comes in contact with the skin - the nerves and the tissues beneath the skin can be injured by the pressure
How can the effects of local contact stress be made worse?
- if hard objects contact an area without much protective tissue, such as wrist, palm or fingers
- if pressure is applied repeatedly for a long time
What are some situations that increase the risk of MSI?
- not enough variety in the worker’s tasks to give muscles a rest or opportunity to recover
- the worker is unaccustomed to the task. Eg. starting new job or returning from a prolonged absernce
What are some questions you should consider with regards to duration for each of the 4 physical risk factors?
- How long is the worker using force?
- How long does the worker perform a repeated task?
- How long does the worker perform a task with an awkward body position?
- How long is one part of the body exposed to local contact stress?
Magnitude, or “how much”, should also be considered for each risk factor. What are some questions you could ask to address this?
- How much force is the worker using?
- How fast is the worker doing the repeated movements?
- How severe is the awkward posture?
- How hard is the edge digging into the skin, causing local contact stress?
The employers are required to identify what 5 physical and ergonomic factors in the workplace that may expose workers to a risk of MSI?
- Physical Demands of work activities
- Aspects of the layout and condition of the workplace or workstation
- Characteristics of objects handled
- Environmental conditions, including cold temperature
- Characteristics of the organization of work
What would be included in the physical demands of work that employers must identify?
Force required repetition duration work postures local contact stress
What would be included in the aspects of the layout and condition of the workplace/workstation that employers must identify?
- work reaches
- work heights
- seating
- floor surfaces
What would be included in the characteristics of object handled that employers must identify?
- size and shape
- load condition and weight distribution
- container, tool and equipment handles
What would be included in the characteristics of the organization of work that employers must identify?
- work-recovery cycles
- task variability
- work rate
What are two types of ergonomic programs?
reactive
proactive
“respond to problems only when they arise…damage has to happen to realize that there is a problem”
reactive
“analyze tasks, workplace procedures and list the potential risks and solutions”
proactive
What is the first step in the ergonomic problem solving process?
identifying areas/jobs with ergonomic opportunities
What is a good strategy that can help identify ergonomic opportunities?
ask people to list the three worst jobs and to indicate why they are problematic
What is the second step in the ergonomic problem solving process?
defining the job demands
What is the third step in the ergonomic problem solving process?
identify risk factors by body part for each task of concern
Once risk factors have been identified, the employer must do what?
a risk assessment to find out how great the risk is
What must the employer do when performing a risk assessment?
must consult with workers who have signs or symptoms of MSI and with a representative sample of workers who carry out the work being assessed
