CASE STUDY 3: WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT AND ERGONOMICS

CASE 1

1. Write the summary of the article in less than 150 words.

• Deere and Company manufacturers farm equipment. Workers in their construction department perform a number of manual jobs that involve heavy objects which brings injury. A huge lost amount of time and money due to the work environment not being ergonomic. The reason and risk factors for these workers health issues were lifting and carrying heavy objects weighing around 75 pounds, bending and kneeling of workers for prolonged times, workers with hand tools like wrenched with awkward wrist positions. To solve these problems the company initiated some ergonomic programs using NIOSH education for lifting. Restrictions has been put on lifting objects manually that were heavier than 40 pounds. Workstations has been redesigned so workers do not have to bend or kneel. Hand tools have been changed to save the workers from wrist strains and installed a hoist for lifting lawn mower decks. Workers participation and contribution in these initiatives helped the company achieve these benefits. 

2. List the ergonomics issues in that workplace.

• Use hand tools like a wrench with difficult postures for their wrists
• lift a heavy lawn mower deck to attach it to the tractor 
• kneeling while fastening the deck with one hand and also holding it with the other hand
• Lifting and carrying heavy objects weighing around 75 pounds
• back problems because of working in awkward positions for long hours

3. Consequences that the company had to bear due to the ergonomics issues.

• huge amount of lost time and money
• increasing loss of productive work time due to back injury of workers which increased up to 31% in 1979
• medical compensation costs by 15% per year
• 12 cases of first aid during one year
• lost 28% more time due to workers over exertion and back strains in 1984
• pay 70% more medical compensation to workers in 1978

4. State the improvement methods that can be taken by the company to overcome the problems. 

• initiated some ergonomics program using the NIOSH education for lifting
• Started and 8 hour ergonomics training program
• carry out a review of the office furniture and laid down guidelines for new purchases
• trained employees on the use of video displays
• restrictions on lifting objects manually which were heavier than 40 pounds
• redesigned workstations so workers did have to bend or kneel
• changed hand tools to prevent wrist strains
• installed a hoist for lifting lawn mower decks 

CASE 2

1. Write the summary of the article in less than 150 words.

• Silicon Graphic Inc is a large supplier of computer servers, workstations and super computers. The company has 3800 workers. OSHA reported increasing cases of upper limb disorders during the period between 1991 and 1996. The hazards were identified by increasing cases of Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) related injuries in 1990s, increase in back injuries and a resulting increase in medical costs. The risks were identified as lifting and carrying of heavy objects and awkward postures while working. An ergonomic consultant was hired to evaluate the workstations for ergonomics conditions, provide compulsory ergonomic training to their employees and purchased new ergonomic office equipment. Case study reported that upper limb disorder has reduced by 41% and all related injuries by 70%. The ergonomic program was made successful by the support and funding of the upper management for it.

2. List the ergonomics issues in that workplace. 

• uses of computer mouse extensively 
• workers at assembly line had to do considerable manual work while handling materials
• lift heavy computer systems to pack them into shipping boxes
• awkward postures while working

3. State the consequences that the company had to bear due to the ergonomics issues.

• increasing cases of upper limb disorders during the period between 1991 and 1996
• increasing cases of Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) related to injuries in 1990s
• increase in back injuries
• increase in medical costs

4. State the improvement methods that can be taken by the company to overcome the problems.

• hired an ergonomic consultant
• evaluate the workstations for ergonomic conditions
• provide compulsory ergonomic training to employees 
• purchased new ergonomic office equipment

CASE STUDY 2: HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK CONTROL

QUESTION 1

A student was heating a test tube containing a mixture of chemical liquids. Instead of heating the mixture gently, he heated it strongly without shaking.After heating, he immediately put the test tube under the nose of a girl standing next to him for her to smell the gas evolved.Both students were not wearing safety spectacles .The hot mixture of chemicals, liquids suddenly squirted out of the test tube onto the left eye and face of the girl, who screamed consequently for help.The laboratory technician immediately took the injury student to the preparation room and washed her left eye and face with distilled water continuously until the ambulance personnel summoned by the school arrived.The injured student was taken to the hospital and given medical treatment. Fortunately, the student’s injuries were not permanent, but she had suffered a great deal of pain and had to take sick leave for a week.

1. Identify the type of hazard

• Chemical hazard

2. List the appropriate steps to prevent the incident from happen in the future.

• Wears safety equipment during experiment
• Watch out for substances that can spark a fire
• Teachers should monitor during experiment is carried out by students

3. List the personnel protective equipment that must be provided to the students before they carried out the experiment.

• Face and eye protection
• Lab-coat and apron
• Gloves
• Foot protection

QUESTION 2

Loud noise at work can damage hearing. Approximately 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise at work. To minimize occupational noise-induced hearing loss, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that workers should not be exposed to noise at a level that amounts to more than 85 decibels (dBA) for 8 hours.

In most cases, the preferred approach is to eliminate the source of hazardous noise. When elimination is not possible, substitution of the loud equipment for quieter equipment may be the next best alternative to protect workers from hazardous noise. If the hazardous noise cannot be controlled through elimination of the source or substitution of quieter equipment, engineering controls may be installed to reduce noise to safer levels or remove noise at the source.

Engineering controls require physical changes to the workplace such as redesigning equipment to eliminate noise sources and constructing barriers that prevent noise from reaching a worker. If it is not possible to remove the hazard through elimination, substitution or engineering controls, the next step is to reduce noise exposure through the use of administrative controls. For example, an employer may change an employee’s work schedule to avoid too much noise.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as ear plugs or other hearing protection devices, is the last option in the hierarchy of control. PPE is generally less effective than elimination, substitution, and engineering controls because they rely on human actions to reduce noise. Used in combination with other levels of control, such as administrative controls, PPE may provide worker protection when engineering controls do not adequately remove the noise hazard.

NIOSH encourages occupational safety and health professionals, employers, and workers to learn more about controls for hazardous noise exposure. Consult a workplace safety and health professional to determine solutions for your work setting and employees.

1. Identify the type of hazard

• Physical Hazard

2. Recommend FIVE (5) solutions to reduce noise at the workplace according to guidelines for Hazard identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) by Department of Occupational Safety and Heatlh.

• Elimination - Physically remove the hazard
• Substitution - Replace the hazard
• Engineering controls - Isolate people from the hazard
• Administrative controls - change the way people work
• Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) - Protect the worker with 

The best way to reduce exposure to noise is to engineer it out at the design stage. In terms of equipment, always try to choose features that will reduce the noise level to a minimum acceptable level. In terms of new installations, select quiet equipment, have a procurement policy that opts for acquiring quiet equipment, and eliminate design flaws which would amplify the noise.

Administrative controls, (such as reducing the length of time the worker is required to work in a noisy area), and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are measures that control the noise at the worker. Depending on the type and level of noise; number of workers exposed, and the type of work, engineering controls might not always be considered as reasonable solutions. Where the exposure would not justify the implementation of more expensive solutions, a combination of administrative control (limitation of exposure length) and personal protection equipment may be considered. However, we must keep in mind that the administrative measures and the use of PPE may not be effective in protecting the workers for example PPE may be used incorrectly or may not be used at all, administrative controls may not be followed and more. The use of PPE should be the last resort for controlling the exposure to noise.