ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLING
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FORMANUAL HANDLING2nd EDITION (2010)Reprinted August 2011
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGTABLE OFCONTENTSINTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Stages of cumulative MSIs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Why is manual handling a problem?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4How to use this document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Manual handling checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6MSI PREVENTION: FINDING A SOLUTION“Ergonomics is thescience of studyingpeople at work andthen designing tasks,jobs, information,tools, equipment,facilities and theworking environmentso people can besafe and healthy,effective, productiveand comfortable.”(Ergonomics DesignGuidelines, AuburnEngineers, Inc., 1998)The commitment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Engineering out of the problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Providing education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Potential solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Forceful exertion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Posture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Repetition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13APPENDIX A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14APPENDIX B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16APPENDIX C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Blank manual handling checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18AcknowledgmentSpecial thanks to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safetyand to WorkSafe Western Australia for granting permission to use theirgraphic images.Also, we thank all the New Brunswick employers and employees who providedfeedback during the pilot phase of this document.DisclaimerThis document represents best practices to prevent manual handling injuriesand other business losses due to manual handling. Information containedin this document may change over time as new research and studies aredone in the field of ergonomics. This document is not designed to replace aprofessional ergonomics analysis.ISO 11228 is not a regulatory requirement.WorkSafeNB, 2010
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGINTRODUCTIONAs part of its ergonomics strategy, WorkSafeNB has developed ErgonomicsGuidelines for Manual Handling. This booklet is designed to be used by allindustries, and to help Joint Health and Safety Committees, supervisors andmanagement prevent musculoskeletal injury.A musculoskeletal injury (MSI) is an injury or disorder of the muscles,tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels or related soft tissue arisingfrom exposure to risk factors such as awkward postures, repetitive motionsand forceful exertions. The injury can be acute or cumulative.Stages of cumulative MSIs: Stage 1: Mild discomfort, present while working, but disappears whennot working. Does not affect work performance or daily living tasks.Completely reversible. Stage 2: Pain is present while working and continues when not working.Begins to affect daily living tasks. Employees sometimes take nonprescription pain medications. Completely reversible. Stage 3: Pain is present all the time. Employees seek medical attention.May not be able to complete simple daily tasks. May not be completelyreversible to reach full recovery. Employee participates in the workplaceaccommodation process.The DiscomfortSurvey found inAppendix A is agreat tool to helpemployees reportearly signs andsymptoms of MSIto their supervisor.In the early stage, employees should communicate the increasing pain totheir immediate supervisor. This is a great opportunity to prevent the MSIfrom occurring.3
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGWhy is manual handling a problem?Across Canada, many workplaces are experiencing an increase in the numberof MSIs. New Brunswick statistics for 2007 reveal that MSIs account for 38%of all long-term claim costs. Approximately 70% of all MSIs are injuries to theback and shoulders.In New Brunswick, the following section of General Regulation 91-191applies to handling an object or material:91-191 Section 52“Where the health or safety of an employee handling an object or materialmay be endangered, an employer shall ensure that(a) Adequate and appropriate equipment is provided to the employee andis used by the employee for lifting and moving the object or material, and(b) The employee is instructed as to the appropriate method of lifting andmoving objects and material.”DefinitionManual material handling includes any tasks which require a person to lift,lower, push, pull, hold or carry any object or material.4
