2. INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN BODY/ANATOMY
• Human anatomy is the term of human physiology. Ana means up and
tome means to cut.
• Human anatomical system means discussing the structure of human
body and how does it relates or responds to hazardous substances.
• The human’s body is no less than a galaxy. It consist of many
interconnected as well as complex systems that runs out the movement,
functions and structure of body
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3. THE HUMAN MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
• The support that our bones and other functions require to
make the muscles move is known as musculoskeletal system.
Prominent parts of musculoskeletal system:
– The skeleton
– Ligaments and tendons
– Nerves
– Muscles
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4. THE SKELETON:
• The skeleton is the group of bones and hard structures
• The bones are connected via cartilage & ligaments.
• An average adult has 206 bones in the body.
The skull
• The skull is made up of a bone (cranium).
• It is a round shaped bone that covers up the brain and provides
balance to the bones of face and jaws.
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5. The trunk
• It is also called out as spinal cord or the spine.
• The spinal column consist of 33 bones known as
vertebrae.
These bones are located as:
• C (cervical): it is located in the vertebrae in the neck.
• T (thoracic): refers to the thoracic spine where the
12 ribs are attached.
• L (lumbar): refers to the lumbar section of the spine
• S (sacral): refers to the lower vertebrae
• Coccyx or tail bone is located at the very bottom of
the spinal column.
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6. Upper limbs
• The upper limbs are positioned on the collar bone (clavicle) and are
maintained by the first rib keeping it away from the chest.
Lower limbs
• Lower limbs provide support to innominate bones and spine.
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7. Joints
• Joints are mobile and immobile depending
on the part with which they are attached.
• Mobile joints are ball and socket joints such
as shoulder and hips and hinge points .
• LIGAMENTS & TENDONS
• Ligaments and tendons are connectors that
are made up of proteins which are in
stranded form and consist connective
tissues that are extremely strong.
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8. NERVES
• Nerves are electrical impulses carriers that carry communication among the
systems inside the body.
MUSCLES
• Muscles are made up of collective cells called fibers. A muscle fiber contains many
myofibrils, which are cylinders of muscle proteins.
The muscular system is subdivided into three sections:
• Voluntary
• Involuntary
• Cardiac
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9. TYPES OF INJURY AND ILL-HEALTH CONDITION
• The ergonomic designs are considered to avoid the number of
illnesses and injuries.
• The possible several injuries and ill-health conditions are as
follows:
– Physical illness
– Mental illness
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10. Physical injuries and ill-health conditions
WRULDS (WORK-RELATED UPPER LIMB DISORDERS)
• It is a collective term used for group of occupational diseases
that concerns musculoskeletal disorders that can be caused at
workplace affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves,
blood vessels, joints and bursae (a fluid-filled sac that protects
bones and tendons and bones around a joint) in the upper
limbs such as the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and
fingers.
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11. Some common WRULDS are mentioned as:
• CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (CTS)
• TENOSYNOVITIS
• TENDINITIS
• PERITENDINITIS
• EPICONDYLITIS
• TRIGGER FINGER (STENOSING TENOSYNOVITIS)
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12. Mental illness
• When a person is disturbed physically, pain and stress is wandering over his
head and disturbance in work is continuous drawback due to ill health.
Anxiety can cause:
• Work disturbance
• Sleeplessness
• Loss of interest
• Poor concentration
• Low mood most of the times
• Irritation and distrust
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13. Physical signs of stress
• Heart and circulatory problems for example pain in the chest,
palpitations and heart attacks
• Repeated flu or cold or infections
• Rapid weight loss/gain
• Headaches
• Tiredness and fainting
• Sweating and baldness
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14. Psychological effects of stress:
• EMOTIONAL PATTERNS:
• Mood swings
• Irritation
• Cynicism
• Anxiety, nervousness and depression
• Loss of confidence
• Loss of self-esteem
• Lack in enthusiasm and potential
• Panic attacks
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15. ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
• The poor or ill health conditions that are caused by musculoskeletal risks are
as attention seeking as other serious medical conditions are.
The muscles are contracted or disturbed causing extreme ill-health
conditions as follows:
• Back pain
• Eye and eyesight effects
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Sprains/strains, fractures and lacerations
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16. BACK PAIN
• The back pain usually affects the lower back, the problem is temporary and pain
may vanish if a person takes regular breaks or rest.
Some common reasons of back pain occurrence are:
• Standing, sitting or bending for longer periods of time
• Lifting, carrying, pulling or pushing heavy loads
• Operating equipment that makes whole body to vibrate
• Trips and falls
• Being stressed or anxious
• Being overweight
• Poor postures
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17. EYE AND EYESIGHT EFFECTS
• The continuous awkward postures that disturbs the sight
activities
FATIGUE
• When a worker needs to hold onto repetitive positions, they
may experience fatigue of muscles.
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18. STRESS
• The repetitive actions, awkward postures and heavy load lifting can disturb
the worker a lot.
