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Ergonomic Training for

Garment Workers

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Why you get injured at your job
Some ways you can reduce injuries
The right kind of equipment to use to
prevent injury

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At various Clinics, We Discovered That Garment
Workers Have Many Work-related Injuries

Neck 33%
Shoulder 23%

Back 48%
Elbow 15%

Wrist 16% Hand 18%

Knee 9%

Other 22% 3
WHY ARE YOU
GETTING
INJURED?

INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY:


DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND
OVER AGAIN
WORKING IN AN AWKWARD POSITION
WORKING TOO HARD OR TOO LONG

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How does this injure you?

When you
use your
muscles too
much, They
get little
tears...

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This makes your muscle
swell and feel

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What else causes
injuries to
garment workers?

SITTING OR STANDING
IN THE SAME POSITION
FOR A LONG TIME!

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SITTING TOO
LONG STOPS
THE BLOOD
FROM GOING TO
YOUR ARMS
AND LEGS

BLOOD BRINGS FOOD TO


YOUR MUSCLES
WITHOUT BLOOD YOUR
MUSCLES GET TIGHT AND
TIRED 8
These are the warning signs of injury
Warning!

Pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, swelling, heat

If you feel any of these symptoms, its time to


take action!
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Neck, Upper Back and Shoulder
Injuries

Causes

Working safely

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Awkward neck,
and back position
because of
improper chair
and table height
or position.

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WHICH PICTURE SHOWS THE RIGHT
WAY TO SIT?

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Question: How much do you
think your head weighs?

ANSWER: 10-12
pounds.
Thats how much
weight your neck
must support!
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This is the Best Way to Sit
Head only
slightly
bent
Arms
parallel to Back
work Straight
surface

Hips and
Feet level knees at
90 degrees
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And remember
Sitting in the same
position for a long
time, results in sore
backs and necks.

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Take Your Breaks!

Youre entitled to two


10 minute PAID breaks
a day plus a 30 minute
unpaid lunch break.

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Whats
wrong
with this
picture?

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Awkward
shoulder and
elbow
posture

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Bending and
twisting to
pick up fabric
can hurt your
back and
shoulders.

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What is wrong
with this
picture?

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The fabric pieces and your tools should all
be at the same height and within easy
reach to prevent injury

Close
is best

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Arm, Hand and Finger Injuries

Causes

Working safely

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NEUTRAL POSITION

Wrong Right

You hurt your wrists Keeping your wrist


when you bend them and hand in a straight
like this line will prevent injury

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What is
wrong with
this picture?

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NEUTRAL POSITION

Wrong Right

Keeping your
Bending your wrist in neutral
wrist and fingers position will
like this will help prevent
cause injuries! injuries. 27
Lower Back Injuries

Causes

Working safely

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This chair doesnt
support the back
Seat is tilted
backward
Chair edge
presses against
thigh
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Knee, Leg, and Foot Injuries

Causes

Working safely

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Whats
wrong
with this
picture?

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Hard Surface
stops blood
circulation,
pinches
nerves, and
injures knee

You need
enough room to
move your legs 33
freely
Whats
wrong with
this
picture?

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Using only one foot on
pedal is unbalanced.
This can cause back and
leg problems
Awkward ankle
position
Sturdier shoes can
provide better foot
support
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Whats
wrong
with this
picture?

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Straining to see your work
hurts your neck, back and
shoulders
Garment workers
need:
Good lighting
No glare
Eye exams and
glasses if you
have trouble
seeing

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The Right Equipment Can Make a Big
Difference in Your Health

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What Kind of Chair Do You Have?

Bad seating injures us!

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Many workers try to fix these problems

Height adjustment
Back support

Sloped seat Padded seat support 40


Garment workers
and researchers
from the University
set up a testing lab
in Oakland.

We used special
equipment to
measure work
postures and to find
the best equipment
to prevent injuries.
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A Good Chair
Adjust for proper height
Should and comfort
Rotate so you dont have
to twist to reach bundles
Have a forward slope and
waterfall edge
Provide good back
support
Have padded seat to
distribute weight evenly
Flat casters to prevent
sliding
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The tilted
seat pan
will help you
keep your The water fall
back edge prevents
straight pressure on your
thighs when you
sit all day
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Swivel Chairs Are Best For
Your Back

They allow
you to turn
easily to get
bundles and
pieces.

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It is inexpensive to make and
keeps both feet level
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Notice the hinge.
The extension can
be lowered when
not in use.

It supports the fabric so you dont have to


twist and lift as much.
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Tilting the table a few
degrees improves the
line of vision. You can sit
straighter when you work.

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All it takes to do
this is a small piece
of board under both
front legs of the
table.
But it may take
you a few days to
get used to the new
way of sitting

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Inexpensive
non-skid shelf
liner keeps
material and
tools from
slipping when the
table is tilted.

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These storage
boxes help you
keep the items
you use in easy
reaching
distance.

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These knee pads are easy to make. They use
foam inside a simple covering that ties over 52
the knee pedal.
USE THE RIGHT
SEAM FOLDERS

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If you work in a factory
that is not well-lit, you
may need a better light
source.

Make sure bulbs


are replaced

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$175 Chair
45 Table Extension
25 Footrest
5 Knee pad
2 No-slip Fabric
2 Table tilt
1 Storage Box

$235 TOTAL
(+$35 Light if needed)

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HSE

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Questions?

? ? ?
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Thank You!

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