A Primer Based on Workplace Evaluations of Musculoskeletal Disorders
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Elements of Ergonomics Programs A Primer Based on Workplace Evaluations of Musculoskeletal Disorders |
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Toolbox Tray 1-A: NIOSH Investigations of WMSDs in Work Settings |
| Standard industrial classification
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5411 Retail trade (Food stores) |
| Work setting and tasks | Grocery store cashiers working at express checkout stands that involved frequent reaching, scanning, and keying tasks. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found | Neck, upper back, shoulder, lower back, buttocks, and legs. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found | Repetition, awkward postures, excessive reach, and trunk flexion. |
| Recommendations | Changes made included adding a barrier at the far corner of the checkstand to reduce excessive reach and trunk flexion and providing an adjustable keyboard to relieve other postural stress. Videotape training was provided. Follow up showed a decrease in some symptoms after implementing these changes based in part on employee input. Other checkstand modifications recommended. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. | HETA 88–345–2031 NTIS order no. PB–91–117–234 |