This is the 30-Inch View

Report Details Injury Prevention in Trucking Industry

by Walt Rostykus, CPE

I just found out about a great resource on injury prevention in trucking industry operations.  The report, Preventing Injuries in the Trucking Industry: Focus Report (Technical Report Number 90-17-2008), is the result of Barbara Silverstein and a team of professionals and sponsored by the SHARP Program, Washington  State Department of Labor and Industries, and Keep Trucking Safe. The report found that musculoskeletal disorders were the highest incident injury in General and Specialized Freight Truck Transportation, Courier and Messenger Service, and Waste Management and Remediation Services.

The study provided information on exposures specific to the industry.  I have had several inquiries from people involved in transportation and direct delivery tasks who are looking for some quantification and validation of the challenges and hazards that they see at their operation. This study (of trucking injuries within Washington State from 1997 to 2005) is a strong resource of information and solutions for similar operations.  I found it interesting that MSDs accounted for 36-48% of reported injuries in trucking operations.  The report goes on to provide solutions for common hazards of trucking tasks.

Check it out—this is a good resource for any safety and ergonomics professional supporting truck and transport tasks.  And keep on truckin’.

Find more in Ergonomics
Posted by humantech on February 20th, 2012

Customized Dashboard in New Vehicles

by Mike Hoonhorst, AEP

USA Today reports that Chrysler is developing a new type of instrument panel in its 2013 Dodge Dart.  The panel is completely customizable.  Drivers can choose exactly what they want to display, reducing the amount of clutter on the display panel.  They can also switch between analog and digital, so they have control over the way they receive information.  For instance, they may choose to have an analog speed display, and a digital display showing their average MPG.  This is important, because it can reduce the time drivers spend searching for and interpreting information, which will maximize the amount of time their eyes are on the road (where they should be!)


Find more in Ergonomic Design
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on February 16th, 2012

Building Your Own Sit/Stand Workstation

Sure, ergonomic workstations can be costly, but they don’t have to be. Ask Ann Arbor web design agency build/create studios. The company’s team recently created their own sit/stand work area (and nicely documented the “work bar” process on their blog.)

Explains build/create principal, Ian Wilson, “With all of the info graphics and blog posts out there talking aboutBuild/Create Studios the toll that sitting takes on your body, and my generally sedentary lifestyle, it seemed like an essential first step to getting on my feet more and being more active.”

The team has been using the work area since early January. They stand about half of the day, alternating every hour or so between sitting and standing. Wilson concludes that “There is a “noticeable reduction in “afternoon slump” and it has encouraged us to take our eyes off of our screens and walk around more often.”

Wilson has also addressed ergonomic risk in other ways. “To reduce neck strain,” he explains, “I’ve installed a monitor on the wall in front of the workstation so that, when I’m standing, I can move my open work documents up higher, and when I’m sitting, I can move the active document down to my laptop screen. We may do this for our other workstations and, in general, we’re keeping our eyes open for simple ways in which we can improve our work posture, and make the office more efficient and ergonomic.”

For more detailed information on this topic, check out a recording of Humantech’s webinar, Sit vs. Stand – What’s the Best Ergonomic Design?


Find more in Ergonomic Design | Ergonomics
3 Comments »
Posted by humantech on February 9th, 2012

Culture and Traditions: Ergonomics in the Medina

by Walt Rostykus, CPE

Seeing and learning about the daily workings and ways of life in other counties and cultures helps me keep things in perspective. While in Morocco, I noticed that most ground-level work was done manually by people working in a bent over, flexed-back posture.  This was a common practice for the guy mowing the lawn (with hand shears), the person painting the curb, and even the person mopping the floor with a hand cloth.  Watching them work in this “butts up” posture made me cringe.

In any country or workplace, people will bend and twist into awkward postures in order to complete work tasks even when they don’t have the right equipment.   Morocco is rich with Arabic and French history, handicrafts, fantastic foods, and traditional ways of working.   Simple tools like a lawn mower, longer handled brush or paint sprayer, or mop would have eliminated the need for these people to work in such positions.   But like many places around the world, the cost of labor is cheaper than the cost of things, equipment, and the right tool.

