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Ergonomics and the UCBerkeley Campus
Mallory Lynch, MA, CEA
Ergonomics Specialist
April 26, 2006
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What is Ergonomics?
It is the science of fitting the job, tool or task
to the individual
Risk Factors
Repetition Awkward Posture
Force
Vibration
Contact Stress
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Ergonomics
The majority of the ergonomics injuries on our campus arerelated to working on the computer; however, thedepartments with the highest injury rates have job tasksthat are non-computer related.
The Ergonomics Task Force is an interdisciplinary groupwith members from Capital Projects (Architects), DisabilityManagement Services, Environmental Health and Safety,Ergonomics@Work, Human Resources, OccupationalMedicine, Physical Therapy and Procurement andBusiness Contracts. They work together to develop
strategies to help with ergonomic challenges on thecampus.
They use different ergonomics tools to understand theproblems and develop solutions.
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Ergonomics Tools
Tools
Americans with Disabilities Act
Anthropometric Data
Architectural Graphic Design Guide
Ergonomics Job Analysis
Focus Groups
Mock ups
Personal Interviews
Pilot Programs
Questionnaires
Video taping
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Job Hazard Analysis Tools
Snook Push/Pull/Lift/Lower/Carry Hazard Tables
Washington State Checklist
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment - RULA
Rapid Entire Body Assessment - REBA Job Strain Index
National Institute of Safety and Health -NIOSH Lifting
Guide (Manual Material Handling)
American Conference of Governmental IndustrialHygienists Hand Activity Level and Threshold Limit
Values ACGIH HAL-TLV
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Case #1: Physical Plant
Injury data showed high rate of ergonomic injuries forcustodians, including low back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist andhand
Job tasks were specific to trash and recycle functions
These tasks included collecting trash and recycle separately
and also throwing filled plastic bags into outside garbage bins Met with department management for review of data
Personal interviews with supervisors and staff and job taskanalysis of specific trash and recycle tasks
Developed recommendations
Pilot program for feasibility of interventions
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Trash and Recycle Containers
Pulling one container andpushing another containerare unsafe. This contributesto using awkward postureswith the arms and back.
Tying two containerstogether and pulling them isunsafe because it placesstress on the shoulder andback. In addition, thecontainers take more effortto maneuver.
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A New Option for Staff
Psychophysical data frominterviews
RULA tool adjusts for awkwardshoulder positions
Snook tables, 1991 pushversus pulling
Product identified anddepartment provided samplesfor staff to test
The Rubbermaid Tandem BruteDolly is a safer alternativebecause it offers a way to pushboth containers. In addition, the
dolly takes less effort tomaneuver in narrow spaces andon uneven terrain.
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Placing Filled Bags into Outside
Garbage Bins Trash and recycle collected and
placed in larger trash bags tobe emptied into the outsidedumpsters
Staff transport filled bags downthe stairs or in the Brute Dollies
Outside dumpsters are 48inches tall and cannot bemodified because the campususes rear loading trucks tocollect and dump thedumpsters.
Majority of staff reach aboveshoulder height to place bagsinto the bins
Weight of bags vary 15-50pounds
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Challenges with Existing Design
Staff need to grasp the bag near the top to
properly throw bag to reduce being cut;
consequently, the existing design requires
the majority of the staff to frequently raise thebags above shoulder height when placing
them into the dumpsters. (Anthropometric
data).
Department has job lifting requirement of 50pounds, which is too much for this job task
(Snook Tables 1991)
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Establishing Better Standards
Set up standards for staff totie off bags at weight limitsthat felt comfortable for thembut not to exceed 25 pounds(Snook Tables 1991)
Provided training for staff topractice new techniques andunderstand weight limit(handouts in 5 languages)
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Campus Departments Working
Together as a Team
TRASH ENCLOSURE
DESIGN CRITERIA
6/2003
Ergonomic Design ForPeople; Eastman Kodak
1986
Snook Pull Table, 1991
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Design for the Smallest Population
Percentile
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Design for the Smallest Population
Percentile
Access to the top of outside garbage can
should not exceed 36 inches.