STRAINS/SPRAINS, FRACTURES AND LACERATIONS
• The most of the muscle pains and injuries are occurred by activities that are
concerned with handling and lifting of loads.
SPRAINS AND STRAINS
• Sprains and strains occur in back, arm or wrist. A sprain is an injury to a
ligament, the tough fibrous tissue that connects one bone with another.
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19. CUMULATIVE MUSCLE STRAIN
• If the muscles are used for prolonged durations, they are
contracted which causes pain and disturbance in movements.
HERNIA
• The most known injury that occurs by lifting is Hernia, it is
developed in the abdomen by weakening the abdominal wall.
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20. FRACTURES
• A fracture is basically a break of bone, when a bone gets stroked or hit in
hard way, it gets broken.
Classification of fractures is as follows:
• Closed fractures are ones in which skin doesn’t gets damaged (simple
fractures).
• Open fractures are ones in which skin is damaged severely and bone is
visible (compound fractures).
• Displacement and angulations (bones are displaced)
• Complete fractures are the ones where bone is broken down completely.
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21. LACERATIONS
• The lacerations are injuries that occur
due to sharp and unprotected loads
that are holded or handled by workers
and sharp edges or dangerous loads
harm the skin and bones directly by
either cutting the skin or gripping the
skin or part of body under any heavy
object.
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22. HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES
• The workers are involved in various operational activities that are
obviously not safe until they are done under controlled
circumstances and by using proper PPE.
• The activities that can cause WRULDs and musculoskeletal disorders
are as follows:
– Production or assembly lines
– Working in restricted work spaces
– Use of display screen equipment (DSE)
– Handling objects
– Handling people and animals
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23. WORKING IN RESTRICTED WORK SPACES
• The restricted work spaces often makes workers to adopt poor
postures that causes pain in shoulders and back.
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24. USE OF DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT
(DSE)
• Display screen equipment in simpler
words is the equipment or devices
that require involvement of operator
via keyboards or mouse.
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25. HANDLING OBJECTS
BRICKLAYING
• The number of bricks being laid emphasizes pressure on the
physical holding positions.
CHECKOUT OPERATORS
• It involves activities of lifting and tracking movements that
normally sweep from left to right or right to left.
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26. HANDLING PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
• People involved in activities that might cause musculoskeletal
disorders are ambulance crews, care-takers for disabled and
elderly people, nursing staff and those involved with animals
such as vets and animal rescue.
• Equipment may have to be moved along with patient
• In case of emergency, the staff needs to work quickly.
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27. ASSESSING AND CONTROLLING MUSCULOSKELETAL RISK
RISK FACTORS INVOLVED
• The risk factors of musculoskeletal injury or discomfort are
concerned with intensive and excessive work activities
prolonged to hours, for example, at a keyboard.
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28. The common risk factors include:
• Awkward and uncomfortable
working postures
• Manual handling
• Repeating an action too
frequently
• Exerting too much pressure
• Poor postures
• Working too long without
adequate breaks
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• Adverse working conditions
• Psychosocial factors
• Employers not receiving or taking
actions on employee’s serious
medical condition
• Lifting and carrying
• Pushing and pulling
• Handling while you are seated,
• Twisted back to and fro motion
29. Specific risk factors (ergonomic factors)
• Ergonomics in general means the job design or workplace design that caters human comfort and
confirms that the person is physically comfortable while sitting and working at workstation.
• Designing the workplace, work equipment and work methods in such a way that is suitable for worker.
• Make sure that the tools, equipment and workstation is a good fit for the worker.
• Do anthropometry, which is the scientific measurement of human body.
• If these principles are not followed then risks may arise such as:
• Uncomfortable seating
• Repetitive postures
• Pain in shoulder and arms if the work station is not suitable
• Tools can be misused if are not suitable
• Inappropriate workplace design can cause major hazards
• Work patterns can cause muscular stress
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30. Factors that encounter risks are related to:
TASKS
• Repetition-
• Working postures-
• Duration
LOAD
• Weight
• Bulky or unwieldy
• Difficulty in lifting up the load
• Unstable loads
• Sharp, hot or otherwise potentially damaging surfaces
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31. FORCE
• Force required to move an object
• Force required to handle material being worked on
• Speed of application of the force
• Amount of force necessary to conduct a task
• Force required to grip or operate something that is done repetitively
• Duration of force applied
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
• Space requirements,
• Proper lighting
• Noise and vibrations
• Temperature
• The humidity should not be much low that it affects the eyes of DSE operators
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32. EQUIPMENT
• Display screens
• Keyboard
• Work desk or work station
• Work chair
INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS
• The physical abilities required for the assigned task
• The body size, weight and height
• Training and information
• Medical condition and eyesight test
• Particular care must be given to:
• Women who are pregnant
• People with poor medical conditions
• People with physical or mental disability
• Young workers
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33. • (DIAGRAM OR SMALL DESCRIPTION OF ILO CONVENTION SAFETY AND HEALTH
AGRICULTURE C184 THAT STATES REQUIREMENT TO PREVENT HARM FROM
MANUAL HANDLING)
• (CASE STUDY relevant)
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34. RISK ASSESSMENT METHODS
• Assessing the risk involves the control measures and examinations of the activities that are known to be the
prominent cause of injuries related to musculoskeletal disorders.