But not all is bad, from an ergonomic stand point.  Just around the corner in the Souk (market), I spotted one of the many handcarts used to transport goods and materials through the narrow, winding, and unpaved streets and alleyways.  Cars and trucks are not used in this part of the city since it was laid out long before motorized vehicles were created.

As I watched a porter transporting a cart full of mangos, I realized the good design of carts.  Design that had evolved over the years as new materials (steel frame and rubber wheels) replaced wood.  The waist-high handle placement and large pneumatic wheels improved the ergonomics of pushing the cart. Even though I was on vacation, I could not help but investigate the design. I measured the force required to get the cart moving and the force to sustain it, then compared them with the limits of the Snook-Cirrielio table (pushing). The force to get the cart moving (33lb), and the sustained force (19 lb.), were within the maximum acceptable forces recommended.  This indicates that good cart design helped reduce the amount of force the porter has to apply to move the weight of the cart (~50-70 lb.) and cargo (~100 lb. of fresh mango) across an uneven surface.

This experience is one illustration of the challenges we face improving ergonomics in the workplace; including design of equipment, perception and value of manual work versus investment in tools, cultural differences (of work, health, medicine, etc.) and perception of hazard and value.

What ergonomic “challenges” and “successes” have you seen in other cultures?


Find more in Ergonomics | Fun Stuff
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on February 8th, 2012

Tablets Here to Stay?

by Winnie Ip, CPE

As much debate as us safety professionals have had over the prolonged use of tablets in the workplace (i.e., awkward postures) it is clear that corporations are moving towards formally adopting this technology.  As reported in the Bloomberg article, “Apple Infiltrates $3.8 Trillion Market With IPad”, the iPad has become a standard business tool for most pharmaceutical, financial, sales, and field services professionals.

Has your company formally adopted tablet use? If so, which one and for what purpose?


Find more in Ergonomics | Office Ergonomics
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on February 2nd, 2012

Ergonomics and iPad Neck

by Greg Cresswell, CPE

The most popular musculoskeletal disorder showing up in the news these days is “iPad neck”. It is characterized by prolonged usage of tablet computers, which results in sustained, awkward neck postures that lead to pain.

After posting record sales last quarter, it is evident that some people are moving towards replacing their pc’s with Apple’s iPad. The pain associated with extended usage of tablets is not unlike the pain you might feel from reading a book for too long.  However, because of their endless functionality people are using them for hours and hours on end.

A big concern is the prolonged usage by children. Because they are cost-effective, more and more school boards are making iPads standard in the classroom as a teaching aid.

The important thing to consider when purchasing a tablet is to carefully select the accessories you are going to use with it. With all the applications that are available, iPads are quickly becoming today’s productivity tool of choice. So when setting up your tablet pc workstation, choose your accessories carefully to reduce discomfort and avoid iPad neck!

For more information, check out this article on News.com.


Find more in Ergonomic Design | Ergonomics
1 Comment »
Posted by humantech on January 31st, 2012

Q & A From Material Handling Webinar

by Christy Lotz, CPE

Thanks to those of you who attended our Ergonomics for Manual Material Handling webinar last Friday.  There were some questions that we did not have time to get to during the event, but we have posted our answers below.  If we happened to miss one of your questions, feel free to write in a comment and we will get it answered.

What were the 3 ranges of the Lifting Index -  Red, Yellow, and Green?

Green represents a lifting index under 1.0

Yellow represents a lifting index between 1.0 and 3.0

Red represents a lifting index greater than 3.0

We have a process in which the operator does not lift the load but needs to twist the back to move it.

The NIOSH Lifting Equation was designed for lifting/lowering tasks and is focused on back burden.  However, there are a number of assessment tools available that focus on multiple body parts, and risk factors such as Posture, Force, Frequency and Duration.  Using an assessment tool like Humantech’s BRIEF™ (Baseline Risk Identification of Ergonomic Factors) Survey or REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) would be the best option for the scenario you described.

