Ergonomics Assignment

1. Shehada Hemaid
2. Hamazah Hassan
3. Anas Duridi
Our group was assigned to work for three videos the first was the Desserts-bread &
butter pudding, the second was Flower two hand place and the final one was lab 3
– inject. Our main goal was to find problems that are related to the ergonomics
material and things we learned outside the course that might help us to create an
aspect and reduce the threat of danger on the health of operator , and finally we
should find solutions to these related issues and problems in the work area so we
could create a more healthy environment.

Desserts-bread & butter pudding 1st video

we have watched the 1st video and analyzed the problems within the work
environment and the problems that are being done by the operator (posture + tool
usage & handling).
Risks
 The arrangements of bread & pudding on the production line is wrong
(structure adjustment); the structure in the workplace is too tight with no
available space to the operators to distribute the products on the production
line which will cause for her ache in her back.
 We also need to take into consideration that a number of products were
distributed by hands. The woman standing in the production line distributed
a number of products; this might cause a sort of exhaustion to hand(wrist) of
the woman distributing that number of products in the same time.
 We also need to take into consideration the elbow height of the woman
during the distribution of products. She raised her elbow for several times
which may cause for her radial tunnel syndrome.

 The loud noise that comes from the machines is high and which may cause a
weakness and harm the ears of the operators.

 The women’s posture (neck + back + torso) is wrong and can cause fatigue
and exhaustion if held and repeated for a very long period. The main reason
for the wrong posture is in the design of the production line which is very
low and it is unreachable for the arm of the operator which may cause many
problems in the back, neck, and torso.
 The level of hygiene was low in the workplace during the process of filling
the products which may cause variability in the quality and also may causes
downgrade of the product which may cause a potential loss in the market if
it affected the health of the customer.

 The distribution is fast and random without taking into consideration the
weight of each item in the production line which may cause inconsistent
packaging during the distribution; which may cause a problem in weight of
each product that will be delivered to the customers.

 Gloves are not being used. This will increase the level of hand injury and
will affect the cleanliness of the product.

 The workload is not fair. The woman working at the beginning of the
production line had a plenty of load other than the woman who works next
to her and the other one who works beside her.

Solutions
Here we will discuss the improvements that can be done to each risk that
where discussed earlier. Applying improvements will decrease the chance of
any accidents occurring and will help in protecting the workers from any
health problems that they might face due to the tasks performed, also will
improve the quality of the products.

First of all, the working area should be bigger, each worker should have
some space for himself/herself, and the products being handled should be
further apart from each other (this will help in better handling of the
products). Also, for the woman distributing the product by hand this mainly
due to the unfair division of the workload, if the workload was divided
equally and the products where better arranged, then this problem would be
solved greatly. And in relation to the women’s wrong posture, this issue can
be solved by putting a chair (with adjustable height); taking into
consideration that the workers heights are different so an adjustable chair
will help not only in the posture of the body (more comfortable), but also
will eliminate the pain that coming working for long periods of time. We
 also need to take into account the loud noise that is generated from the
machines here we need to give the workers earplugs to prevent this noise to
harm their ears plus we need to check the level of maintenance of the
machine so we could reduce the level of the toxic volume. We need also to
increase the level of hygiene in the working area by giving the workers
medical masks so we could prevent the level of bacteria that will come from
the workers breath , plus we need to cover the production line with glass also
to help to increase the level of hygiene in the working area. We need also to
distribute the work by the cyclic method so we could make sure that every
worker is filling the products by their maximum capacity with no extra work
to handle and finally we need to arrange gloves this will eliminate the effect
of bacteria and will increase the level of hygiene inside the facility.

Hazard Target location Existing Risk Recommended Notes

description employees controls assessmen solutions Estimated
t date to
L S L*S be fixed
Not in the Employee Production None 2 3 6 Make the table Within 2 N/A
hand working line adjustable and months
reach,the production install a chair
operator line
may lose
balance
while she
is
stretching
to catch
the
product
The fluid All Production None 1 4 4 Relocate the Within 2 N/A
material Area container far months
that is from workers
being filled
by the
operator
could split
on the
floor
causing
the worker
to slip
Loud noise All Production None 3 3 9 Use earplugs As soon N/A
Area for as
 manufacturing practical
The Employee Production None 3 4 12 Automated As soon N/A
operator holding line stairs as
filling fluid the basket practical
material in
the
container
while
holding
the basket
may fall
from the
stairs and
causes him
disability

Adjustable seat in the production line

Automated stairs

Earplugs
 Glass to increase level of hygiene

Flowers 2 hand place 2nd video

Again, we performed the same action done earlier, but this time we watched
flowers 2 hand place video and captured the dangers in the workplace and those
that could face the worker, and we will find solutions to these problems.
Risks
 The location of the table besides the conveyor belt may affect the woman
movement and posture while she is taking the flowers from the table to the
conveyor belt these actions will yield wrong posture and sharp bending of
the back with weight lifting.