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGHow to use this documentStep 1The first part of this document involves using a checklist to identify high-riskmanual handling tasks. This identification process emphasizes lifting, lowering,pushing and pulling activities by assessing the following factors: Forceful exertion Awkward posture Repetitive motionWhen quantifying the level of exposure for these primary risk factors you willneed to consider measuring peak force, sustained force, weight of object,cumulative weight handled, various joints angles, duration of exposure,frequency, working height, workstation dimensions affecting body position,productivity, etc.The process of identifying risk factors and quantifying the level of exposure willrequire intensive work upfront, but will provide tremendous benefits in termsof finding solutions that address the root cause of the problem.If you are not sure where to start, simply select a task that has any of thefollowing characteristics: Task requires high physical exertions while performing manualhandling activities. Employee has a score greater than five on the Discomfort Survey. Employee has had an MSI in the past while performing the task in the past.Step 2The second part involves using the potential solutions section to develop anaction plan with detailed solutions to eliminate or reduce the high-risk manualhandling tasks. For each “Yes” answer on the checklist, consult the potentialsolutions for examples of ways to reduce the risk of injury. Use these examplesas a starting point for brainstorming and developing your own action plan.Advise and involve the employee when completing the checklist for the taskyou have identified. To improve to improve the accuracy and consistency ofyour results, be sure to evaluate the most strenuous and physically-demandingportion of the task. Each “Yes” answer indicates a risk of an MSI or asub-optimal condition. Include all meaningful comments for each itemand answer “NA” if the question does not apply.5
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGMANUAL HANDLING CHECKLISTTask #1Remember tocheck for a PhysicalDemands Analysisor Task InformationSheet. They canhelp you fill thechecklist easily.Initial pushingand pulling forcescan be measuredwith a specialgauge, which takesall the variablesinto account(weight, friction,acceleration).Forceful exertionsTask #2Task #3Check only if «Yes» YesYesCheck only if «Yes» YesYesCheck only if «Yes» YesYes1. Is the weight of the objectlifted more than 25 kg male/15 kg female?2. Is the initial pushing or pullingforce exerted more than320 N male/220 N female?(10 newtons 1 kg)3. Is the sustained pushing orpulling force exerted more than230 N male/130 N female?4. Does the worker handle atotal cumulative weightexceeding 10,000 kg per day?Posture5. Are objects handled belowmid-thigh height forcing theworker to bend their back?6. Does the worker twist theirtrunk during the handlingprocess?7. Are objects handled aboveshoulder height?8. Does the worker reach behindor fully across the body withtheir shoulders?Repetition9. Does the worker performthe same task for more thanone hour consecutively?(no job rotation and notusing different muscle groupsthroughout the day)Completed by: Date:6
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGMSI PREVENTION:FINDING A SOLUTIONThe commitmentOver the years, we have learned that the commitment and involvement ofthe entire workplace, from top management to line employees, are essentialelements of a successful health and safety program.Management should have the knowledge to assume their leadership role.This includes: A visible involvement. A health and safety policy (signed by senior management). Well-defined roles and responsibilities for all parties (employees,supervisors, JHSC, human resources, etc.). A plan to provide the necessary education to all parties. A process that ensures all parties are accountable for their responsibilities.Engineering out of the problemThe design of the job itself (work and rest schedules, job rotation, productionrate), the object being handled (weight, size, shape, handle) andthe workstation (dimensions, layout, adjustability) have a direct impacton the primary risk factors. To prevent MSIs, you have to consider modifyingall these aspects.When implementing solutions to reduce the risk of injury, additional benefitscan be measured to justify your investment, such as: productivity increase,improved quality, less rework, lower turnover rate, reduced training costsand improved morale.Please checkwww.worksafenb.cafor more informationSome workplacesinclude some safetycriteria inthe performanceappraisal process fortheir employeesKeep in mind thatemployees are a greatsource of creativity!Providing educationEducation is a key step to preventing MSIs. Employees should have a basicunderstanding of body mechanics, be able to recognize high-risk tasks andbe able to identify the early signs and symptoms of an MSI. Employees shouldensure that symptoms, near misses, hazards, incidents and accidents arereported to their supervisor so that necessary action can be taken. Managementmust document this information.7
