Ergonomics and the UC Berkeley Campus

Mallory Lynch, MA, CEA Ergonomics Specialist April 26, 2006

What is Ergonomics?
It is the science of fitting the job, tool or task

to the individual

Risk Factors

Repetition Awkward Posture Force Vibration Contact Stress

Ergonomics
The majority of the ergonomics injuries on our campus are

related to working on the computer; however, the departments with the highest injury rates have job tasks that are non-computer related. The Ergonomics Task Force is an interdisciplinary group with members from Capital Projects (Architects), Disability Management Services, Environmental Health and Safety, Ergonomics@Work, Human Resources, Occupational Medicine, Physical Therapy and Procurement and Business Contracts. They work together to develop strategies to help with ergonomic challenges on the campus. They use different ergonomics tools to understand the problems and develop solutions.

Ergonomics Tools

Tools

Americans with Disabilities Act Anthropometric Data Architectural Graphic Design Guide Ergonomics Job Analysis Focus Groups Mock ups Personal Interviews Pilot Programs Questionnaires Video taping

Job Hazard Analysis Tools

Snook Push/Pull/Lift/Lower/Carry Hazard Tables

Washington State Checklist

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment - RULA Rapid Entire Body Assessment - REBA

Job Strain Index

National Institute of Safety and Health -NIOSH Lifting

Guide (Manual Material Handling) American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Hand Activity Level and Threshold Limit Values ACGIH HAL-TLV

Case #1: Physical Plant

Injury data showed high rate of ergonomic injuries for

custodians, including low back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand Job tasks were specific to trash and recycle functions These tasks included collecting trash and recycle separately and also throwing filled plastic bags into outside garbage bins Met with department management for review of data Personal interviews with supervisors and staff and job task analysis of specific trash and recycle tasks Developed recommendations Pilot program for feasibility of interventions

Trash and Recycle Containers

Pulling one container and

pushing another container are unsafe. This contributes to using awkward postures with the arms and back. Tying two containers together and pulling them is unsafe because it places stress on the shoulder and back. In addition, the containers take more effort to maneuver.

A New Option for Staff

Psychophysical data from

interviews RULA tool adjusts for awkward shoulder positions Snook tables, 1991 push versus pulling Product identified and department provided samples for staff to test The Rubbermaid Tandem Brute Dolly is a safer alternative because it offers a way to push both containers. In addition, the dolly takes less effort to maneuver in narrow spaces and on uneven terrain.

Placing Filled Bags into Outside Garbage Bins

Trash and recycle collected and

placed in larger trash bags to be emptied into the outside dumpsters Staff transport filled bags down the stairs or in the Brute Dollies Outside dumpsters are 48 inches tall and cannot be modified because the campus uses rear loading trucks to collect and dump the dumpsters. Majority of staff reach above shoulder height to place bags into the bins Weight of bags vary 15-50 pounds

Challenges with Existing Design

Staff need to grasp the bag near the top to

properly throw bag to reduce being cut; consequently, the existing design requires the majority of the staff to frequently raise the bags above shoulder height when placing them into the dumpsters. (Anthropometric data). Department has job lifting requirement of 50 pounds, which is too much for this job task (Snook Tables 1991)

Establishing Better Standards

Set up standards for staff to

tie off bags at weight limits that felt comfortable for them but not to exceed 25 pounds (Snook Tables 1991) Provided training for staff to practice new techniques and understand weight limit (handouts in 5 languages)

Campus Departments Working Together as a Team

TRASH ENCLOSURE DESIGN CRITERIA 6/2003 Ergonomic Design For People; Eastman Kodak 1986 Snook Pull Table, 1991

Design for the Smallest Population Percentile

Design for the Smallest Population Percentile

Access to the top of outside garbage can

should not exceed 36 inches. The previous design showed a 24 inch concrete ramp around the back of the garbage bins to raise the worker up higher.

Physical Plant

Questions or comments regarding Case #1

Case #2: Reception Counters at University Health Services

Reception counters built

using architectural graphic standards. Transaction counter (24 in. L x 12 in. D x 42 in. H) Cookson fire doors close at night ADA accessibility

Reception Counters
Built in counters for staff (90

in. L x 24 in. D x 30 in. H) Reaching up and forward to client Numerous injuries to neck and shoulder With a remodel: what tools would you use to help understand the risk factors? how would you decrease the reach and provide for more adjustability?

Tools

American with Disabilities Act Anthropometric Data Architectural Graphic Design Guide Ergonomics Job Analysis
Washington State Checklist

Focus Groups Mock ups Personal Interviews Working with table manufacturers

Adjustable workstations
Take out the built-in

counter Provide two height adjustable tables having a shallower depth Place the computers in the corner area to provide more desk space around the employee.

Modified the Transaction Counter

Change the transaction

counter to position the client closer to the employee. Relocate the ADA table and change the sign in practice to make it a universal design.

Reduced the Reach

Change the transaction

counter to position the client closer to the employee.

Mock Up To Give Visual Representation

Creates staff buy-in
Identifies potential

improvements to proposed design

Finished product

Reception Counter

Questions or comments regarding Case #2

Case #3: Campus Dining

New dining facility opened in 1/2003

Serve between 900-1307 lunches and 1500-

2500 dinners/day 9 ergonomic injuries have occurred in the dish room since the opening Met with managers, supervisors and staff to better understand the different tasks

Dish room
5 tier tray conveyor 3 stations to break down

trays Trough at station 1 is 12 inches wide Trough at station 2 is 24 inches wide Trough at station 3 is 24 inches wide 2 trays can fit in each tiered compartment Dish machine runs parallel to tray conveyor

Tray Conveyor
Key issues identified in

the area included:

Excessive reaching to grab trays and items on the trayveyor Frequent lifting and carrying filled racks Staff shortages Limited area to stage the dirty dishes

Quick Fix Recommendations

Unbolt the top tray on the

conveyor to eliminate reaching above shoulder height Block part of the next section so only one tray can fit in the area. Consider going back to using larger trays so only one can fit on each level Position shorter staff at stations with least amount of reach to conveyor Provide more staff

Silverware
4 out of the 9 ergonomic injuries

happened while lifting and carrying heavy racks of silverware and from repetitive handling of the silverware. The silverware goes through the machine 3 times. Staff sort the clean silverware after the first time through and put like utensils in containers. These containers are placed in racks.

Quick Fix Recommendations

Staff should reduce the

amount of dirty silverware they place in the full rack or Provide half size silverware racks Weight should not exceed 10 pounds to make it easier for the staff to transport

More Quick Fixes

Reduce the weight by only

placing eight filled utensil containers in the rack that has 16 slots. Place several empty racks on the cart to raise the overall working height of sorting utensils. Use a small cart to transport the racks to and from the dish machine.

Long Term Recommendations

Design of dish room is too small for volume of meals Dish room needs to be remodeled Hire a dish room consultant Get input from dish room staff Provide ergonomic input throughout all phases of the remodel Study University of Iowa design 2 single level tray conveyors and six separate stations to break the trays down. Ample storage and areas to stage dirty dishes

Campus Dining

Questions or comments regarding Case #3

How do we make sure the design is functional for the application?

Engineers, architects, designers, ergonomists, managers, supervisors

and employees should be involved from the beginning. Hold focus groups to best understand any issues the departments are having with their existing design. Work simulation and workstation/equipment guidelines Develop functional design guidelines that work for the different applications Universal design

Equitable use Flexibility in use Simple and intuitive use Low physical effort Perceptible information Tolerance for error