1. International Safety Systems, Inc.
USA, India, China, Mexico, Brazil
www.issehs.com
Ganesh Desai Toral Mehta, CIH
Ganesh.Desai@issehs.com Toral.Mehta@issehs.com
India Cell: +91-9327547481 Global Cell: 1-203-685-8808
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2.  Greek words
 “Ergo” – Work, “Nomos” – Laws
 “Laws of Work“
 Fitting Environment-Job, Tasks, Equipment, Machinery,
Workstation-to the working person
 Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) refers to a group of injuries
or health problems caused by overuse or misuse of muscles,
tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and blood vessels.
 If these disorders are work related they are also called as Work
related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs).
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3. Objectives Methodology
A. Identify the areas/ activities A. Walkthrough Survey
with potential risk B. Interviews with line managers
B. Assess risk on each body part and employees
C. Comparing current C. A WMSD symptom
workstation design with questionnaire
recommended standard D. Ergonomics assessment for 11
D. Finding major contributing activities using industrial
factors ergonomic evaluation tool.
E. Recommendations E. Observations, digital images
F. Training captured
F. Measurements of workstations
G. Recommendations
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4. Risk for Each Body Part Overall
Activity Upper Arms/ Risk for
Back Neck Shoulder Legs Activity
Body Wrist
Powder charging High Medium Medium High Low Low High
Mixer Cleaning High High High Low High Low High
Laboratory Test Low Medium Low Low High Low Low
Pallet Loading High Low High Low Medium Low High
Labeling of
High Medium Medium High High Medium High
Containers
Filling of containers Low Low Medium Low Medium Medium Medium
Printing on cartons High Low Low Low Low Low High
Stacking of Cartons
High Low High High High Low High
on pallet
Loading of Cartons
High Low Medium High Medium Low High
on Truck
Computer
Workstation High Medium Low Low High Medium Medium
(Laptop/Desktop)
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5. A. Work postures and movements,
B. Repetitiveness and Pace of Work (Frequency),
C. Forces applied and Forceful Exertions
D. Static Load (Standing)
E. Duration
F. Contact Stress on sharp edges, flooring
G. Environment - Vibration and Temperature
H. Workstation Layout
I. Tool selection
J. Individual Risk Factors
K. Recovery/Work Ratio
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6. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Bending of back - while lifting bags from A. Provide a scissor lift to adjust the height
pallet of the pallet
B. Twisting of torso (upper body) – during
B. Keep the raw material bags close to the
transfer of cartons on pallet
silo charging point
C. Twisting of Shoulder
D. Bending side ways C. Consider providing tight fitting glove
E. Poor grip – due to and loose fitting gloves instead of loose fitting gloves
F. Frequency and load lifted (25 kg each D. Train employees on safe manual
material handling practices

bag)
A D
E
F
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7. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Continuous bending of back – while A. Consider providing movable
cleaning the mixers for 10 to 12 minutes retraceable water hose stand for
B. Employee has to continuously hold the high pressure (100 bars) water
lance with wrist bending towards his supply,
thumb the wrist (ulnar deviation) B. Consider providing mobile and
C. The jet pump water pressure set to 100 portable pressure wash system
bar with ergonomically designed
handle.
A
B
C
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8. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendation
A. Neck bent at > 200 (flexion) for about
A. Consider replacing manual stirring
10 to 12 min
activity with automatic or magnetic
B. Bending of wrist backward (extension) stirrer.
at 11 to 200 for about 10 to 12 min
C. Rotating of wrist for stirring
continuously for 10 to 12 min
D. Too small grip of the stirrer
E. Contact stress on first finger while
stirring
A E
B+C
D
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9. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendation
A. Bending back (back flexion) instead of A. Simple Fix: Use automated hand
bending knees while lifting pallet truck every time during loading of
B. Lifting of weight - 70 - 100 kilograms the pallet in the packing machine.
C. Traveling 20 to 25 ft. distance while Ensure facility has dedicated hand
lifting pallet trucks for pallet loading activity.
D. Force on wrists and elbow while pushing
pallet underneath packing machine
E. Risk of physical injury
A
B
D
Pneumatic or Powered Pallet Truck
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10. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Bending forward to pick up empty A. Consider re-designing the Filling and
container and labeling Packing area with
B. Bending side ways to reach containers 1) sufficient space for storage of packing
C. Stretching of upper body and working material, filled containers
above shoulder height
2) Sitting arrangements (Sit/Stand stools)
D. Neck bent at > 200 (flexion) for 12 min
E. Sitting in awkward posture without lumber 3) Labeling activities on a conveyor belt
support and contact stress with sharp egdes followed by filling activities
F. Extension of wrist (bending of wrist B. Consider providing label applicator
backward) at > 200 – while applying label- with ergonomically designed handle
more than 10 labels per min for the labeling activity.
G. Bent legs in awkward posture
D
F
E
G
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11. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Erect a stand for storing of the lids at
A. Reaching up above shoulder level for the waist height to avoid stretching of
container lids hands or working above shoulder
B. Static posture for longer duration height.
C. Poor grip B. Consider providing ergonomically
designed anti-fatigue mat for the
activities involved long duration static
posture
A
C
B
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12. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Continuous bending forward at hips A. Simple Fix: Designate a workstation or
(back flexion) a table for this activity. Increase the
B. Bends his head backwards (neck height of the working surface to
extension) around 70 cm (around waist height)
A
B B. Impart training to employees on such
simple fixes
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13. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Bending of back A. Consider providing a sizzer lift to
B. Twisting of torso adjust the height of the pallet
C. Lifting of weight – each carton  To avoid bending of back during
contains 6 containers of paints arranging cartons on lower layer
weighing 23.5 Kgs. of pallet
D. Twisting of shoulders B. Enforce job rotation between three
E. Repetition of awkward posture working positions of Packing line.
F. Extended duration of awkward Ensure no more than 2 hours of
posture manual material handling of finished
goods by one employee in a shift.
A
BD
C
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14. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Lifting heavy load (weight 23.5 kg) A. Considering loading of finished goods
B. Bending back while passing the carton on pallet to avoid manual material
to the other employee. handling.
C. Twisting of torso (upper body). B. Train the employees on safe manual
D. Twisting of Shoulder material handling practices such as -
Bending of knees and not back, taking
E. Lateral Flexion – Bending side ways of step instead of twisting the torso,
F. Handling 20-30 cartons in one minute. going close to the load while handling
of the load.
C C. Conduct stretching exercise for back
B D and shoulders during the break.
A
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15. Risk Factors and Contributory Factors: Recommendations
A. Arms not supported on the arm rest A. Consider rearranging managers’
B. Wrists elevated at angle > 250 workstation with the following
C. Lower back not supported recommended specifications.
D. Contact stress – wrist pressed over the B. Consider using external mouse with a
edge of workstation table wrist support
E. Leg not support – lack of leg rest C. Adjustable Foot Rest
F. Micro breaks were not observed D. Consider providing foot rest and
document holders for computer
B
D
C A
D E
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16. Conducting ergonomics assessment is the most effective
approach in;
 Ensuring health and safety of the employees,
 Reduce WMSDs,
 Reduce liability and compensation cost,
 Improve morale and employee relation,
 Reduce absenteeism and
 Increase productivity.
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17. Thank you
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