IGC 2 : ELEMENT 3

Musculoskeletal Hazards &

Risk Control

Ergonomics;

the scope of Ergonomics is very wide incorporating the

following areas of study:
Personal factors, of the worker physical, mental & intellectual
abilities, body dimensions & competence in the task required.
The machine & associated equipment dealt with
Interface between worker & the machine-controls, including
seating arrangements, hand tools & control panels.
Environmental issues affecting the work process; lighting,
temperature, humidity, noise etc
Interaction between worker & task; production rate, posture &
system of work

 The organization of work; shift working, break & supervision.

The task/job; safe system of work, job is not too strenuous or
repetitive & development of suitable training packages.
Anthropometry; study of the physical measurements of human
body & the variations of these measurements among people.

ILL HEALTH EFFECTS OF POOR

ERGONOMICS
Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULD):
Group of illnesses affecting the neck, shoulders,
arms, elbows, wrists, hands & fingers.
The term Repetitive Strain Injury RSI is commonly
used to describe WRULD.
Cause by repetitive movements; pulling, pushing,
reaching, twisting, lifting, squeezing & hammering.
Main symptoms; aches in back, neck & shoulders,
swollen joints, muscle fatigue, tingling, soft tissue
swelling & restriction to joint movement.

Preventative & Precautionary measures:

Elimination of repetitive & strenuous actions; perform job in a different

way.
Ensure correct equipment is always used
Use mechanical aids
Introduce job rotation; reduced time of exposure
Ensure poor posture is eliminated in design phase
Undertake a suitable & sufficient Risk Assessment
Introduce a Health Surveillance program
Ensure employees are given adequate training, information & work
Instructions
Ensure a program of preventative maintenance is introduced
Keep up-to-date with advice on equipment from manufacturers.
Refer to Element 8 for more details on Manual Handling Hazards &
Control

Hand Arm Vibration HAV:

Caused by exposure of the hand & arm to external
vibration
Examples: Pneumatic drills, sanders, grinders, powered
lawn mowers & chain saws
Best known disease is Vibration White Finger; circulation
of blood in the hands is adversely affected.
Early symptoms; tingling & numbness after work
Sensory nerves are then affected as well as muscles
Late symptoms; pins & needles, loss of grip strength,
Carpal tunnel syndrome & loss of sense of touch.
Risk depends on: duration of exposure & the tightness of
the grip on the tool.

Preventative & Precautionary measures:

Avoid the use of vibration equipment

Carry out Risk Assessment; estimation of employees' exposure
to vibration
Develop good maintenance & inspection regime for tools &
machinery
Introduce work pattern that reduces exposure to vibration
PPE; gloves & warming clothes
Establish & implement a reporting system for the employees so
that any symptoms are recorded & investigated
Health Surveillance
Follow up & measure Vibration exposure limits & make sure it is
always within international permissible limits

DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT DSE

1] Musculoskeletal Disorders MSD(s)

Tenosynovitis is Commonly caused by continuous use of a

keyboard & can be relieved by the use of wrist supports.

Other WRULD resulting from poor posture can cause: pain in

the back, neck, shoulders & arms.

2] Visual problems

Eye strain & visual fatigue (around 90% of DSE users)

Sore eyes & headaches
Reflective glare,

3] Psychological problems:

Stress related problems

May have environmental causes; noise, heat, humidity or poor
lighting.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DSE

1. Adequate lighting & minimum
noise
2. Adequate ventilation
3. Enough leg room under &
around the desk
4. Use of blinds, if necessary, to
avoid reflective screen glare
5. Document holder
6. Screen; adjustable, clear, no
glare, font size at least 12 &
set in correct alignment with
head
7. Keyboard; detachable, wrist
pads, adjustable & clear
8. Chair; adjustable, arms rests,
lumbar support & stable
9. Provide foot rest if needed
10. Enough work space & use of
headset to answer the phone
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Preventative & Precautionary measures for the use of DSE:

Adequate lighting & minimum noise
Adequate ventilation
Enough leg room under & around the desk
Use of blinds, if necessary, to avoid reflective screen glare
Document holder
Screen; adjustable, clear, no glare, font size at least 12 & set in
correct alignment with head
Keyboard; detachable, wrist pads, adjustable & clear
Chair; adjustable, arms rests, lumbar support & stable
Provide foot rest if needed
Enough work space & use of headset to answer the phone
Use appropriate user friendly software.
Use mouse pads with built in wrist pads.

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MANUAL HANDLING
"Manual handling" is the
movement of a load by human
effort alone; transporting or
supporting loads directly or
indirectly using bodily force.
Common Manual Handling
Hazards:
Too Heavy loads & Poor
posture during lifting.
Dropping load.
Sharp edged or hot loads.