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGPotential Solutions10 newtons 1 kgfISO 11228-1and 11228-2 arenot regulatoryrequirements.The following sections provide examples of how to reduce or eliminate the riskof manual handling injuries, but they do not encompass all solutions. Any onesolution may not eliminate all the risks of injury. Again, choose the solutionthat best applies to your situation and use it as a starting point to improve yourwork environment.Forceful exertionOne commonly used standard to determine a safe lifting limit is the ISOStandard 11228 Part 1: Lifting. This standard has a reference mass for twohanded lifting under ideal conditions of: 25 kg for 95% of males. 15 kg for 99% of females.Pushing or pullingunder non-idealconditions reducesthe safe pushingand pulling limit.Ideal conditions are defined as: Standing symmetrically, unrestricted and upright. Trunk is upright and not rotated. Horizontal distance to object less than 25 cm. Height of grip less than 25 cm above knuckle height. Firm grip on the object (neutral wrist posture). Lifting duration of less than one hour per day. Frequency of lifting less than or equal to 0.2 lifts per minute. Favourable environmental conditions.Lifting under non-ideal conditions decreases the safe lifting limit.The ISO Standard 11228 Part 2 is used to determine two-handed pushing andpulling limits (see following table):Recommend force for Recommend force for90% male population 90% female populationPUSHING: Two-handed initial340 N220 NPUSHING: Two-handed sustained230 N130 NPULLING: Two-handed initial320 N230 NPULLING: Two-handed sustained240 N140 NThe above table is for a frequency of one-eighth hour, a handle height of 95 cmfor males and of 89 cm for females, and a push distance of 2 m.8
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGThese ISO standards are based on well-recognized scientific research. Whileall the details and specifications are not listed in this booklet, do not hesitateto consult ISO (www.iso.org) or your regional ergonomics consultant formore information. If you have any doubt while identifying the risk factors ormeasuring the level of exposure, you should consult or hire a professionalergonomist.Another commonly used book to assess various manual handling tasks is“A Guide to Manual Materials Handling,” by A. Mital, A.S. Nicholson andM.M. Ayoub. This book covers lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying and othercommon tasks such as one-hand lifting, one-hand pushing, teamlifting and manual handling in unusual postures.Consider implementing the following solutions to reduce the risk of injury: Provide mechanical aids such as conveyors, floor cranes, carts, balancingmechanisms, vacuum hoists, turntables, tilt tables, hooks, automaticpushers, wheels, etc. Minimize the total cumulative weight handled each day. Change from lifting to pushing or from pushing to rolling. Introduce team lifting. Modify the object (change the shape, change the size, use lighter containers,divide into smaller units, move the centre of gravity closer to the employee,create handles, improve casters, etc.). Provide education in proper body mechanics, in proper selection ofclothing and footwear, in use of personal protective equipment, etc. Develop a work procedure, provide training and have everyone sign off.As an approximateguide, the capabilityof a two-person teamis two-thirds the sumof their individualcapabilities.9
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGPostureIn general, tasks should be designed to allow employees to work close to theirneutral joint posture. For the back, when possible, you should avoid frequentlyflexing and avoid twisting while performing manual handling activities.For the shoulder, when possible, you should avoid reaching frequently aboveshoulder height and avoid reaching behind or fully across your body.The workstation design will have a major effect on the working postures.Ideally, a workstation should be designed to fit a wide range of employees(smallest, tallest, average). Increasing the workstation adjustability is a greatway to fit everyone.10
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGObject characteristics (size, shape, handle) can also affect posture duringthe handling process. Handles should be designed to keep wrists in a neutralposture, to provide a power grip, and to minimize contact stresses. Considerimplementing the following solutions to reduce the risk of injury: Use proper body mechanics – turn by moving the feet rather than twisting the upper body.Use storage techniques – wall brackets, shelving, gravity feed – to reduceholding, carrying, lifting, etc.Minimize the number of times the load is lifted below mid-thigh height orabove shoulder height.Add posture variety by introducing job rotation or job enlargement.Add posture variety by using a footrest or a sit-stand device.Provide anti-fatigue matting or shoe inserts for workers who stand forlong periods.Adjust the height of the workstation to the worker’s optimal working height.Add lighting to improve the employee’s ability to see objects.Use mirrors and other visual aids to help an employee manoeuvre safelyaround corners and other obstacles.Implement a warm-up and stretch program.11
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGRepetitionIn general, increasing the frequency of the task (the number of times the task isperformed per minute) or the duration of the task increases the risk of injury.Number of lifts (per minute)Duration of eight hoursDuration of less than one hourMaximum permissable weight (kg)Maximum permissable weight (kg)Ideally, workers should use different muscle groups and vary their posture(sitting, standing, walking) as often as possible. The physical intensity ofthe work should also vary, especially for lifting tasks.Number of lifts (per minute)Duration of eight hoursDuration of less than one hourConsider implementing the following solutions to reducethe risk of injury: Introduce proper task rotation or job enlargement. Introduce short and frequent work-rest cycles. Introduce task-specific exercises. Reduce the pace of the task or the pace of the machineor feeder. If frequency is very high, provide mechanical aids orautomate the task.A tilt work surface can eliminatereaching and bending.12
