Controlling Ergonomic Hazards
Ergonomic improvements are changes made to improve the 'fit' between a job and the capabilities of the employees performing it. Making ergonomic improvements reduces physical demands, eliminates unnecessary movements, lowers injury rates and their associated workers' compensation costs, and reduces employee turnover.
Traditionally, a prioritized "Hierarchy of Controls" (HOC) has been used to implement feasible and effective exposure controls to protect workers. We encourage the use of the HOC as described within the ANSI/ASSP Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, to control hazards. The six strategies are discussed below.
The first three strategies focus on addressing the hazard. The last three strategies focus on modifying behaviors to reduce exposure to the hazard.
- Elimination: The best solution is to totally eliminate the need to lift, lower, push, pull, or carry heavy loads. For instance, a hand truck could be used to move heavy boxes in a warehouse, eliminating the need to carry them.
- Substitution: Substitution is the next-best solution. For instance, the employer might replace large heavy containers with smaller containers.
- Engineering Controls: Redesign or modify equipment and processes. For instance, processes that require heavy lifting, lowering, or carrying heavy objects might be revised.
- Warnings: Warnings can be visual, audible, or both. They may also be tactile. Visual warnings include signs, labels, tags, and lights. Audible warnings include alarms, bells, beepers, sirens, horns and announcement systems. Tactile warnings may include vibration devices or air fans.
- Work Practice Controls: The primary focus is on developing and incorporating safer behaviors and work practices through written safety procedures and rules. This strategy is a challenge because supervisors must regularly monitor their employees as they perform tasks.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The use of PPE is likely the most common strategy employed for all hazards. Yet, it's most likely the least effective in preventing ergonomic injuries. PPE only forms a barrier between workers and hazards. For instance, knee pads might be used to protect the knees from impact when laying carpet, yet they won't protect against working in awkward postures.
Interim Measures
Using a lower-priority hazard control method over a higher-priority control strategy may be appropriate to provide interim (temporary) protection until the hazard is permanently abated. If you can't eliminate the hazard entirely, the interim control measures will likely be a combination of control methods used together. OSHA believes that feasible interim measures are always available if higher-level control methods are not possible.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-1. According to the "Hierarchy of Controls," which of the following control strategies has the least effectiveness preventing ergonomic hazards?
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