Health & Safety: People Are Precious!

The International Labour Office (ILO) and International Ergonomics Association (IEA) developed the Ergonomic Checkpoints mobile app, which provides best practice recommendations for implementing effective improvements in the workplace.

It also allows users to create interactive checklists of ergonomic checkpoints.

As there are 132 checkpoints, I thought we might share a select few in this instalment – with an emphasis on skilled trades.

For more detailed information on each of the checkpoints, do go to the ILO website.

1. Eliminate tasks that require bending or twisting while handling materials

Why: Bending or twisting of the body is an unstable movement and is one of the major sources of back injuries, and neck and shoulder disorders. We spend more time and become more fatigued than when doing similar work, but without bending or twisting.

Risks/Symptoms

Muscular strain
Low-back pain
Slips, trips or stumbles
Excessive reach

How

Change the positions of materials so that the handling work is done in front of us, without having to bend
Improve the working space so that we can adopt stable foot positions
Use mechanical means to bring the work items and replace the finished item without being forced into an awkward posture
Change the working height so that the worker can handle the work item without bending

2. Provide safe power tools and make sure that safety guards are used

Why: Power tools are efficient but usually more dangerous than non-power tools; the greater the energy, the greater the danger. Nevertheless, safe power tools are available. There is no need to use unsafe tools.

Risks/Symptoms

Amputation
Hand/finger injury
Excessive force
Upper limb disorder

How

Order power tools only after safety specifications have been examined. Three important points are:
1. protection against power transmission and points of operation
2. prevention of unintended activation of controls
3. easy operation with secured grips
Purchase tools that have been designed for use with a balance if they are to be used over a fixed workstation
Check that the guards are sufficient to protect workers, and are used
Guards should not interfere with work, otherwise people will remove them
Check if multiple means are used in order to prevent unintended activation of controls

3. Provide a “home” for each tool

Why: If each tool has a “home”, i.e. a special and permanent place allocated to it, workers can find the tool quickly and are encouraged to use the right tool at all times. If tools do not have “homes”, some workers lose time searching for lost tools.

Tools stored in their special places can be seen at a glance. Their inventory is therefore easy, which is a great help for good maintenance.

Risks/Symptoms

Tool damage
Slips, trips or stumbles
Hand/arm injury

How

There are various means of providing a “home” for each tool. This can be a special shelf, a drawer, a particular place on a rack, an easy-to-see container, a tool trolley, a hook on the wall, suspension from an overhead structure, or a tool board. The most appropriate means should be chosen considering the size, shape and weight of the tool.
Do not forget to find a “home” also for bigger tools. Avoid the practice of putting large tools on the floor
When various small tools are used, provide a tool storage board or special containers in which each tool has its own “home”.
In the case of a tool board, the outline of each tool could be drawn to show where it goes. Alternatively, labels could be used.
The more frequently a tool is used, the closer its “home” should be to the worksite.

Related article: Ergonomic Checkpoints