Elements of Ergonomics Programs A Primer Based on Workplace Evaluations of Musculoskeletal Disorders

NIOSH investigators were asked by a jewelry manufacturer to evaluate upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among employees. Questionnaire surveys of employees indicated that 66% reported work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms. In the 2 years before the NIOSH evaluation, physicians diagnosed seven employees with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Besides making numerous specific engineering control recommendations, the NIOSH investigators also suggested the following administrative control strategies:

• Training new employees in proper craftsmanship, tool use, and maintenance—for example, emphasizing the need to keep cutting tools sharp to reduce force requirements and the need to keep power tools balanced and lubricated to minimize vibration

• For new employees, providing more frequent rest breaks at the outset to relieve fatigue and overexertion

• Rotating employees to jobs that require the use of different muscle or tendon groups (for example, NIOSH investigators suggested that employees using small handtools be rotated to inspection tasks)

• Providing more frequent breaks for those employees doing polishing, buffing, etching, and engraving tasks because they are engaged in manual tasks for long periods [HETA 90-273-2130]