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MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES

Muscular Sprains & Strains.
Back injuries; cumulative
injuries resulting in prolapsed
inter vertebral discs.
Fractures & Hernias.
Cuts, bruises & abrasions.
Work Related Upper Limb
Disorders (WRULDS); wide
range of musculoskeletal
disorders.

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The
Spine

Cervica
l (7)

Thoraci
c (12)

Lumber(
5)

Protection of the spinal column

Provide point of attachment for ligaments,
Tendons, Muscles
Supports the skeletal framework
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Guideline Filter
There is no such thing as a completely safe manual handling operation.
But working within the following guidelines will cut the risk and reduce the
.need for a more detailed assessment

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MANUAL HANDLING
ASSESSMENT
1. LOAD; heavy, difficult to grasp,
hot, cold, fragile etc

WAREHOUSE

2. INDIVIDUAL: capability, strength,

fitness, training etc
3. TASK; frequency, stretching,
pushing, pulling etc
4. ENVIRONMENT: lighting, slippery
floors, uneven ground etc
Remember LITE

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1] Load:
Weight; HSE recommends no more than 20 25 kg
for adult males & 13 16 kg for adult females.
Shape e.g. bulky (dimensions).
Difficulty to grasp.
Sharp edges, very hot, very cold etc.
Unstable, unsecured etc.
Content e.g. hazardous materials, explosives etc.

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Controls: Load:
Reduce the weight; divide the load to more than one
package if possible.
Provide better grasp e.g. use handles.
Secure the loads properly & ensued balance.
Avoid too hot, cold, sharp edges or hazardous
materials.
Provide information & instruction on the package e.g.
Fragile.

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2] Individual:

Capability, Strength & Fitness.

Heart disease, High Blood Pressure etc.
History of back pain or injury, hernia etc.
Pregnancy in women.
Proper PPE to be used; Gloves, safety boots etc.
Competency; proper manual handling training,
Information, experience of the task & attitude.

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Controls: Individual:
Select right person for the task; competent.
(Proper training, information & experience).
Use proper PPE & warm up prior to start
manual handling.
Do not lift heavy objects in cases of:
pregnancy, hernia, back injury, heart
disease etc.

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3] Task:

Load distance from the trunk; the farther the load is held from
the trunk the more the stress on the back muscles & vertebrae.
Twisting, reaching out, stretching, squeezing etc.
Frequency of the task done & the duration of handling.
Excessive carrying distance.
Pushing or pulling.
The number of people involved in the manual handling; the
importance of team work & planning.
Rest & recovery periods as appropriate.

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Controls: Task:

Use mechanical lifting mechanisms.

Do not lift while seated; best to lift at waist height.
Ensure adequate recovery time between tasks.
Team lifting, no bending, twisting or stretching etc.
Reduce travel distance & lifting duration.
Avoid awkward postures.
Implement proper lifting techniques (see below)

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4] Environment:
Light, ventilation, dust, noise, vibration,
hot or cold weather etc.
Walking & working surfaces; uneven,
slippery, tripping hazards etc.

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Controls: Environment:
Good House Keeping.
Clean up spills & avoid loose carpets, rugs
etc.
Provide adequate lighting, ventilation, avoid
dust, noise & vibration
Avoid working in extremes of weather
conditions, dust storms etc.

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Practical Measures to Avoid Manual Handling

Injuries

Avoid Manual Handling

Risk Reduction
Automation & mechanisation
Team handling
Training
Smaller, lighter load
Selection (individual and mechanical aid)
Good Environment (spacing; flooring; temp; light)

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a. Avoid Manual Handling

Manual handling should be avoided if possible e.g.
can a treatment be taken to the patient rather than the
patient taken to the treatment.
b. Risk Reduction
Immediate implementation of control measures to
reduce or eliminate risk from manual handling needs
to be taken as soon as risk is identified. Planning,
control and effective supervision are key elements in
the reduction and elimination of injuries from manual
handling.

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c. Automation & Mechanisation

Wherever possible manual handling should be
replaced or reduced by the use of mechanical
handling aids. For example powders or liquids can be
transferred from large containers and big bags by
gravity feed, avoiding bag or container handling.

d. Team Handling
Where loads are too heavy for one person the
organization should have procedures in place to
properly organize team handling.

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e. Training
Training programmes for employees on manual handling should
include the following:
Manual handling risk factors and how injuries occur
Understanding of organizations manual handling risk
assessment
How to carry out safe manual handling and good handling
technique
How to recognize and deal with potentially hazardous loads
The correct use of mechanical aids

f. Smaller Lighter Loads

Reducing the weight of objects can obviously reduce manual

handling problems e.g. replacing 50kg bags by 25kg bags.

