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 Wholesale trade (Food stores) |
| Work setting and tasks | Grocery warehouse setting with jobs involving order selecting (i.e., locating orders for selection, manual handling, and loading of orders for delivery). |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found | Back injuries and back pain. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found | Repeated lifting of heavy loads requiring extended reach. Need to meet incentive standards. Thermal stress further aggravated problems. |
| Recommendations | Design of storage racks and physical layout should be rearranged to allow ready access to orders, and the grocery items (cases) should be restricted in size to ease handling. Performance standards should be reexamined or worker rotation and restrictions on overtime provisions to minimize risks of overexertion. Measures to reduce heat stress should be considered (e.g., cooling fans, ample, easily accessible cool drinking water, and increasing rest breaks in cool locations). |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. | HETA 91–405–2340 NTIS order no. PB–94–131–638 |