Understanding the risks from the processes

Understanding the

Risks from the

Processes

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Designing for People

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Presentation Content

Introductions

MSDs in the Workplace

How do we know we have a problem?

What tools can we use to evaluate work tasks?

What about review afterwards?

How do we manage new ways of working?

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Introductions

I am here today representing the Chartered Institute of

Ergonomists and Human Factors (CIEHF), the chartered

professional body for ergonomists.

CIEHF represents ergonomists and human factors

specialists as well as accrediting training (from short

courses to degrees).

The mission of CIEHF is:

to develop and share our understanding of ergonomics

and human factors, demonstrate its benefits for human

wellbeing and organisational success, and bring about

its adoption in everyday life.

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What do ergonomists do?

There are a number of different specialisms within

ergonomic including:

Physical

Cognitive

Social

Organizational

Environmental

Some ergonomists specialists in specific areas, others

work across areas.

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What do ergonomists do? Head of Ergonomics and Human Factors at the Institute

of Occupational Medicine

IOM came from British Coal so a long history of

involvement in mining and miners’ diseases including

pneumoconiosis and physical and environmental

ergonomics

Kept up with the research agenda in relation to health:

Asbestos

Nano Safety

In ergonomics a long tradition of musculoskeletal

disorders, psychosocial risks, thermal environments, PPE and ageing and work.

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Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still

one of the major reasons why people are absent from

work. Why can’t we reduce the burden from:

• Back Pain

• Upper Limb Disorders

• Lower Limb Disorders – hips, knees etc.

Epidemiology gives us some answers – overloading,

repetition and postures adopted.

There is also the health people bring to work and known

risks for younger workers (lack of experience) and older

workers (physiological change).

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What is the scale of the problem

MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still

one of the major reasons why people are absent from

work.

Back Pain

Upper Limb Disorders

Lower Limb Disorders

HSE 2014

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What do we know?

MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still

one of the major reasons why people are absent from

work.

Back Pain

Upper Limb Disorders

Lower Limb Disorders

HSE 2014

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In your particular workplace how do you know there is a problem? Quite often accident data is mentioned as one data-set

to use. However, not all musculoskeletal problems are

down to accidents.

Often it is the cumulative effect of overloading or

repetitive work that impact most on upper limb disorders

We need to find out about health data too – this can be

problematic due to confidentiality.

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In your particular workplace how do you know there is a problem? What tools do we have available:

Risk Assessment

In the UK context required assessments for

• Manual Handling Operations Regulations (2004)

• Display Screen Equipment Regulations (2002)

The employees are your barometer – involve them in

risk identification, assessment and solution building.

Taking a participatory approach with employees allows ownership of both the problem and the solution.

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Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire

Nordic questionnaire were

individuals are asked to

show the site of their

discomfort.

Data collection includes

data on the last 7 days and

last 12 months.

It is a screening tool, not a

diagnostic tool but can you

help identify areas of

problems in your workplace

and where this is impacting

on your employees

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How do we evaluate

Tools

MAC – developed

by HSE and

downloadable

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How do we evaluate

Tools

Rapid Entire

Body

Assessment

(REBA)

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How do we evaluate

Computer use, risk assessments available

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How do we evaluate Part of DSE assessment is

how much pressure are

people under.

First time a link between risks

but if stress a problem,

evaluate the psychosocial

risks.

Guidance produced by the

European Agency for Safety

and Health freely available.

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Importance of Re-evaluation

When we have identified our risks and taken risk

reduction measures we must re-evaluate:

• Risk re-assessment

• Talkthroughs and walkthroughs with employees

Be wary of the unintended consequences of change.

HSE 2014

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New ways of working When we think about how we work a number of changes

due to technology:

• Reducing physical requirements

• Increased sedentary work

• Shift Work – have a better understanding of the

health outcomes

• Mobile technology – being accessible 24/7

• Extension of working lives

How do we make work more sustainable?

A need to protect the health of the worker from

workplace hazards but also a need to maintain health

and fitness – should we look more to NIOSH Total

Worker Health?

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The Human Connection

From CIEHF 24 case studies

across different industries.

This can help to create ideas

of what can work in your

workplace context.

HSE 2014

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Linkages

We need to understand the importance of linking our risk

assessments – link between safety and health

Musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks – link identified

two decades ago but still risk assessing in isolation

Its about designing work fit for human use.

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Thank you for listening

Its been a pleasure to come here and for any further

information please don’t hesitate to contact me

Joanne Crawford

Email: [email protected]

CIEHF http://www.ergonomics.org.uk/

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Reference Sources

MAC Assessment

http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac/index.htm

DSE Assessments

http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/index.htm

REBA

http://ergo-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/REBA-A-Step-

by-Step-Guide.pdf

EU OSHA e guide for psychosocial risks

https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/e-guide-managing-stress-and-psychosocial-risks