Please explain the time factor which appears to increase the load limit for NIOSH.

The two “time” factors you may be referring to, are the frequency and duration. Frequency refers to the number of lifts per minute (minimum = 0.2 lifts/minute, maximum = 15 lifts/minute). Duration refers to the amount of total time spent lifting (< 1 hour, < 2 hours, < 8 hours).  For instance, if you lift a box 480 times per 8 hour shift, the frequency would be 1 lift per minute, and the duration would be 8 hours.

At our workplace, like many others, we have an aging workforce, which of course can present problems and more ergonomic-related injuries.  Do either of these tools account for an “age” factor?

This is definitely something that should be considered.  Currently, the equation shown does not account for the aging population, and you’re right that it may make an impact and should be considered.  There are a lot of factors that we have to be cognizant about when faced with an aging population, such as strength, vision, hearing, and cardiovascular demands.  Humantech will be addressing a few of these concerns and recommendations in a webinar in May.

If you are using a cart with only one set of casters that swivel, and the other two casters do not swivel, where should the casters that swivel be located on the cart – front or rear?

Front wheels should swivel for pulled carts, and back wheels should swivel for pushed carts.

Does the NIOSH lifting equation rely on a certain coefficient of friction between the person lifting and the floor?

The NIOSH Lifting Equation does not take into consideration the standing surface.  It assumes a “dry” surface.  Therefore, a slippery surface would increase risk/burden from an ergonomic and safety perspective and you would be underestimating the risk to the operator.

Why does the HT LiftCalc app only have 15 degree increments for angle of assymetry?

During the webinar, we mentioned that Humantech has a  NIOSH Lifting Equation application (HT NIOSH Lift Calculator).  In order to make it easier to use, we had the angle toggle increase by 15 degree increments (0 to 135 degrees).  Changing the angle by one degree does not have a significant impact, if any, on the overall score, so it was decided that it was determined that this would be easier for users.

What is the best tool to analyze a no-lift process?

There are a number of free assessment tools available that can be used to analyze all body parts with exposure to tasks that do not just include lifting.  For instance, REBA, WISHA (Washington State Checklist for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders), RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment), Job Strain Index etc.


Find more in Ergonomics | Industrial Engineering
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on January 30th, 2012

Three Things to Know about a Physical Demands Analysis

by Greg Cresswell, CPE

What is a Physical Demands Analysis?

A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) is a document that describes the physical and environmental exposures that are required by employees in order to complete job tasks.  They come in many forms and take on many different names.  For example, your company may call them “Physical Demands Checklists”, “Functional Job Analyses”, “Functional Ability Evaluation”, or any other similar title.  Regardless of the title, the information contained inside is relatively the same.  PDA’s describe the force, frequency, and duration of manual tasks such as lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying, as well as  environmental conditions such as temperature, noise, and chemical exposures.  PDA’s are typically controlled by your HR department, and should be reviewed and updated regularly or whenever a job changes.

What is a PDA used for?

PDA’s have many uses.  Generally they are used for three things:

  • Pre-employment screening – to ensure new employees or employees with special needs are placed into positions where they are physically capable of completing the assigned work.
  • Return-to-work job placement – to ensure that previously injured employees are able to return to positions that comply with any physical restrictions that may have been determined by their physician.
  • Determining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements – In cases where high forces are required, a PDA can quickly highlight the tasks within a job that may require a lift assist, for example.  Whereas, if job tasks require employees to work in areas that have overhead hoists, PDA’s will quickly call out that a bump cap is required.

Who should conduct PDA’s?

PDA’s should be conducted by qualified health and safety professionals and should be written such that they are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  This becomes important in cases where worker’s compensation claims go through litigation; a properly written PDA can serve as a legal document.  To ensure accuracy and completeness, PDA’s should also be signed by both an employee and employer representative and then be saved as a controlled document.

For more information on PDA’s, check out this article on the HR Daily Advisor website.


