Work Practice Controls
This strategy focuses on changing the way work is organized and accomplished. However, work practice controls may not address the contributing safety management system factors causing accidents. Work practice controls usually require continual management and employee feedback to ensure that safe procedures and practices complied with and effective. Below are examples of effective safe procedures and practices:
The most effective strategies are at the top. The effectiveness of all strategies relies on employee compliance.
- Alternate heavy tasks with light tasks.
- Provide variety in jobs to eliminate or reduce repetition using two primary strategies:
- Job rotation - rotating employees through different jobs.
- Job enlargement - increasing the variety by combining two or more jobs or adding tasks to a particular job.
- Adjust work schedules, work pace, or work practices. Limit the amount of time any employee has to spend performing a "problem job." Job hardening suggests new workers who are not used to the physical demands of the job should be gradually introduced to a normal work pace.
- Provide recovery time - recovery periods (i.e., muscle relaxation periods) can help prevent fatigue and injury to muscles.
- Modify work practices so that workers perform work within their midrange or power zone (i.e., above the knees, below the shoulders, and close to the body).
- Use safe procedures that require two workers to lift heavy loads.
- Establish procedures so workers are rotated away from tasks to minimize the duration of continual exertion, repetitive motions, and awkward postures.
- Staff "floaters" to provide periodic breaks between scheduled breaks.
- Properly use and maintain pneumatic and power tools.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Which of the following is considered a work practice control to prevent ergonomic injuries?
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