Introduction to Occupational Ergonomics ..................... 1
Welcome .................................................................................................... 2 About This Manual ..................................................................................... 2 Course Objectives ..................................................................................... 3 Ergonomics is a Process, Not a Program .................................................4 What is Occupational Ergonomics? ..........................................................5 Why Ergonomics? ..................................................................................... 5
Designing for the 30-Inch View ................................................................ 6
Ergonomics as a Business Agenda .........................................................10 Applying Human Performance Ergonomics The Tools .....................16 How This Manual is Organized................................................................24 References ..............................................................................................25
About This Chapter ..................................................................................28
"Work Doesnt Need to be a Pain!" ........................................................29
Would You Do it This Way?.....................................................................30 Posture, Force, and Frequency ...............................................................31 What are Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders? ..............................32 How Do WMSDs Occur? .........................................................................34 Types of WMSDs .....................................................................................38 References ..............................................................................................48
About This Chapter ..................................................................................50
The Ergonomics Hit List Find It and Fix It ...........................................51
Wash Rag ................................................................................................52 Elbows Out ..............................................................................................54 Shoulder Too High/Too Low ....................................................................56 Hungry Head ...........................................................................................58 Butts Up ...................................................................................................60 Twist and Shout .......................................................................................62 Horizontal Distance .................................................................................64 Sit vs. Stand ............................................................................................66 Bad Vibes ................................................................................................68 Contact ....................................................................................................70 "Fix It" Solution Strategies .......................................................................72
Applied Industrial Ergonomics
Ask the Operator ..................................................................................77
Continuous Improvement Process ..........................................................78 The Ergonomics Action Form ..............................................................80 Completing the Ergonomics Action Form ................................................82 Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Ergonomics Action Form .................88
About This Chapter ..................................................................................90 Ergonomic Risk Factors Defined .............................................................91 Ergonomic Risk Factor Surveys ..............................................................92 The BRIEF Survey ...............................................................................93 Applying the BRIEF Survey .....................................................................95 Physical Stressors and the BRIEF Survey ............................................105 Scoring the BRIEF Survey.....................................................................107 Completing the BRIEF Survey ..............................................................108 Measuring Risk Reduction.....................................................................112 Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the BRIEF Survey ................................114 References ............................................................................................114
About This Chapter ................................................................................118 Introduction to Ergonomic Risk Prioritization.........................................119 The BEST ..........................................................................................120 Completing the BEST Form...................................................................123 Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the BEST .............................................130 Brainstorming and Prioritizing Job Improvements .................................131
Chapter 6
Manual Material Handling Analysis ............................ 135
About This Chapter ................................................................................136 Introduction to Manual Material Handling ..............................................137 Risk Factors for the Back ......................................................................138 The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation ....................................................138 The NIOSH Composite Lifting Index .....................................................154 Uses for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation .......................................155 Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation ...156 Psychophysical Analysis: Push, Pull, and Carry ...................................157 Manual Material Handling Example .......................................................168 Manual Material Handling Analysis Flowchart.......................................172 References ............................................................................................173
About This Chapter ................................................................................176 Ergonomics in Workstation Design .......................................................177 Design and Build Guidelines .................................................................180 Avoiding Potential Pitfalls With the Design and Build Guidelines .........194 Static Anthropometric Data....................................................................194 References ............................................................................................209
Appendix A: Basis for the BRIEF ..........................................................212 Appendix B: Basis for the Design and Build Guidelines ........................215
Index ............................................................................................... 221