OSHA Compliance for Temp Agencies and Host Employers

What is Ergonomics?
 “Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with the design of workplaces, tools, and tasks that match the physiological, anatomical, and psychological characteristics and capabilities of the worker.” Vern Putz-Anderson
 “The Goal of ergonomics is to ‘fit the job to the person,’ rather than making the person fit the job.” Ergotech
 “If it hurts when you are doing something, don’t do it.” Bill Black

Why do we care about Ergonomics?

Ergonomic Injuries - WMSDs
2010 Days Away Injuries by Event/Exposure
All Other
14%
Contact with
Objects/Equipment
17%
Assaults
4%
Fires and Explosions
0%
Transporation
4%
Exposure to Harmful
Substances
0%
Repetitive Motion
2%
Falls to Lower Level
7%
Falls to Same Level
17%
Overexertion
30%
Slips and Trips
5%

Ergonomic Injuries – Body Impacts
 Overexertion
 Back – 52%
 Shoulders – 18%
 Abdomen – 7%
 Arms – 5%
 Legs – 5%
 Repetitive Motion
 Wrists – 43%
 Shoulders – 13%
 Back – 11%
 Arms
– 9%
 Hands – 5%
 Fingers – 5%

Costs of Ergonomic Injuries
MSDs of the Back
0
Upper Extremity
MSDs
Average Claim
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Average Costs per Claim ($)
Source: Workers’ Compensation data from Insurance Companies 1993

The Bottom Line on Ergonomic Injuries
 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (2012)
 #1 Cost Driver = Overexertion Injuries
 $13.6 Billion in Direct Costs to Employers
 27% of all Injury Costs
Resource: www.libertymutual.com/researchinstitute

OSHA and Ergonomics
• OSHA can and will cite ergonomic hazards under the
“5(a)(1)” General Duty Clause, if:
• An ergonomic hazard exists,
•
The hazard is recognized,
• The hazard is causing, or likely to cause, a serious injury,
• And if a feasible means exists to reduce the hazard

Benefits of Good Ergonomics
• Increased productivity
• Decreased mistakes/rework
• Increased efficiency
• Decreased injury risk
• Decreased lost work days
• Decreased turnover
• Improved morale

WMSD Risk Factors

Common WMSD Risk Factors
• Force
• Posture
• Frequency
• Duration
• Vibration
• Environment
• Personal
Factors

Risk Factors for Injuries o Forceful Exertions o Weight of load o Location o Frequency o Stability o Coupling o Awkward Postures o Bending o Twisting o Reaching

Risk Factors for Injuries o Repetitive Motion o Frequent reaching o Assembly tasks o Keying o Packaging o Vibration o Tools o Mechanized Equipment

Risk Factors for Injuries o Environmental o Visual o 150 Lux in MMH o Thermal o Increased accidents away from comfort zone o Hot: Added metabolic heat gain o Cold: Decreased blood flow to extremities

Risk Factors for Injuries o Environmental, cont.
o Worker/Floor Surface Coupling o Maintain static coefficient of friction of 0.4, preferably 0.5
o ANSI A1264.2-2001: Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on
Walking/Working Surfaces o Floor Conditions/Housekeeping o Shoe style o Floor angle o Surface coatings

Risk Factors for Injuries o Personal Risk Factors o Gender o Age o Anthropometry o Lift Technique o Attitude o Strength o Training

Ergonomics Assessment Tools
Tier I Tools:
Checklists:
Quick Exposure Checklist
Washington State Checklists
NIOSH Checklists (97-117)
Tier II Tools
Quantitative:
Job Safety Analysis
NIOSH Work Practice Guide to Manual Lifting
Stover Snook’s Psychophysical Tables for
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)
Job Strain Index
Occupational Repetitive Action Methods

Bending
Kneeling
Squatting
These postures are hard on the back and the knees

WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

WISHA Ergonomics Checklist

Implementing Ergonomic Controls
8 Deadly
Wastes
Elimination
Tools,
Equipment,
Processes
Workstation
Design, Mech.
Assist
Job Rotation,
Rest Breaks,
Safe Practices
Substitution
Engineering
Control
Policies
???
PPE

Reducing low work
• Raise and/or tilt the work for better access
• Use a stool for ground level work
• Use tools with longer handles
• Alternate between bending, kneeling, sitting, and squatting

Ergonomics at Work
Reducing low work
Raise and tilt the work

Ergonomics at Work
Reducing low work
Raise the work

Ergonomics at Work
Reducing low work
Meter reader – golf club handle extension

Awkward Postures
High work
This posture is hard on the shoulders, neck and back

Reducing high work
• Use an elevated work platform or rolling stairs
• Use tools with longer handles
• Limit overhead storage to infrequently used items
• Bring the work down and tilt for easier access

Ergonomics at Work
Reducing high work
Use a tool with longer handles

WISHA Ergonomics Checklist
Hands and Wrists:
• Pinch Grip
• Grasp Grip
• Repetitive Motion of
Hands
• Keying
• Hand Impacts
• Hand and Arm Vibrations
Neck and Shoulders
• Neck Posture

• Discomfort • Burning
• Pain • Swelling
• Numbness • Change in color
• Tingling • Tightness, loss of flexibility
Report symptoms if:
• Pain is persistent, severe or worsening
• Pain radiates
• Symptoms include numbness or tingling
• Symptoms keep you from sleeping at night

• Minor injuries can easily become chronic injuries
• Injured workers, absenteeism, turnover, insurance costs
• Can lead to surgery and disability
• Early treatment is more successful

Ergonomics and Temporary Workers
1. Ergonomics Awareness Training
2. Risk Assessment
3. Solution Development and
Implementation a. Engineering Controls b. Job rotation, rest breaks, safe practices
4. On-the-job training
5. Hazard or near-miss reporting
6. Injury reporting and recordkeeping