Find more in Ergonomics
1 Comment »
Posted by humantech on January 25th, 2012

Web Resource: ergoCentric Seating Systems

If you are looking for office seating options, ergoCentric Seating Systems might be a good place to begin your search.  This company offers seating options for individuals of all shapes and sizes.  ergoCentric’s easy-to-navigate website offers 12 different styles of office chairs that are available in 5 seat sizes and come with many accessory options.  The combinations are seemingly endless.

In addition, the controls on ergoCentric’s chairs each have a different shape and feel and are intuitively located to make them easier to adjust.  For example, to raise the height of the seat pan, pull up on the square-shaped lever just beneath the seat pan.  To adjust the angle of the backrest, push or pull the spring-loaded oval lever shaped like a backrest.

Finally, there is a variety of free documents and guidance videos related specifically to ergonomics and office seating available on the website, including information about office productivity, human anatomy, and how to adjust your office chair properly.


Find more in Office Ergonomics
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on January 18th, 2012

Ergo Myths: The Bent-Handle Shovel is Best

By Kevin Perdeaux, CPE

The ‘ergonomic’ bent-handle shovel is not new to the market, and is a far more popular choice than the traditional straight-handle shovel. However, despite its popularity, why doesn’t the ergonomic shovel render the traditional straight-handle shovel obsolete?

bent-handle ergonomic shovel

The two shovels are designed to provide mechanical advantages in different situations. The bent-handle shovel is designed using the principles of biomechanical stress to the low back for pushing tasks. When push force is applied as the hands move vertically from the hips, either above or below hip level, the off-axis forces create increased strain to the low back. The user applies push forces through the midsection of the trunk to avoid unnecessary low back strain. However, this mechanical advantage is optimal only for pushing the snow, not lifting.

If you have ever used the bent-handle shovel, you may have noticed that the angle of the shaft positions the load such that it is difficult to raise the shovel blade end. When you attempt to lift the shovel, to clear the top of a snow bank for example, the front hand often must lift higher than is required with a traditional handle because of the angle of the shovel shaft. The front hand also bears more of the overall weight due to an inefficient lever created by the handle design. The traditional shovel handle is straight and allows for more optimal hand positioning for easier lifting.

So the next time you are out for a marathon of shoveling, go easy on your back and use the straight-handle shovel for lifting and the bent-handle shovel for pushing. Selecting the right tool for the task is important…even for snow shoveling.

Image courtesy of homedepot.com

Find more in Ergonomic Design | Ergonomics | Fun Stuff
No Comments »
Posted by humantech on January 18th, 2012

Hands-free Liftgate: Ergonomic or Aggravating?

by Winnie Ip, CPE

With the North American International Auto Show underway in Detroit this week, conversation has naturally been centered aroundHands-free Liftgate cool cars and features to look for.  When Ford announced a couple of years ago their new hands-free liftgate feature to be found on 2013 Ford Escapes, a lot of buzz was created.  Check out the YouTube link here.

So what’s the ergonomics lowdown?

Pros:

  • Complete hands-free operation allows user to open liftgate even while holding a full load
  • Uses gesture-based technology borrowed from the interactive gaming community
  • Liftgate height can be programmed or adjusted manually to meet the needs of various users

Cons:

  • Users have to get very close to the liftgate to be able to activate the feature (sensor is under the vehicle)
  • Users have to move out of the way to avoid being smacked in the chin (upon opening) or head (upon closing)
  • Kicking motion required results in awkward postures (think of holding a mound of shopping bags and packages and balancing on one leg)

Even for someone who loves technology (think using my iPhone in between playing  rounds of bowling on my Wii) sometimes the traditional method may be best. What do you think?


Find more in Uncategorized
4 Comments »
Posted by humantech on January 17th, 2012

« Older Entries

Connect with Humantech

RSS Subscribe by RSS
Twitter Follow us on Twitter
Facebook "Like" us on Facebook
LinkedIn Network with us on LinkedIn
Subscribe by Email:


Get Ergonomics in your inbox!

Sign up