c. Proactive ergonomics activities emphasize efforts at the design stage of work processes to recognize needs for avoiding risk factors that can lead to musculoskeletal problems. The goal is to design operations that ensure proper selection and use of tools, job methods, workstation layouts, and materials that impose no undue stress and strain on the worker.

d. Policy statements of an effective ergonomics programs: treat ergonomic efforts as: furthering the company's strategic goals: expect full cooperation of the total workforce in working together toward realizing ergonomic improvements; assign lead roles to designated persons who are known to "make things happen,"; give ergonomic efforts priority with other cost reduction, productivity, and quality assurance activities, and have the support of the local union or other worker representatives; allow full discussion of the policy and the plans for implementation; and set concrete goals that address specific operations and give priority to the jobs posing the greatest risk.

b. To demonstrate commitment, management should: train the workforce to be more aware of ergonomic risk factors for MSDs; provide detailed instruction to those expected to assume lead roles or serve on special groups to handle various tasks; bring in outside experts for consultations about start-up activities and difficult issues at least until in-house expertise can be developed; and implement ergonomic improvements as may be indicated.

a. Management should be up-front regarding possible impacts of the program on job security and job changes. All injury data, production information, and cost considerations need to be made available to those expected to make feasible recommendations for solving problems.

a. Promoting employee involvement in efforts to improve workplace ergonomic conditions has several benefits. They include: enhanced worker motivation and job satisfaction; added problem-solving capabilities; greater acceptance of change; and greater knowledge of the work and organization.

b. Techniques and tools for developing solutions to identified problems include: Following up of worker reports; reviewing OSHA logs and other existing records; conducting symptom surveys; using periodic medical examinations; identifying risk factors in jobs; screening jobs for risk factors; performing job analyses; and setting priorities.

c. If you uncover signs like these in your workplace, it might be a good idea to request a confidential evaluation by an Oregon OSHA or insurer ergonomics consultant. Ergonomic evaluations may uncover significant problems and be very helpful in correcting them.

c. Once a decision has been made to initiate an ergonomics program, the next step is to gather information to determine the scope and characteristics of the problem or potential problem.

a. True. Assuring employees feel free to report, as early as possible, symptoms of physical stress is a key component of any ergonomics program.

b. A disadvantage of using OSHA logs or company medical information to identify possible cases of MSDs is the lack of specific or uniform medical information. This limitation may make identifying MSDs difficult.

b. Screening jobs for physical and psychological risk factors is very proactive, and should involve one or more of the following: Walk-through observational surveys of the work facilities to detect obvious risk factors.

d. When checklist data are gathered by persons familiar with the job, task, or processes involved, the quality of the data is generally better.

b. Manipulative or other tasks requiring repeated or sustained bending or twisting of the wrists, knees, hips, or shoulders also impose increased stresses on these joints. Activities requiring frequent or prolonged work over shoulder height can be particularly stressful.

c. Increased weight of a load handled or lifted, increased bulkiness of the load handled or lifted, use of an awkward posture, the speeding up of movements, increased slipperiness of the objects handled, the presence of vibration, use of the index finger and thumb to forcefully grip an object, and use of small or narrow tool handles that lessen grip capacity.

c. Research is examining work factors such as performance monitoring, incentive pay systems, and unreasonable management production demands to determine whether these factors have a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system.

d. The Ergonomics Job Hazard Analysis breaks a job into its various elements or actions, describes them, measures and quantifies the ergonomics risk factors inherent in the elements, identifies conditions contributing to the risk factors, and determines corrective measures.

a. While most job analyses have common approaches, such as a focus on the same set of risk factors described above, no "standard" protocol exists for conducting a job analysis to assess ergonomic hazards.

c. Procedures include: Observing the workers performing the tasks; videotaping; still photos; workstation measurements; determining characteristics of work surfaces; measuring exposures to heat, cold, and whole body vibration; biomechanical calculations; physiological measures; and special questionnaires, interviews, and subjective rating procedures.

