Musculoskeletal health

Musculo-skeletal disease and work related upper

limb disorder
What is a musculo-skeletal disease (MSD)?
• Musculo-skeletal disease concerns
painful disorders of the upper limb and
are often due to physical activities,
especially in the workplace, and they are
sometimes known as:
– ‘repetitive strain injury’ (RSI)
– ‘musculoskeletal disease’ (MSD) or
– ‘work related upper limb disorders’
(WRULDS)
Musculo-skeletal disease and work related upper
limb disorder
Risk factors include:
•Repeating an action
•Uncomfortable working position
•Using a lot of force
•Carrying out a task for a long period of
time
•Poor working environment
•Psychological issues, (e.g. apparent
lack of control)
 MSD’s – activities which may contribute to or
cause them
• Keyboard operation
• Using a hammer
• Bolt fixing
• Shovelling
• Using a pick
• Bricklaying
• Assembly of small
components
• Tightening nuts and
screws
• Checkout operators
 MSD’s – the role of ergonomics

Ergonomics concerns matching

the task to the employees:

• Physical capabilities

• Mental capabilities

• Individual expectations
 MSD’s – the role of ergonomics
• Ergonomics is the study of humans and
how they interact with their work
equipment, work environment and work
method

Measurement Average Operator Cranfield Man

Height 1.75m (5 foot 9 inches) 1.35m (4 foot 5 inches)
Shoulder width 0.48m (19 inches) 0.61m (24 inches)
Arm span 1.83m (6 foot) 2.44m (8feet)
Elbow height 1.07m (42 inches) 0.76m (2 foot 6 inches)
 MSD’s – possible effects of
poor ergonomics – health
Health implications
Mental
• Excessive fatigue
• Headaches
• Uncomfortable
• Stress
Musculoskeletal
• Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs)
affecting the back, neck, shoulders and arms
• Inflamed joints, stiffness
• Cramps, pain, muscle fatigue
• Deep vein thrombosis (dvt)
• Crepitus
 MSD’s – possible effects of
poor ergonomics – safety

Safety implications:
• Increased likelihood of human error
• Inability to see hazards
 MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)
Human body
• Bones
• Muscles
• Tendons
– strain
• Synovial sheath
• Ligaments
– sprain
• Blood vessels
– oxygen = healing
• Joints
MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)
Human circulatory system
MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
 MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)
Symptoms
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Soft tissue damage
• Cramps
• Loss of dexterity and grip
• Specific, local pain
• Excessive muscle fatigue
• General pain in neck and shoulders
• Restriction of joint movement
• Soft tissue swelling
 MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)
Factors that can increase the likelihood of
developing WRULDs
• Poor workstation layout
• Not enough breaks
• Space constraints - leading to poor posture
• Need for excessive force
• Total dose = intensity x duration x
frequency
• Vibration
• Use of ‘at risk’ groups
MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS)

Controls
• People
• Equipment
• Materials
• Environment
• Organisation
MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS) – controls
People
•Conducting risk assessments on all
tasks/activities to identify job involving frequent
hand and arm movements
•Careful recruitment and selection of new
workers to identify pre-existing WRULDs
•Provision of IITS so workers understand the
problem
•Reduce the force required, the frequency and
duration (dose)
•Design or redesign the task
MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS) – controls
Equipment
•Design or redesign the work station.
•Automate or mechanise the process.
•Ensuring all equipment is adjustable, so it
can fit the worker
•Regular inspection, testing and maintenance
of this equipment
•Job rotation
•Regular breaks or job rotation
•Medical surveillance
•Ill health reporting system
 MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS) – controls
Specific requirements for work stations
•Good lighting
•Adequate contrast, no glare or distracting
reflections
•Distracting noise minimised
•Leg room and clearances to allow postural
changes
•Window covering if necessary to minimise
glare
•Suitable software appropriate to the task
 MSD’s – Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(WRULDS) – controls
Specific requirements for work stations
•Screen:- stable image, adjustable, readable
and glare free
•Keyboard:- usable, adjustable, detachable
and legible
•Work surface:- Space for flexible
arrangement of equipment and documents
•Chair:- Stable and adjustable
•Footrest:- If required by user
•Suitable environment:- e.g. temperature
 MSD’s – possible effects of
poor ergonomics – human error
• Mistaken actions
– unskilled worker – doing the wrong thing,
thinking it’s the right thing to do
• Wilfulness
– risk taking, ‘job & done’, etc.
• Mistaken priorities
– meeting deadlines, best intentions
• Mis-perception
– data interpreted incorrectly
• Lapses of attention
– skilled worker - loss of concentration due to
fatigue, boredom or distraction
 MSD’s – possible effects of
poor design – human error
“Design” features that might increase the
likelihood of violations and errors

•ERROR (Unintended)
Informational error in the head or workplace
– Mis-perception too much/too little information
– Lapses of Attention lack of barriers
lack of safety signs
poor lighting

•VIOLATIONS (Intentional)
– Mistaken Actions not using fail safe designs
– Wilfulness poor quality SSW
– Mistaken Priorities PPE difficult to use
 Thank you
for
your Attention