 The distribution of the flowers is not right and it is not maintaining the time
between the conveyor belt and the woman who takes the flowers to the belt.
All of this may increase the level of injuries in the elbow, torso, and the
back.
 We also can notice that the working area is too tight, and there is no space
for the finished goods. Especially when they are collecting flowers in
batches and they are accumulating these batches besides the production line
these cartoons can fall down which may cause a worker death.
 We can notice the absence of head protection which may affect the worker
health.
 We can observe that there is no tools or cart to help the workers to pick and
hold batches. This may affect the workers back and cause heavy problems in
the disc diseases and heavy injuries vertebral column of the worker.
 Loud noise is being heard in the workplace; this will create hearing
problems in the long term.
 Respirator (nose) should be used, due to the fact that most of the plants are
exposed to chemicals that would be harmful to the human if any contact or
breathing happens.
 Solutions
Here we will discuss the improvements that can be done to each risk that
where discussed earlier. Applying improvements will decrease the chance of any
accidents occurring and will help in protecting the workers from any health
problems that they might face due to the tasks performed, also will improve the
quality of the products.
First of all we need to change the location of the table and to make it
parallel to the conveyer belt by doing this step we will increase the worker
productivity and we will reduce the number of movements which could decrease
the fatigue that may happen in back, neck , and elbow. Second of all we need to
increase the level of communication between the operators so we could increase
the level of productivity between the person who brings the flower and the person
who install flowers in the conveyor belt plus it will help them to reduce the level of
threat of injuries. Third of all we need to distribute head protection to the workers
so we could increase the level of safety in the department. Fourth of all we need to
install carts and small loading vehicle so we could reduce the random way of
holding the batches plus we need to protect workers back from having disorder
from injuries in the vertebral column. Fifth of all we need to distribute earplugs to
the worker so we could prevent the ears from the toxic loud sound in the facility,
and finally we need to distribute respirator nose so we could prevent any chemicals
or an allergy that is generated from the plants that may affect some workers health.

Hazard Target location Existing Risk Recommende Notes

description employees controls assessment d solutions Estimated
L S L*S date to be
fixed
Holding Males Flower None 3 3 9 Purchasing As soon N/A
batches, employees factory forklift truck as
back pain possible
No Helmet All Flower None 3 4 12 Purchasing As soon N/A
for safety, factory helmet as
falling of possible
the
batches
Loud noise All Flower None 3 3 9 Installing As soon N/A
factory earplugs as
possible
Helmet for safety Forklift truck

Carrier for objects earplugs

Respirator
Adjusted table
Lab3-inject 3rd video

Again, we performed the same action done earlier, but this time we watched lab3-
inject and placed the video and captured the dangers in the workplace and those
that could face the researchers, and we will find solutions to these problems.
Risks
 No eyes protections have been used chemicals could cause a serious damage
to the eyes in case they entered through.
 The whole process in work is wrong the table is in mess and the working
area is closed packed. The back is being bent and full stretch of the arm is
apparent.
 The loud noise from the lab especially the high volume of music it could
affect the worker attention which may harm her in case she lost
concentration while she is dealing with chemical processes.
 No hair protection in lab, this may cause a problem to her if one of the
chemicals passed to the hair it could burn the skin of the skull and cause
severe damage to her.
 We need also to give her an automated injection tool so we could reduce
fatigues and disorders in the fingers.
 The working station does not fit with the elbow height standards while the
work is precise here (+ 5 elbow height).
 Not wearing gloves so may be the chemicals may causes severe problems to
her hands like burns.

Solutions
Here we will discuss the improvements that can be done to each risk that
where discussed earlier. Applying improvements will decrease the chance of any
accidents occurring and will help in protecting the workers from any health
problems that they might face due to the tasks performed, also will improve the
quality of the products.
First of all, we need to give the researcher goggles for her eyes so it could prevent
any accident or any toxic level to enter through the eyes which would cause
blindness to her. Secondly, we need to make an adjustable table so we could
 prevent any problems in the neck, torso and the back. Thirdly we need to arrange
the tools on the table in the right way so we could prevent any harmful effects if
they mixed together by mistake by classifying the items we could prevent this.
Fourth of all, we need to give her a mask to protect her from any toxic level of
some chemical which may affect her respiratory system. Fifth of all, we need to
give her hair protection so she could protect her hair and skull, and finally we need
to give her an automated tool for injection to protect her fingers from repetitive
stress injury and finally we need to give her gloves to protect her from chemicals.
Hazard Target location Existing Risk Recommended Notes
description employees controls assessment solutions Estimated
L S L*S date to be
fixed
No eye Lab Laborator None 3 3 9 Use goggles As soon N/A
protection operator y as
available
No hair Lab Laborator None 2 3 6 Use hair cap As soon N/A
protection operator y as
available
Arrangemen Lab laboratory None 3 3 9 Arrange the As soon N/A
t in the table operator table in the as
right way by available
storing the
chemicals
according the
laboratory
guidelines so
she could find
a good space
and work
comfortable
Not wearing Lab Laborator None 3 3 Use gloves As soon N/A
gloves operator y as
practical

Goggles hair cap

Arm reach
Automated tool