Sawmill workers. Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury

Transcription

1 Sawmill workers Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury

2 What s discomfort, pain and injury? Discomfort, pain and injury is a term that s used to describe a broad range of conditions that can affect muscles and joints. Most of these conditions begin with discomfort, many can become painful, and some may progress to injury. Sometimes, discomfort and/or pain is what you re left with once injury has healed. In general, discomfort, pain and injury conditions build up over years of work, so often there s no immediately obvious cause. That s also because discomfort, pain and injury conditions are rarely caused by just one thing. Usually there s a combination of a few factors, such as stacking for hours with few breaks in cold or hot weather. Sometimes acute pain might show up after one event, such as leaning across the green table to drag out a piece of wood. But it s more likely the pain was caused by dragging thousands of bits of timber over the years without adequate breaks and with poor fitness. That last piece of timber was just the straw that broke the camel s back. Working in a sawmill is tough and physical, and it s not unusual to feel tired at the end of the day. But ordinary aches and pains usually disappear after a good night s rest, while ongoing discomfort and pain can develop into an injury, and that can become a serious long-term problem. Discomfort, pain and injury can occur in the body s muscles and joint systems either gradually or suddenly, or after either strenuous or trivial activity. Although there is often no one thing to blame for triggering it, there are usually warning signs. 1

3 Common contributory factors in sawmilling Discomfort, pain and injury can be caused by a number of factors common in sawmilling. The key to prevention is to deal with as many of these contributory factors as you can. A few examples of contributory factors in sawmilling are: Dragging timber onto the dry chain Constantly turning boards for inspection Continually bending to pick up off-cuts Awkward access to plant and machinery for maintenance Standing in one position while using or fixing a piece of machinery Poor work organisation, so jobs aren t varied and there aren t enough rest breaks Uncertainty of employment and/or high pressure from seasonal deadlines Working away from home and/or unsociable work hours Working in an open environment with exposure to cold, wind, rain, etc Overall lifestyle, such as fitness and using alcohol and/or recreational drugs. 2 Discomfort, pain and injury are usually the result of a combination of several groups of factors, rather than just one or two.

4 For simplicity, we have sorted the different factors that contribute to discomfort, pain and injury into seven groups. Load/Forceful movements what s being handled and how much force needs to be used to do a job, such as pushing, turning or picking up heavy pieces of wood, or pushing heavy trolleys. Task invariability when a job or a movement is done over and over again, such as bending down to pick up off-cuts, including holding static or awkward positions for too long, and/or when the job itself is mentally exhausting or boring. Work organisation how workers are trained, how the work is arranged, assigned and carried out, including factors such as hours of work, when breaks are taken, peaks and troughs in workload and changes in work tasks, etc. Work layout/ Awkward posture the way the workplace is set up and the positions workers have to be in to do the job. Ideally, nobody should have to get into awkward positions, such as reaching too far when working on the tables. Environmental issues the state of the sawmill or site where sawmilling work is done, whether it s cold or hot, too noisy, too dark or the equipment s poorly maintained. Individual factors these are about the individual worker and include some things they can change, such as diet, fitness, skill level and the amount of sleep they get. It also includes things they can t change, such as age, height and gender. Psychosocial factors things that a person thinks (or stresses ) about at home or at work. These could be money worries, relationship issues, health issues or how they are coping with pain. 3

5 Usually it s a combination of these factors that cause discomfort, pain and injury, rather than just one or two. And remember, even fit and strong people can get discomfort, pain and injury if they re exposed to the right combination of factors. The good news is that discomfort, pain and injury can almost always be prevented or managed if the pain and its contributory factors are addressed early on. Workers should almost always be able to stay at work providing steps are taken to address what s contributing to the condition. 4

