SAMPLE NLT WORK RISK ANALYSIS REPORT:
(note the lack of confusing over-done math formulas and tables that only confuse and over-generalize such as RULA, REBA, NIOSH Lifting Formula). This format simply states what's wrong and how to fix it... just what you need! We have had companies use No Lost Time precisely because our Work Risk Analysis is so easy to read and understand.
JOB: DIE PREPARATION
WORK DESCRIPTION:
The worker stands on a cement floor for the entire shift. He has forward head posture. The upper extremities are reaching with shoulders flexed to 100 degrees of flexion to place the die in the machine at 24 inches from the body. The die weighs 12 pounds. The worker must hold the die in position for 15 seconds. His hand holds a narrow, slippery, forceful grip with the wrist in severe ulnar deviation during this process. He then rotates his spine 110 degrees to the right to box the die, moving this pattern every 20 seconds. This worker is paid piecework. There is much turnover and many new employees.
OBSERVED RISKS:
1. Sustained standing risks of posture fatigue due to sustained muscle contraction and joint compression.
2. Standing on a cement or steel floor greatly magnifies the posture fatigue risks of standing.
3. The worker has forward head posture. This is a very common work posture fault that adds to the risks of MSD. This can stress the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back. It can tighten the thoracic outlet, reducing blood supply and irritating nerves to the upper extremity. This increases risk of tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome in the arm. This posture weakens back muscles and reduces posture endurance. It can also alter tension in the jaw muscles and can lead to TMJ problems. The lateral neck muscles can tighten, compressing nerves and blood vessels passing through these muscles to the upper extremity. This can increase the risk of various MSD problems in the upper extremity. This is called thoracic outlet compression. A lack of circulation to the upper extremities due to this posture problem reduces the upper extremity work tolerance and increases the vulnerability to MSD.
4. Repeated or prolonged shoulder can strain various tendons of the shoulder. Reaching to the front can stress the long head of the biceps, risking biceps tendinitis. Reaching to the side stresses the rotator cuff. These can be a high risk for shoulder tendinitis and impingement problems. A heavy weight in the hand magnifies these shoulder risks. The sustained period of long shoulder reaching with a brief period of recovery further magnifies this stress.
5. Hand grip requires muscle contractions of the flexor tendons in the forearm passing through the carpal tunnel. Excessive grip demands risk wrist tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Factors affecting this risk include force of grip, grip diameter, and long holding time. Excessive time spent gripped (even if grip is light) is a significant risk factor for these problems. A small grip diameter, slippery grip, ulnar deviation during grip and vibration magnify these risks.
6. Ulnar deviation of the wrist (tipping the hand in the direction of the little finger) can increase compression in the carpal tunnel, risking carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis at the wrist. The degree of deviation, frequency of this movement, and time spent in this position determine the extent of the risk. Adding grip or pinch greatly increases risk.
7. Twisting the spine repetitively creates a torsion stress to the neck and low back. Twisting the neck and the lower back repetitively and over a wide range of motion may irritate facet joints and discs of the neck and lower back. This is the mechanism of injury for joint irritation, degenerative arthritis and disc problems.
8. Piecework pay, high turnover, many new employees and lack of job task rotation or other variety of work all greatly increase MSD risks
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. A tall stool could be placed in this work area to allow the workers some periods of tall sitting during work. This will provide them with posture variety and relief from sustained standing.
2. Workers could rotate to other jobs tasks rather frequently for variety of posture and movement. Job rotation is one of the most effective and least expensive MSD prevention tactics
3. This worker could have a visco-elastic floor mat or place a visco-elastic material in the shoes.
4. Employees, managers and engineers should discuss how the equipment may be modified to bring the cutting portion lower and closer to the worker to reduce reach, even if only by a small amount.
5. Employees, managers and engineers should discuss how the equipment may be modified so the die is securely clamped during the cutting process. This will reduce the need to hold the arm in long reach.
6. The worker could consider wearing open-finger gloves with visco-elastic passing in the palm to reduce the compression and vibration, particularly to the carpal tunnel. Dampening vibration reduces MSD risk to the carpal tunnel.
7. Employees could be trained to carry out the micro-stretches designed to address the stresses of this job, at least every two hours. These should include chin tuck, neck side stretch, relaxation response, shoulder pendulum, chest-forearm extensor stretch and chest-wrist flexor stretch.