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g. Selection

Suitable selection processes should be used when selecting

employees to carry out manual handling. Also attempt to get
employees to recognize and admit their own limitations

h. Good Environment Working Conditions

To reduce the risk of manual handling injury from the environmental
conditions there should be:
Adequate space and headroom provided
Floors kept clear of obstructions and maintained in good
condition
Avoidance of variations in floor level
Controls introduced regarding extremes of temperature
Adequate lighting provided

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Good handling technique checklist:

1. Ensure appropriate clothing is worn when performing manual
handling
2. Assess the load
3. Keep feet apart, bend the knees and lower the body to the
load, keeping the back straight
4. Grip the load firmly and closely to the body
5. Smoothly lift the load first to knee level, then to waist level.
6. Make sure you can see where the load is to be moved to.
7. Without twisting the body, turn by feet movement, move the
load to the desired location. At all times keep the load close to
the waist
8. Set down the load at the desired location first from waist level,
then to the knee level and then floor

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Correct Handling
Technique

1) Appropriate
clothing
2) Assess Load
3) Position of feet
4) Grip the load
5) Lift load

6) Able to see
where
load is to be
moved to
7) Avoid twisting
body
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8) Set down load

PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUE

Use proper PPE, check the load,
clear the route
Get as close as possible to the
load.
Bend your knees & get a firm grip
of the load.
Lift using your lower limb muscles.

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MECHANICAL LIFTING
CONVEYOR SYSTEM HAZARDS:
Trapping of hands between rotating
rollers & belt; in running nip.

Entanglement e.g. of hair or loose

clothing.

CONTROL:

TRAPPING IN NIP-POINT

Guards, edge protection & restricted access.

Complete enclosure of conveyors & PPE.

Warning signs, emergency stop

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Practical
Task: 1kgMeasures
and 2kg packs containing
(1) glass

jars of finished product were manually

lifted from a conveyor belt and placed on a
pallet

Scissor lift and

turntable

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Practical
Task: Pallets
of finished product
were
Measures
(2)
shrink-wrapped manually using shrink-film
and a shrink-film holder. Usually, one
operator would shrink-wrap 30/40 pallets
per day.

Automatic shrinkwrapping machine

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Manual Handling
Aids (1)
Suction pads
Paving slab
lifter

Panel lifter

Manhole lifter
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Manual Handling Aids

(2) Trucks
Conventional sack
trucks

Hydraulic sack
truck

Stair climber sack

trucks

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Manual Handling Aids (3)

Trucks
Pallet
Platform
truck

truck

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Manual Handling Aids

(4)

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Manual Handling
Aids (5)

Panel
Lifter

Hoist
s

Hoist and
Roll
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Manual Handling
Aids (6)

Drum
trolley

Drum grip

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Manual Handling
Aids (7)

Ladder
hoist
Hoddi
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Manual Handling
Aids (8)
Lifting
Devices

Floor crane

Mobile gantry
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Manual Handling
Aids (9)

Roller table

Shifting skates
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Manual Handling
Aids (10)

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Safety in the use of Mechanical Lifting &

handling Equipment:
General Requirements:
Strong, stable, inspected & suitable lifting equipment.
Equipment to be installed & positioned correctly.
Secure the load & position it in balance.
Equipment to be marked for Safe Working Load.
Lifting operations to be planned, assessed, supervised
& performed in a safe manner by competent personnel.

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Conveyor systems Hazards:

belt conveyors, roller conveyors etc
Trapping of hands between rotating rollers & belt; in
running nip.
Entanglement e.g. of hair or loose clothing.
Loads falling from conveyor.
Impact against overhead system; people riding
conveyors
Contact with sharp edges, burns, cuts etc.
Manual Handling hazards, noise, vibration &
electrical hazards etc.

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Conveyor systems Controls:

Guards, edge protection & restricted access.
Complete enclosure of conveyors & PPE.
Warning signs, emergency stop controls,
Information & Clear Instructions.
Mechanical aids, grounding or bonding,
maintenance system in place & proper training;
Mechanical lifting, first aid, emergency
responseetc.

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CRANES & HOISTS HAZARDS

Over turning, Over loading & poor
slinging.
Insecure & unbalanced load;
falling load.
Collision with overhead structure,
striking a pedestrian etc.
Operator's error, lack of training &
competence.
Lack of maintenance, Regular
inspection & reporting.

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MECHANICAL LIFTING CONTROL

Competent operators;
proper training,
instructions, experience &
supervision.

Regular planned preventive

inspections & maintenance.

Good visibility & Adequate

lighting & assessing
distance to of movement.

Never exceed the SWL. Secure

the load & conduct thorough
Inspection prior to each use.

Safe drive ways & weather

conditions.

Operators to report any unsafe

condition immediately.

Use of safety signs,

audible & visual warnings.

Barriers to stop any pedestrians

from entering a crane operation
area; PPE.

Ensure adequate
communication

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