Ergonomics in Welding.ppt

7/25/2019 Ergonomics in Welding.ppt

1/28

Ergonomics in Welding


2/28

What will You learn

Identify WMSDs hazardousexposures in welding jos

!ropose solutions for hazardousexposures

"ind further information aoutergonomics in welding operations


3/28

#azards

Welding operations are necessary in manyindustries such as construction$ manufacturing$maintenance$ etc%

Welding has se&eral hazardous conditions forwomen and men in these jos%


4/28

#azards

'ommon hazards found in welding are(inhaling metals fumes$

eye exposure to welding arc light )*+$ &isile,$

foreign ojects in eyes$

urns$

noise$

cuts$ ruises$ etc%


5/28

WMSD #azards

Welding also includes musculos-eletal disorders)WMSD, hazards such as(

aw-ward ody postures$

lifting hea&y e.uipment or materials$static postures for prolonged periods$

aw-ward postures of the wrist$ etc%


6/28

/y 0ature of Injury

Sprains account formore than 123 of thecompensale claimsamong welders in theState of Washington%

Some of those coulde caused yhazardous WMSDexposures%

compensable claims Welders, Cutters


7/28

compensable claims Welders, Cutters

/y /ody !art

4he ac-$ nec- andshoulder together withthe arm and handregions ma-e up morethan one half of theinjuries among weldersin Washington State%

!re&enti&e effortsshould therefore focuson those ody partsamong welders at your

wor-place%

Welding is a strenuous occupation in&ol&ingwor- in aw-ward postures and handlinghea&y e.uipment$ usually with a high degreeof sustained stress to arm and shoulders%


8/28

5sences due to injury or illnessand the transfer of welders toother tas-s

6&ertime for replacement

wor-ers% Welders are s-illedemployees

#igh employee turno&er

Increased training andsuper&isory time

7educed producti&ity and .uality

'onse.uences of a poor wor-ingen&ironment


9/28

7igorous manual precision

re.uirements

8 #igh degree of uniformity

5w-ward and static postures

8 Difficult wor- position

#ea&y lifting$ difficult material

handling8 #ea&y ojects$ hea&y welding

e.uipment

7epetition

8 #igh wor- intensity

OFTEN, MORE THAN 1 RIS FACTOR IS !RESENT

WMDS hazards most common in welding


10/28

Duration )how long9,

"re.uency )how often9,

Intensity )how hard9,

#azard Elements


11/28

Wor-ing infront

Wor-ing atgroundle&el

Wor-ingao&e theshoulders

Wor-ing atground le&el$precision wor-

Wor-ing atground le&el$confined space

Wor-ing ao&eshoulders$confined space

From: Torner et al, 1991

'ommon postures adopted in welding


12/28

4orso twisting

5w-ward postures in welding

Se&ere torso flexion

:neeling$ s.uatting

/ent wrists

0ec- flexion2extension

Shoulder flexion2aduction )separation,


13/28

4o simplify the welding performance for the

welder and reduce the physical load during

the wor-

5utomate physically demanding or

repetiti&e jos

Expand the wor- content of welders

)pro&ide flexiility etween jos,8 Multi;s-illed wor-ers who are ale to

perform different tas-s within a group,

4he goal of a healthy wor- en&ironment


14/28

6ften cost$ ease of maintenance$ spaceconsiderations dri&e the design process

When hazards can


15/28

!ossile Ergonomic Impro&ements

#ea&y =ifting

Manipulators =ighter welding

e.uipment$ easier tohandle *sing lighter cales

with low stiffness *se cale supporting

de&ices)alancers,

*tilize o&erheadhoists

*tilize lifting and

turning tales


16/28

Ergonomic impro&ements

5w-ward !ostures

!osition wor- etweenwaist and shoulder$

when possile =ifting tales

Motorized positioningde&ices

*se welding guns withswi&els and designedfor use in oth hands

Wor- stool


17/28


4eam lifting helpsreduce hea&y$aw-ward lifting of

e.uipment andmaterials%

5"4E7

"rom( SIM5 San Diego Ergonomics !rogram

/E"67E


18/28


4o reduce wor-ingwith the ac- ent atground le&el$ any

wor- tale will helpto adopt a saferposture

5"4E7

"rom( Shipyard Ergonomics$ >??3/E"67E


19/28


!re;assemly andmaterial handling

e.uipment helps reduceunnecessary lifting orany other -ind ofmanual material

handling


20/28


4his rotational clampfor pipe helps reduceaw-ward postures forthe nec-$ shoulders

and arms%


21/28


4ales for weldingand transport reduce

manual lifting$carrying of hea&ymaterials%

4he tales also ha&ewheels%


22/28


Welding leads on

pulleys help reducehea&y and aw-wardlifting$ static posturesfor long periods%


23/28


7ootic automation$ arealso feasile solutions to

highly repetiti&e motionswith the arms andhands% May also reducethe exposure to fumes%


24/28

0ot implementing

some or all these

ergonomics guidelines

may result in thefollowing@

!ossile 'onse.uences


25/28

6ften occur when the

physical demands of wor-cause wear and tear

In&ol&e soft tissues such

as muscles$ tendons$ligaments$ joints$ ner&es$lood &essels

4hey are cumulati&e )occur o&ertime and not a result of a single incident,(

Wor-;related musculos-eletal disorders


26/28

Wor-;related musculos-eletal disorders

/ro-en ones

'uts

Slips

"alls

4rips

Motor &ehicle accidents

/eing struc- y orcaught with ojects

4hey are not acute injuries such as(


27/28

/ac- injuries

Shoulder pain2loss of range of motion

4endinitis2/ursitis 7educed muscle strength

'arpal tunnel syndrome

White finger :nee joint diseases

'ommon disorders among welders


28/28

4he Ergonomics 'ycle

4he ergonomics cycle

pro&ides with anorganized way tostart yourergonomics effort%

EmployeeIn&ol&ement

E&aluateprogress

ManagementSupport

!rolemIdentification

SolutionImplementation

5ddressInjuries

4raining

Documents

Ergonomics in Welding.ppt