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July / August 2010

Table of Contents:

1. The Ergonomic Team: Managing Ergonomic Issues In House
2. Ergonomic Risk Factors: Elbow Flexion
3. Think Safe! Garage Safety

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The Ergonomic Team

Managing Ergonomic Issues In House

In today’s economy, companies are continually looking for strategies to reduce costs. However, companies also need to address safety issues and are interested in reducing OSHA recordables. So how can a company accomplish both with minimal cost? Establishing an In-House Ergonomics Team may be the answer. A good ergonomics program can not only comply with regulatory requirements, it can improve the health and safety of the worker, improve productivity and quality, and reduce the organizations costs by minimizing musculoskeletal disorders.

An Ergonomics Team is one part of a good ergonomics program and is made up of a group of individuals from the company that meets regularly to address ergonomic issues. The members of the team should be highly active, visible, and approachable within the company. Typical members of the ergonomics team include safety personnel, supervisors, employees, and maintenance or engineering professionals. Some companies have found it beneficial to also involve a therapist from CIS Onsite to help identify risk factors and recommendations to reduce risk factors.

The Ergonomic Team is responsible for ongoing ergonomic issues that arise within the company. The company needs to establish a formal process where at-risk jobs are continually evaluated by identifying ongoing risks and implementing corrective actions. This is to assure that these prevention efforts become a permanent part of day-to-day functions.

Typical duties of the ergonomics team includes meeting regularly, every 1-2 weeks. The team identifies jobs in need of analysis, analyze the jobs, develop a list of corrective actions, assign responsible parties to implement the actions, assign a timetable for implementation, and follow up regularly to ensure proper follow through.

According to OSHA’s ergonomic guidelines, there should be management commitment and employee involvement. It should include a written plan with problem identification and hazard controls. Once high risk jobs have been identified, an analysis should be completed that looks at the worker posture and work habits used to perform the job. This analysis should also involve talking with the workers and observation of work station design issues. The team can then brainstorm for recommendations to reduce the risks observed. This may include engineering/ergonomic solutions, exposure reduction solutions (i.e. rotation), education of the employees in proper work technique and/or exercises/ergo breaks that can reduce risk, and enforcement/accountability of recommendations.

CIS Onsite has trained members of Ergonomics Teams for a variety of companies and also participates regularly in Ergonomic Team meetings at client companies.

If you would like additional information on this or any of our services, please contact Jim Panozzo at CIS Onsite for more details (866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com..

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Ergonomic Risk Factors:

Elbow Flexion

There are many obvious safety hazards in our lives that put us at risk for injury. Things like drunk driving, drug use, or even just walking on ice in the middle of winter are all behaviors that most adults understand will increase their possibility of getting hurt. But what about the not so obvious risk factors that we expose ourselves to day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year? How we choose to use our bodies each day, greatly impacts our likelihood of experiencing a musculoskeletal type injury. This is a continuation of our series covering common risk factors that the average worker does not consider.

The next risk factor to be discussed is elbow flexion. The best position for the elbow is to keep it at 90 degrees (a right angle) or straighter. When the elbow is bent excessively (past 90 degrees), it compresses the nerves that travel through the elbow joint and reduces blood flow to the forearm, wrist and hand. This can contribute to Musculoskeletal Disorders of the elbow, wrist, and hand.

Reduce the amount of elbow flexion by positioning the work surface lower and/or slightly farther away. Avoid sleeping in a “fetal” position with your hands held close to your chest. If you awake with parts of your hand feeling like they are asleep, this sleeping position may be to blame.

It is also important to avoid compression over the “funny bone” portion of the elbow. Over time, this position can irritate the ulnar nerve and cause numbness and/or tingling in the hand. Instead, support the arm through the muscular part of the forearm on a flat, smooth surface.

Stretching is also a way to balance out the wear and tear that is associated with excessive elbow flexion. About once every one to two hours, remember to perform some stretches for 10 seconds each. As pictured below, the elbow stretch and the finger stretch are good for reducing the effects of elbow flexion.

Elbow Stretch	Finger Stretch

Whether we are at work or at home, we are confronted with situations throughout the day that may cause us to position ourselves with excessive elbow flexion. The biggest tool to prevent this risk factor is knowledge of both the employee and the employer.

If you would like information about services CIS onsite can provide to address Ergonomic Risk Factors within your environment, please contact Jim Panozzo at CIS onsite for more details
(866) 298-1312 or jpanozzo@cisonsite.com.

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Think Safe!

Garage Safety

When you’re looking for home safety hazards, don’t forget the garage. Keep these pointers in mind.

• Clearly label poisonous substances and store them in original containers, with child-resistant caps in place, in a locked cabinet out of sight and reach of children.
• If you store gasoline in your garage, store only a small amount in a labeled, tightly sealed container approved for gasoline storage, out of sight and reach of children. Don’t store gasoline at all if you have an appliance with a pilot light in the garage.
• Use extension cords only as a temporary solution and store them when you’re finished using them.
• Keep floors and steps clear of clutter. Immediately clean up spills and grease.
• Never run a barbecue grill, car or generator in the garage.
• Store shovels, rakes, lawn chairs, bikes, and other sharp or large objects on the wall to prevent trips and falls.
• Store ladders horizontally to prevent tripping and to discourage children from climbing them.
• Install a smoke alarm.
• Mount a fire extinguisher and a stocked first-aid kit in the garage and make sure every household member knows where they are and how to use them.
• Check your electric garage door opener occasionally to be sure that the safety features are operating correctly.

Adapted from Mayo Clinic Embody Health

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