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGBIBLIOGRAPHYThis document is based on information collected from the following sources:Auburn Engineers Inc. Design For Ergonomics. Auburn, 1997.Bridger, R.S. Introduction to Ergonomics. McGraw-Hill, 1995.International Organization for Standardization. International StandardISO 11228-1. Ergonomics - Part 1: Lifting and Carrying. 1st ed.Geneva, 2003.International Organization for Standardization. International StandardISO 11228-2. Ergonomics - Manual Handling - Part 2: Pushing andPulling. 1st ed. Geneva, 2005.Kroemer, K.H.E., and E. Granjean. Fitting the Task to the Human.5th ed. Bristol: Taylor & Francis Inc., 1997.Kroemer, Karl, et al. Ergonomics - How to Design for Ease and Efficiency.Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1994.Mital, A., A.S. Nicholson, and M.M. Ayoub. A Guide to Manual MaterialsHandling. 2nd ed. Washington: Taylor & Francis Inc., 1997.Occupational Health and Safety Authority. Code of Practice for ManualHandling (Occupational Overuse Syndrome). Melbourne: Law Press,1995.Victorian WorkCover Authority. Regulations and Code of Practice: ManualHandling. Australian Government Publishing Service, 1996.13
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLINGAPPENDIX ADISCOMFORT SURVEYName: Date:Job title: MaleFemaleJob description:1. How many years or months have you been working in this particular jobor set of tasks?years months2. Please indicate all the body part(s) where discomfort occurred duringthe last six months:Body part14Rate your physical discomfort usingthe scale below:0 no discomfort10 worst imaginable discomfortNeck0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Left shoulder0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Right shoulder0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Left elbow0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Right elbow0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Left wrist/hand0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Right wrist/hand0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Back0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Left knee0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Right knee0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Legs0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Tas
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES FOR MANUAL HANDLING. INTRODUCTION. As part of its ergonomics strategy, WorkSafeNB has developed . Ergonomics . Guidelines for Manual Handling. This booklet is designed to be used by all industries, and to help Joint Health and Safety Committees, s
IIE - Fellow 1990 , Ergonomics Division Award, 1986 HFES - IE Technical Group Award, 1993 Texts Industrial Ergonomics: A Practitioner's Guide The Practice and Management of Industrial Ergonomics Industrial Ergonomics: Case Studies Ergonomics Design Guidelines Applied Ergonomics - Case Studies Volumes 1, 2 & 3 .
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ergonomics, engineering project, control centre, case studies 1. Marketing ergonomics 1.1. Ergonomics Ergonomics (or human factors) is described as fitting tasks, workplaces and interfaces, to the capacities, needs and limitations of human beings. The aim of ergonomics is to optimise safety, health, comfort and efficiency for the
Ergonomics 25: 315-322 Das, B. 1987. An ergonomics approach to the design of a manufacturing work system' Int J Industrial Ergonomics 1: 231-240 Das, B. and Grady, R. M. 1983. Industrial workplace layout design: An application of engineering anthropometry. Ergonomics 26: 433-447 Eastman Kodak Company. 1983. Ergonomics Design for People at .
the issues involved in manual pushing and pulling, including ergonomics; cart, wheel, and caster design; and important operating environment factors. I Introduction. Pushing and Pulling Tasks 2 The Ergonomics of Manual Material Handling Wojciech Jastrzebowski, a Polish scholar, first used the term ergonomics in 1857. He derived it from the Greek words ergon (work) and nomos (principle or law .
Ergonomics Risk Factor Ergonomic risk factors are characteristics of a job that facilitate ergonomics stress on the body. Risk factors occur at different jobs and tasks. The greater exposed to these risk factors the greater probability of ergonomics. According to [1], ergonomics risk factors can be divided into seven categories as follows:
Industrial Ergonomics Workers Compensation Fund 2 Ergonomics The Science of Fitting the Task to the Worker The goal of an effective Ergonomics Program is to reduce the risk of employee injury and discomfort through better matching of the work station to the employee. 3 Industrial Ergonomics Maintain or improve productivity Maintain or improve .
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