The previous design showed a 24 inch
concrete ramp around the back of thegarbage bins to raise the worker up higher.
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Physical Plant
Questions or commentsregarding Case #1
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Case #2: Reception Counters at
University Health Services
Reception counters built
using architectural
graphic standards.
Transaction counter (24
in. L x 12 in. D x 42 in.
H)
Cookson fire doors
close at night
ADA accessibility
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Reception Counters
Built in counters for staff (90in. L x 24 in. D x 30 in. H)
Reaching up and forward toclient
Numerous injuries to neck
and shoulder With a remodel:
what tools would you useto help understand therisk factors?
how would you decreasethe reach and provide formore adjustability?
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Tools
American with Disabilities Act
Anthropometric Data
Architectural Graphic Design Guide
Ergonomics Job Analysis Washington State Checklist
Focus Groups
Mock ups
Personal Interviews Working with table manufacturers
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Adjustable workstations
Take out the built-in
counter
Provide two height
adjustable tables having
a shallower depth
Place the computers in
the corner area to
provide more desk
space around theemployee.
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Modified the Transaction Counter
Change the transaction
counter to position the
client closer to the
employee.
Relocate the ADA table
and change the sign in
practice to make it a
universal design.
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Reduced the Reach
Change the transaction
counter to position theclient closer to the
employee.
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Mock Up To Give Visual
Representation
Creates staff buy-in
Identifies potential
improvements toproposed design
Finished product
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Reception Counter
Questions or commentsregarding Case #2
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Case #3: Campus Dining
New dining facility opened in 1/2003
Serve between 900-1307 lunches and 1500-
2500 dinners/day
9 ergonomic injuries have occurred in thedish room since the opening
Met with managers, supervisors and staff to
better understand the different tasks
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Dish room
5 tier tray conveyor
3 stations to break downtrays
Trough at station 1 is 12inches wide
Trough at station 2 is 24inches wide
Trough at station 3 is 24inches wide
2 trays can fit in each tiered
compartment Dish machine runs parallel to
tray conveyor
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Tray Conveyor
Key issues identified in
the area included:
Excessive reaching to
grab trays and items
on the trayveyor Frequent lifting and
carrying filled racks
Staff shortages
Limited area to stagethe dirty dishes
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Quick Fix Recommendations
Unbolt the top tray on theconveyor to eliminatereaching above shoulderheight
Block part of the next section
so only one tray can fit in thearea.
Consider going back to usinglarger trays so only one canfit on each level
Position shorter staff atstations with least amount ofreach to conveyor
Provide more staff
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Silverware
4 out of the 9 ergonomic injurieshappened while lifting andcarrying heavy racks ofsilverware and from repetitivehandling of the silverware.
The silverware goes through the
machine 3 times. Staff sort theclean silverware after the firsttime through and put likeutensils in containers. Thesecontainers are placed in racks.
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Quick Fix Recommendations
Staff should reduce theamount of dirtysilverware they place inthe full rack or
Provide half sizesilverware racks
Weight should notexceed 10 pounds tomake it easier for the
staff to transport
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More Quick Fixes
Reduce the weight by only
placing eight filled utensil
containers in the rack that
has 16 slots.
Place several empty racks
on the cart to raise the
overall working height of
sorting utensils.
Use a small cart to transport
the racks to and from the
dish machine.
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Long Term Recommendations
Design of dish room is too small for volume of meals
Dish room needs to be remodeled
Hire a dish room consultant
Get input from dish room staff
Provide ergonomic input throughout all phases of theremodel
Study University of Iowa design
2 single level tray conveyors and six separate stationsto break the trays down.
Ample storage and areas to stage dirty dishes
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Campus Dining
Questions or comments
regarding Case #3
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How do we make sure the design is
functional for the application?
Engineers, architects, designers, ergonomists, managers, supervisorsand employees should be involved from the beginning.
Hold focus groups to best understand any issues the departments arehaving with their existing design.
Work simulation and workstation/equipment guidelines
Develop functional design guidelines that work for the differentapplications
Universal design Equitable use
Flexibility in use
Simple and intuitive use
Low physical effort Perceptible information
Tolerance for error