6 Reducing the combined effect The seven groups of factors that can lead to discomfort, pain and injury should be considered individually and in combination. Make sure every sawmill worker understands what the contributory factors are and how they can be addressed. Accommodate people with discomfort, pain and injury in the workplace. Workplace accommodations provide a person with the opportunity to maintain, or regain, their regular work habits and relationships with supervisors and co-workers. These accommodations are usually temporary. Contributory factor group Load/Forceful movements Task invariability Work organisation What can you do Make sure all cutting edges are sharp and that all tools and equipment are maintained to the manufacturers specifications. This will help to ensure that they don t vibrate unnecessarily. Reduce force by making the surface area smaller use lowfriction edges or rollers. Handle objects up close without over-reaching or twisting. You may need to make alterations to the work area, so investigate possibilities. Store heavy objects, such as circular saw blades, up off the ground so workers don t have to bend to pick them up. Introduce simple lifting equipment, such as trolleys, to assist in saw transport. If lifting equipment is already provided, make sure workers use it. Vary the workload and rotate tasks, particularly jobs that require awkward positions. Encourage sawmill workers to help each other by agreeing to swap around. Allow workers to take frequent short breaks and encourage short pauses as they work. Encourage employees to change their position regularly and to move and stretch often, especially if they are doing jobs that put them in an awkward posture or one fixed position for a long time. Investigate whether there s a machine that can do repetitive tasks instead. Offer regular hours as much as possible and if you are an employee don t be tempted to work overtime too often. That means planning ahead for busy times and making sure you have enough skilled employees to do the work. Gear any rewards or incentive schemes towards safe working practices and efficiency, rather than throughput or speed. Continued 5

7 6 Contributory factor group Work organisation continued Workplace layout/ Awkward posture Environmental issues Individual factors Psychosocial factors What can you do New employees or workers back from holidays or a period off work need time to regain their fitness and get back up to speed, so plan for a gradual build-up to expected workload and pace. Reduce the work pace for heavier boards. Draw up a preventative maintenance programme for tools and equipment. Train employees about discomfort, pain and injury make sure everyone knows what the contributory factors are and how to stay healthy. Keep work areas clean and tidy. Take care to reduce the effects of sap and to clear away tripping hazards. Set the conveyor belt to a height that will suit the majority of sawmill workers. Use tools and equipment to make working easier and awkward postures less necessary. If bags and boxes are handled frequently, provide roller conveyors, utility carts or trolleys to reduce handling. Use stands or shelves to bring work up to a comfortable height. Provide scissor lifts, spring lifters, fixed-height dollies, trolleys or pallets for items that are handled frequently. Position and orientate packs to reduce carrying distances and handling. Minimise cold draughts by adapting equipment or the building to redirect cold air away from employees. For example, position doorways away from prevailing cold winds. Provide access to warm areas for breaks and smoko. Ensure there is good lighting in all work areas. Make sure your employees wear warm clothing and provide them with gloves. Reporting and managing discomfort, pain and injury is a worker s personal responsibility, so help your sawmill workers identify it and encourage them report it early. Encourage workers to keep fit, eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep and to drink enough water water keeps us hydrated and helps avoid fatigue. If you are organising a staff function develop health and safety policies and practices that encourage responsible alcohol consumption. Always provide food, non alcoholic options and monitor alcohol consumption. Encourage teamwork and open communication among your workers, and give recognition to individuals when it s deserved. Be aware of, and deal with, any issues in the team that might adversely affect them, such as disputes, bullying, etc.

8 It s likely there will be some contributory factors beyond your control so concentrate on making improvements where you can. You can also improve some factors to compensate for others you can t change. For example, if the task requires awkward postures you can ensure that: Workers take short breaks in between jobs, especially physically or mentally exhausting jobs Workers stretch during these breaks There is plenty of water available and access to healthy food Workers are prepared for work: they are rested and warmed up, their equipment is well maintained, and work areas are clutter-free and organised There are enough workers available to do the work and to rotate tasks. Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury in the workplace is everyone s responsibility, to be shared by the sawmill owner and the sawmill workers alike. After all, it s in everyone s best interests to keep experienced workers on the job. Encourage your sawmill workers to keep fit, healthy and well rested. Also, encourage them to report any discomfort or pain early the earlier these problems are addressed, the better it is for everyone. 7

9 More information For further information about avoiding discomfort, pain and injury go to: for tools and resources on preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury, including: WorkSmart tips for sawmill workers HabitAtWork posters and workbooks Injury Cost Calculator Manual Handling Risk Reckoner Early reporting form for employers and employees (Department of Labour) You can also visit your nearest ACC branch or call us on By keeping everyone informed about this issue, and addressing the various contributory factors, you should avoid discomfort, pain and injury conditions. However, if anyone in your sawmill is experiencing aches and pains that won t go away, please advise them to consult a health provider. Give the health provider information about the workplace and what tasks your worker can do while they recover to encourage a stay at work approach. 8

10 Printed in New Zealand on paper sourced from well-managed sustainable forests using oil free, soy-based vegetable inks ACC5853 Printed May 2011 Print ISBN: Electronic ISBN: