Manual Handling - Workplace Ergonomics
Workplace Ergonomics Directions Read all pagesincluded in this tutorial Once completed, commence the assessment You will need to achieve a score of 10/10 in your assessment to achieve competency
Workplace Ergonomics - Objectives Training Objectives To train staff in safe workplace ergonomic practices including manual handling and office workstation procedures. Training Outcomes At the end of the training the Trainee should have an understanding of safe manual handling and office workstation procedures and the knowledge and skills to facilitate manual tasks risk management in the Hospital.
Workplace Ergonomics - Relevant Legislation Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011(Commonwealth) Division 2, Part 2, 19 Primary duty of care: (1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of: (a) Workers engaged or caused to be engaged by the person and (b) Workers whose activities in carrying out work are influenced or directed by the person WHS Regulation 2011(Commonwealth) Chapter 3, Part 3, 34 Duty to identify hazards: A duty holder in managing risks to health and safety must identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risks to health and safety. National Codes of Practice Safework Australia: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/
Workplace Ergonomic- Overview Quality ergonomics is achieved when the work people do is designed to suit their physical and mental abilities. Ergonomics seeks to improve the match between a job and a person s physical abilities, information handling and workload capacities. Ergonomics therefore contributes to the planning, design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, systems, environments and organisations to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people. Ergonomics can be segregated into different categories, however this tutorial will concentrate on Physical Ergonomics as this is most relevant to the hospital setting: Physical ergonomics include working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, musculoskeletal, workplace layout
Workplace Ergonomics - Overview Whilst there are different categories of ergonomics this training program will target two main risk factors in the Hospital environment: Office Workstation Design Manual Handling
Manual Handling Sprains and strains injuries account for approximately 50 to 60 per cent of injuries across five priority industries, including Health. The main causes of these injuries in healthcare include: Handling surgical loan sets Raising patients from the floor Handling patients Pushing trolleys and wheeled equipment e.g. beds and carts Handling laundry bags
Manual Handling There are many factors that influence manual handling risk, not just the weight of an item. Hazardous manual tasks involve one or more of 5 risk factors that directly impact on the body (direct stressors): Significant force - e.g. lifting a very heavy load from the ground Awkward or static postures - e.g. bent back or raised arm Repetitive movements - e.g. making the same type of movements over and over Vibration-e.g. use of a hand tool. Duration - e.g. long durations of performing a task
Manual Handling - Stressors
Assessing hazardous tasks Assessment of hazardous manual tasks includes: Nature of the load includes: size, shape, handholds / ease of grip, weight, stability, texture and temperature Work area design the area where work is performed examples include: work benches and furniture This includes the positioning and relationship of different elements in the work area to each other and the person due to the effect on working posture Load handling transfer of loads or how the load is handled e.g. physically lifted or mechanical aids Work organisation can intensify task demands including staffing levels, hours and speed of work, rest breaks, supervision, maintenance, task variability, communication and reporting procedures Individual factors include skills and experience, physical characteristics, job satisfaction, personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing
Lifting Mechanics Any lifting that involves any of the 5 risk factors (previous slide) contains some risk of injury. As such there is no best way to lift. Task redesign or mechanical aids that eliminate the need to lift is preferred. The further away a load is from the body, the greater the effort required to lift it. Disc pressures are smallest when the spine is upright. When force is applied with the back bent, the front part of the disc is squeezed. Combining bending forwards with bending sideways or twistingincreases disc pressures.
Handling a Load If a load must be handled manually: ASSESS THE LOAD FIRST Bend your knees not your back with feet apart Get a firm grip, lift with your legs and keep the load as close to the body as possible Avoid lifting from a position where twisting or bending sideways is required to place the load, after prolonged periods with the back bent or prolonged exposure to whole body vibration. It should be remembered that teaching lifting techniques is not an effective risk deterrent by itself. Risk control relies on worker behaviour
How to Lift Correctly
Handling a Load Team Lifting This should not be considered the first and only option as it can bring its own risks due to mismatched workers e.g. size and physical strength. Workers may not exert force simultaneously or share the load equally or one may lose grip or balance and unexpected increases in load can occur. Mechanical aids if available is always the preferred option
Team Lifting Whilst mechanical aids are the preferred option when considering manual handling controls, team lifting whilst not the preferred option, is sometimes an option appropriate to a situation. Basic steps of team lifting include: Size up the load and check over-all conditions Wear suitable PPE including footwear Workers should be approximately the same size One person should be selected to coordinate the lift before the lift begins coordinate voice signals Maintain communication If available use handholds, handles or slots
Other factors Lifting is only one small part of manual handling requirements and other related factors such as push / pull and carry should not be overlooked. In the Hospital environment awkward postures and duration of tasks, not just weight, provides risks that must be recognised and controlled.
Office environment Chair / desk selection are important and must be correctly adjusted. The entire sole of the foot should rest on the floor with the back of the knee slightly clear of the edge of the seat. Preferably the chair and desk can be adjusted so the feet rest on the floor however a foot rest can be used. If the desk is adjustable it should be in a position to allow the operator to adopt the correct position. Armrests should not obstruct correct keyboarding or prevent the chair from sliding under the desk. If necessary the armrests should be removed.
Office environment Document trays and boxes should be sufficiently strong that they do not buckle when fully loaded and should be of a shape and size that can be comfortably lifted when full. Storage of heavy and frequently accessed items should be at a comfortable height that not require the use of a ladder. Computer screens should be adjusted so the top of the screen can be read without tilting the head backwards to do so. Working documents should be located between the screen and keyboard or alongside the screen and keyboard to ensure the same focal distances for both.
Office environment Glasses should be used if required. Keyboards should be in a lowered position with wrists in a neutral position, if appropriate use a wrist rest. The keyboard should be in front of the screen or document holder directly in front of the user near the front edge of the desk to reduce reaching. The mouse should be as close as possible to the keyboard to reduce reaching.
Office environment Like flying a plane, it is always advisable to perform a pre work check of your environment Many staff these days share their office desks / chairs and office space Make sure before you commence your work that you check: ensure an appropriate surface for smooth operation of the mouse. desk height (if adjustable) to ensure correct setting chair adjustment (height / tilt / backrest position keyboard / mouse / screen position.
Office environment
In Summary Correct manual handling and ergonomics is an important safety strategy to prevent long term injuries amongst staff. In the health and community services industry, body stressing accounted for 52%* of workers compensation claims with half of these claims due to muscular stress while handling objects other than lifting, carrying or putting objects down Employers and employees have a responsibility to identify manual handling or ergonomic hazards, assess the risks associated with that hazard, control or eliminate the risk, and continually review each situation to ensure the safety of all staff. It all depends on you implementing the appropriate manual handling techniques suitable to the situation and applicable to the task. *Safe Work Australia: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/statistics/industry/health-community-services/pages/health-community-services
Everyone s responsible for:
Manual Handling Workplace Ergonomics By completing this tutorial, you agree: To comply with all required organisatioinal policies and procedures in relation to manual handling workplace ergonomics That you have read and understood the information provided throughout this tutorial Thank you for your participation, now complete the competency questions related to this tutorial