QUESTION

a) Consider the two situations given below and propose solutions to respective problems raised in each case by using your knowledge acquired in Ergonomics-

i) Case Study 1: Computer Operator

Frequent user of a personal computer suffers from lower back, neck and right shoulder pain. After further consultation it was established that-

• "Frequent" meant up to 8 hours sitting at the computer per day.

• Software package required use of the mouse nearly as often as the keyboard. Mouse was located on the right hand side of keyboard.

• Telephone was used regularly. Tendency to cradle handset into the neck when checking information with the computer.

• User had a height adjustable chair and a fixed height desk. Chair had been adjusted to provide a comfortable keying posture.

• As user was relatively short, tended to rest feet on the 5-star base of the chair.

ii) Case Study 2: Production Line

A large manufacturing company was re-designing part of the plant to improve the layout and design with the aim of increasing productivity and worker safety and comfort. A meeting was held with management and the line workers to assist in identifying areas of concern, and then the operation of the line and each of the tasks was closely observed. The findings were:

• a heavy spool had to be manually moved within a large, floor-level cage so that the overhead crane could then lift it onto a machine. As this task was difficult and could only be performed by a limited number of staff (owing to the high physical demands) this stage often delayed the line at least 4 times each day, resulting in ‘down-time';

• any product being processed in the machine was manually grasped from the conveyor, stacked on the edge of the conveyor, then carried to a plastic bag behind the line;

• some products required very rapid and repeated grasping and stacking, while others had a slower process time, so the worker had to stand and wait;

• Workers were standing on a concrete floor throughout the process; and

• once the plastic bag was full, the bag was carried to a scale, weighed, then placed into a bin at floor level to be lifted later and carried to dispatch.

b) Outline four of the tools used in assessing work-related musculoskeletal risks