c. Jobs in which current cases have been identified should receive immediate attention, followed by those in which past records have noted a high incidence or severity of MSDs despite the lack of current cases.

d. Priority for job analysis and intervention should be given to those jobs: in which most people are affected or in which work method changes are going to be taking place anyway; associated with worker complaints of fatigue and discomfort; and where screening efforts suggest the presence of significant risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

b. The following control measures are widely accepted as intervention strategies for controlling workplace ergonomic hazards: Engineering Controls; Management Controls; and Interim Measures.

c. Management controls are management-dictated procedural and scheduling changes designed to reduce or prevent exposures to ergonomic risk factors.

a. There are five components of proper computer workstation design that you must address to maintain proper posture: the work surface, the keyboard, the pointing device or trackball, the monitor and the chair.

a. Safe procedures maintain workers in neutral postures, and reduce frequency, duration, and severity of exposure to risk factors.

b. Design root causes. Inadequate design of the safety management system. The development of written safety plans, policies, processes, procedures and practices is very important to make sure appropriate conditions, activities, behaviors, and practices occur. Implementation root causes describe the failure to carry out the plan as designed.

d. Ideas for effective ergonomic control measures can be derived from a variety of sources: employees/work teams, Oregon OSHA, trade associations, insurance companies, and private consultants and vendors, and other safety professionals.

a. Testing and evaluation verify that the proposed solution actually works and identifies any additional enhancements or modifications that may be needed.

a. A good idea in general is that ergonomic control efforts start small, targeting those problem conditions that are clearly identified through safety and health data and job analysis information.

d. A follow-up evaluation is necessary to ensure that the controls reduced or eliminated the ergonomic risk factors and that new risk factors were not introduced.

c. Long-term indicators of the effectiveness of an ergonomics program can include: Reduction in the incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders; Reduction in the severity rate of musculoskeletal disorders; Increase in productivity or the quality of products and services; Reduction in job turnover or absenteeism.

a. In general, medical management emphasizes the prevention of impairment and disability through early detection, prompt treatment, and timely recovery. Medical management responsibilities fall on employers, employees, and health care providers.

b. Employers should provide education and training to employees regarding the recognition of the symptoms and signs of MSDs and the employers procedures for reporting MSDs.

c. Employees should participate in the health care management process by: following applicable workplace safety and health rules, following work practice procedures related to their jobs, and reporting early signs and symptoms of MSDs.

b. One of the best ways for a health care provider to become familiar with jobs and job tasks is by periodic plant walk-throughs. Once familiar with plant operations and job tasks, the health care provider should periodically revisit the facility to remain knowledgeable about changing working conditions.

a. Immobilization devices, such as splints or supports, can provide relief to the symptomatic area in some cases. These devices are especially effective off-the-job, particularly during sleep. They should not be used as prophylactic PPE to prevent the development of MSDs. Therefore, these devices should be dispensed to individuals with MSDs only by health care providers who have knowledge of the benefits and possible negatives of these devices.

a. For ergonomics, the overall goal of training is to enable managers, supervisors, and employees to identify aspects of job tasks that may increase a worker's risk of developing MSDs, recognize the signs and symptoms of the disorders, and participate in the development of strategies to control or prevent them.

b. For ergonomics, the overall goal of training is to enable managers, supervisors, and employees to identify aspects of job tasks that may increase a worker's risk of developing MSDs, recognize the signs and symptoms of the disorders, and participate in the development of strategies to control or prevent them.

d. Ergonomics training in problem solving helps identify the departments, areas, and jobs with risk factors through a review of company reports, records, walk-through observations, and special surveys.

b. Training objectives are not intended to have workers, supervisors, or managers diagnose or treat MSDs. Rather, the purpose is to instill an understanding of what type of health problems may be work related and when to refer employees for medical evaluation.

a. Training should be understandable to the target audience. Training materials used should consider the participants educational levels, literacy abilities, and language skills. This may mean, for example, providing materials, instruction, or assistance in Spanish rather than English.