Looking For Signs Of Wmsds

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Ergonomic program.

Vision mechanical

By: David Watson

Purpose:

The purpose of this program is to eliminate the musculoskeletal disorders and hazards of a sheet metal company by providing upper managerial support and employee involvement in the identity and elimination of all hazards by providing and implementing the processes provided in the elements of this document.

1. LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF WMSD’s

This is the first and foremost step in the ergonomics program. It involves

looking for signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders.

1. Reports of MSD signs, symptoms, hazards, or control

recommendations from employees and supervisors.

2. Review of existing safety records and OSHA 200 logs for WMSD’s and

MSD hazards.

3. Routine inspections by management and supervisors.

4. Conducting surveys with employees.

Employee Information

For existing and new employees in jobs at risk for WMSD’s the following

information will be provided:

1. How to recognize the signs and symptoms of WMSD’s and the importance of early reporting of signs and symptoms.

MSD – SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Joint Pain

Stiffness

Pain, tingling, or numbness in hands, palms, feet or other areas

Loss of muscle function

Swelling or inflammation

Difficulties performing daily activities

Burning sensation

Shooting or stabbing pains in arms and legs

Difficulties in moving body parts

Decreased range of motion

Redness/loss of color

Cramping

2. Hazards that cause or contribute to WMSD’s at Vision Mechanical.

MSD RISK FACTORS

1. Repetition hammering

2. Poor lifting and posture

3. Poor gripping practices

4. Vibration Driving

5. Impact Hand tools

6. Working overhead for long periods of time

7. Cold working outdoors, working

in refrigerated areas

8. Work-rest ratio Overtime

9. Repetitive gripping

3. Reporting signs and symptoms of WMSD’s and hazards, and recommendations.

1. Information sheets

2. Verbally through the chain of command

3. Surveys

4. Workstation assessment sheets

2. SETTING THE STAGE FOR ACTION

Establish a Hazard Policy Statement.

Policy Statement: Feedback from employees is the most important means of identifying and correcting ergonomic hazards. When a WMSD hazard is identified, the supervisor will provide a response from upper management, and recommended action within 8 hours of receiving the notification.

Upper management’s part:

1. Assign and communicate responsibilities for setting up and managing the

ergonomics program so Foremen, Lead men, and Workers know what is

expected of them, and the accountability their responsibilities to this

program.

2. Provide all employees involved with the authority, resources, information,

and training to uphold their responsibilities.

Inform all foremen to:

A. Respond promptly to reports about workplace hazards and symptoms of

MSD hazards also to listen to employee recommendations.

3. Communicate on a weekly basis with all employees about the program

and their concerns about MSD hazards in the shop or in the field. This

will be completed with safety committees, postings on employee bulletin

boards, weekly management meetings, and weekly toolbox talk meetings

for all field workers and shop workers.

Employee Involvement:

Employees will be provided:

1. A means to notify their immediate supervisor of signs and symptoms

relating to MSD hazards, and make recommendations about how to

control them. Employees may also use the ergonomic suggestion forms,

and medical management forms. If any one of these methods are used it

will require further action on the part of the upper management.

2. Upper management will provide prompt responses to employee reports

and recommendations. Response time will be 8hrs for reports of MSD’s

and MSD hazards.

3. All employees will receive a copy of the ergonomics policy upon hire and

may request a copy at anytime during their employment.

4. All employees must complete training in safety and ergonomics videos

upon hiring with the company within 24 hours. After that the training will

be done on a monthly basis. Feedback from new hires and existing

employees on how they can apply the quality and usefulness of the

ergonomic training will be fielded by the safety officer and considered for

use at future training to improve the program.

3. TRAINING

Training will be provided to:

1. All employees in problem jobs, and all employees in similar jobs that

have been identified as problems jobs;

2. All new hires

3. All persons involved in the ergonomics program.

4. All employees must complete monthly training in ergonomics and safety.

Training will also focus on these major areas:

1. The premise of ergonomics is to fit the job to the person rather than

making the person fit the job.

2. Cumulative trauma or repetitive motion injuries.

3. Other work-related stresses such as vibration, heat and cold, poor lighting,

and static positioning.

4. Early symptoms of ergonomically-related injuries.

4. GATHERING AND EXAMINING EVIDENCE OF

WMSD’s

The Job Hazard Analysis of Vision Mechanical is to identify WMSD risks, providing information of different job related risks, and to pinpoint the causes of various problems. When WMSD’s are identified, a Job Hazard Analysis will be performed and steps will be made to eliminate the risk.

