HARDHAT ERGONOMICS Ergonomics Awareness Training for Construction Workers

HARDHAT ERGONOMICS Ergonomics Awareness Training for Construction Workers A workshop for workers and supervisors in identifying and solving ergonomic problems on construction sites Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 1

Training Agenda & Objectives Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 2

Introductions “Experience is the best teacher. ” èIntroduce yourself to the people at your table. èAdd up how many years your group has worked in the construction industry. èReport your group’s total number of years worked to the large group. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 3

Defining Ergonomics What have you heard about ergonomics? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 4

Defining Ergonomics is… the science and the art of fitting the job and the workplace to workers’ needs. Use your brain, not your back. Work smarter, not harder. Fix the job, not the worker. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 5

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders): Where does your job hurt you? Where does your body hurt after working on the construction site all day? èMark the places that people in your group hurt after working on the construction site on your group’s BODY MAP. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 6

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) èPost your group’s BODY MAP on the wall. èCompare the BODY MAPS. What seems to be the same about the BODY MAPS? What do the BODY MAPS tell us about construction work? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 7

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) A study done by the University of Iowa has shown that construction workers hurt! • 70% report pain in their lower back • 46% report pain in their knees • 43% report pain in their wrists and hands • 42% report pain in their shoulders and necks (The University of Iowa Construction Survey, 1996) Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 8

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS or MSDs Also called: • Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) • Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 9

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) 3 Facts about MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 1) They affect your musculoskeletal system - your muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. 2) They are cumulative - they happen gradually, as opposed to accidents. 3) They are chronic - the effects last a long time. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 10

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) èIn your group, brainstorm a list of MSDs that your know of, or that you have had. èChoose one MSD that your group has talked about to discuss with the class. Tell us how you got it. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 11

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) Tension neck syndrome Thoracic outlet syndrome Rotator cuff tendonitis Slipped disc Low back pain Strained muscles and ligaments Sciatica De. Quervain’s syndrome Raynaud’s syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome Chondromalacia Torn miniscus Plantar fascitis Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 12

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) MSDs are the longest lasting injuries: § They damage workers’ health more than any other type of injury in construction. MSDs are the most costly injuries: § They cause greater financial damage than any other type of injury in construction § Over 40% of worker compensation costs in construction are due to MSDs. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 13

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis): How does your job hurt you? How can the job be changed? The RISK FACTORS for MSDs are: • Force • Vibration • Repetition • Extreme temperatures • Awkward Postures • Work stress • Static postures Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 14

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Doing an EJA: Step 1 èWith your group, choose a construction job or task that you think needs to be changed. èComplete Part 1 of the Ergonomic Job Analysis(EJA) on the first page of the EJA Handout: Quickly draw the job -- Include the tools, the equipment, and the workers. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 15

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Doing an EJA: Step 2 èTurn to the next page of the EJA Handout and work together to complete Part 2 - the Risk Factor Checklist: Check off all the ergonomic risk factors that are part of the job. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 16

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) Doing an EJA: Step 3 èTurn to the next page of the EJA Handout and work together to complete Step 3 - Identifying Solutions: Identify ways of changing how the job is done to eliminate or reduce the risk factors. Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 17

EJA (Ergonomic Job Analysis) EJA Report Back How would you change the job you analyzed to eliminate or reduce the ergonomic risk factors? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 18

“Best Arguments”: How can you make ergonomic job redesign happen? Who will you show your EJA to in order to get the changes made? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 19

“Best Arguments” èGo to the corner of the room of the person you would talk to in order to get an ergonomic change made to your job. What would you say to convince the person to make the ergonomic changes? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 20

“Best Arguments” What are the “best arguments” to get ergonomic changes made on construction jobs? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 21

Training Evaluation What did you like about this training? What suggestions do you have for changes? Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 22

Acknowledgements This training program was developed jointly by: Construction Occupational Health Program Department of Work Environment University of Massachusetts Lowell One University Ave. , Lowell, MA 01854 Phone: 978 -934 -3329 Fax: 978 -452 -5711 www. uml. edu/Dept/WE/COHP Labor-Management Construction Safety Alliance 256 Freeport St. , Boston, MA 02122 Phone: 617 -436 -4159 Fax: 617 -436 -4163 Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 23

Acknowledgements This training program was funded by grants from: Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR) Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund We thank the Hunter College Center for Occupational and Environmental Health for permission to reprint the graphic on Slide 13 from “Working Without Pain. ” The graphic was originally designed by Richard Sheinaus of Gotham Design. © 2000 Construction Occupational Health Program, UMass Lowell Hardhat Ergonomics-Power. Point Presentation 1. 2 (November 2000) Slide 24