WMSD risk steps of Jobsite Analysis.

1. List all:

a. Employees in the problem area

b. Employees who do the same work activities in other jobs. This is called a

similar job. If employees in a similar job are exposed to the same WMSD

hazards as employees in the problem job, the similar job also is a problem

job.

2. Ask employees:

a. Whether they are experiencing signs or symptoms of WMSD’s

b. Whether they are having problems performing the physical work

activities of the job

c. What activities do they associate with the problem.

3. Observe employees working on the job to identify job factors.

4. Evaluate those job factors to determine which ones are causing the

problem.

5. DEVELOPING CONTROLS

Control Measures

This is the most positive aspect to prevent problems in the work place. Developing control measures fix the problem by redesigning the workstation and the work habits to eliminate the causes of the WMSD’s. Successful control measures include the following, Engineering, Work Practice, and Administrative.

The Control Measure Process of Vision Mechanical.

1. Identification, and implementation of control measures to control the

MSD hazards.

2. Keeping track of progress in controlling the MSD hazards.

3. Communication is key, in informing the control measures results and

coinciding with job hazard analysis to other areas of the company and all

workplaces who may have the same MSD hazard.

4. Identification of hazards when equipment is changed, re-designed or

purchased. Training will be implemented on all new equipment.

Control Methods

1. Engineering Controls, control the physical changes to jobsites and the

shop that control the exposure to MSD hazards these are the preferred

methods of Vision Mechanical. Engineering controls act on the source of

the hazard and control employee exposure to the hazard. Modifying each

of the following are ways of Engineering Controls.

Examples Include:

Workstations

Tools

Facilities

Equipment

Materials

Processes

2. Work Practice Controls are controls that reduce the exposure to WMSD

hazards through changing the manner in the way a job is performed. Work

practice controls also act at the source of the hazard. The protection work

practice controls change is the procedures that upper management,

foremen, and employees follow to perform proper work methods. Work

practice controls include procedures for safety and proper work ethics that

are followed by all involved in the processes of the specific job at hand.

Examples of work practice controls for Vision Mechanical include:

Safety and proper work techniques

Probationary period for new employees

Training in WMSD hazards and work techniques that reduce exposure.

3. Administrative Controls are procedures put in place by upper

management, by altering the way in which work is performed.

Examples of administrative controls for Vision Mechanical include:

Employee rotation

Adjustment of work pace

Redesign work methods

Rest breaks

Continuing Control Process

6. ESTABLISHING HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

Upper management will make available medical scervices to all employees with signs or symptoms of WMSD. All reports of WMSD’s will be processed to determine if medical management is necessary.

A Risk Management Incident Report should be filed with the immediate supervisor within 24 hours of the employee’s signs or symptoms of a WMSD. Work restrictions, will be established by the companies medical provider.

Reports of WMSD’s:

1. When reports of WMSD’s are reported, employees will be given access to

health care professionals for the proper evaluation, and treatment.

2. Information regarding employee’s job will be provided to the medical

provider to inform the provider of the incident so they can asses the injury

better.

3. Written medical opinion will be given to the employee and the upper

management will be provided with a copy for there records.

7. PROACTIVE ERGONOMICS

A proactive approach focuses on preventing risks of WMSDS that have already been identified, as well as any that may arise. Vision Mechanical has such a program which includes the following components:

1. Management Leadership: The management of Vision Mechanical is

committed to the ergonomics process. Management supports the efforts of

the Ergonomics Program Coordinator by giving their support for the

identification and control of ergonomic risk factors. Management will

support an effective WMSD reporting system and will respond promptly to

reports. Management will regularly communicate with employees about

the program.

2. Employee Participation: This is a essential element to the success of the

ergonomics program, employees will be asked for their opinions and

assistance with identifying ergonomic risk factors, worksite evaluations,

development and implementation of controls.

Evaluations of the program as a whole.

Evaluations of the ergonomics program and all its contents will be conducted at the very least once a year, to ensure all employees and upper management is in compliance with the program in this document and any new amendments that have been made to it. We will also strive for monthly training in safety, and ergonomics, company wide.

These procedures will be used at Vision Mechanical to evaluate the effectiveness of the ergonomics program and on going training.

1. Monitoring of activities to ensure that ergonomics process is functioning

properly.

2. Evaluating the program and controls used, to make sure they

are in compliance with NIOSH and OSHA requirements.

3. Establishing a starting point to provide a measurement of the effectiveness

in the program and its controls.