ASSESSING TASK
• Whenever you assign a task, check keenly whether the task is done under controlled circumstances and whether
it is safe for use and to be performed by the worker. The main points that are required to be assessed while
assigning tasks are:
• Height of material or storage to be used. The best height for storage and benches is around waist-height,
particularly for heavy items. The operator doesn’t have to stoop too low or too high to get access to storage.
• Holding of loads, means the worker must hold the weighted object or load away from body
• Check out in what posture the task will have to be done, is there sufficient space available?
• Holding static loads can cause fatigue in muscles, particularly when the arms are extended above the head. So,
avoid static loads.
• Use and availability of PPE
• Resting hours (time given to workers to take rest)
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35. ASSESSING THE LOAD
• Size and gravity of load
• Flexibility of load
• Temperature of load (it shouldn’t be extremely hot or cold)
• Check if loads contain corrosive or hazardous material
• Check the loads aren’t fragile or in damaged packaging
ASSESSING THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
• Floors must be cleaned and must not be slippery
• The equipment or tools being used must be assessed
• The staff members must be informed
• Controls must be implemented
• Safety protocols must be followed
• Check the distance between storage areas
• Check temperature of workplace
• Check lighting system
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36. ASSESSING EQUIPMENT
• Equipment to be used for manual handling must be carefully
examined
• Mechanical assistance must be provided
• Old and non-reliable equipment must be removed
ASSESSING INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY
• Level of medical fitness
• Level of manual handling training received
• Work history indicating the person’s abilities
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37. Care must be taken when assessing persons who are:
• Overweight
• Frail
• Young
• Relatively inactive types
• Women lifting similar loads as men are lifting
• Women who are pregnant
• Task related individual factors:
• Physical condition of worker
• Height
• Willingness (often a useful measure)
•
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38. USE OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS
• The assessment tools are varied and are used for several measurements and
examinations to critically evaluate hence assess the methods that are
expected to have risks. These assessment tools are:
• HSE manual handling assessment tool (MAC)
• HSE assessment tool for repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (ART)
• HSE variable manual handling assessment chart (V-MAC)
• Appendices 3 and 4 to the HSE’s manual handling guidance (L23)
• Appendix 5 (VDU checklist) from HSE guidance (L26)
• NIOSH manual material handling (MMH) checklist
• Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA)
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39. HSE MANUAL HANDLING ASSESSMENT TOOL (MAC)
• The HSE designed this tool which concerns with activities that
associates with common risk factors in lifting, carrying and team-
handling operations. They are now available on website to make it
easier for management of organizations to get access. The basic aim
which is served by this tool is to help the user to understand,
interpret and categorize the level of manual handling risk associated
with work activities. It caters the manual risk factors, suggests risk
assessment and provides guidance on the level of risk related to the
factor. For further details see ‘https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac’
• (DIAGRAM OF MAC TOOL)
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40. HSE ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR REPETITIVE TASKS OF THE UPPER LIMBS (ART)
• The tool is concerned with the use of repetitive tasks that might affect the upper limbs (arms
and hands).
The ART tool is a method that helps to:
• Identify repetitive tasks that holds risks
• Improve the task performance by reducing repetitive movements
• Consider possible risk reduction measures
• Meet legal requirements to ensure the health and safety of employees who are involved in
such activities.
• The factors include:
• Frequency and repetition of movements
• Force and awkward postures
• Additional factors, including breaks and durations
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41. • HSE VARIABLE MANUAL HANDLING ASSESSMENT CHART (V-
MAC)
• The V-MAC is a tool that concerns with the manual handling
that involves weights. The loads may vary in size and weight.
Specific risk assessment concerns with the performance of
workers regarding weights of loads and how to handle them.
For further details see
https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac/vmac/.
• (DIAGRAM)
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42. APPENDICES 3 & 4 TO THE HSE’s MANUAL HANDLING GUIDANCE
(L23)
• This tool as listed by HSE, introduces the need to conduct risk
assessments for manual handling operations and to include
considerations of the task, individual, load and environment.
• (MANUAL HANDLING CHECKLIST, SOURCE: UK HSE L23)
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43. APPENDIX 5 (VDU CHECKLIST) FROM HSE GUIDANCE (L26)
• It emphasis on the ergonomic aspects of work with equipment
such as display screens. This tool identifies users who might be
at risk, and the regulations states that risk assessments must be
conducted concerning the equipment to be used by the worker.
Examine the general condition of the equipment and the ways
to operate it.
(DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST, SOURCE:
UK HSE L26)
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44. NIOSH MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING MMH CHECKLIST
• NIOSH is the institute of occupational safety and health in USA. It comprises on a variety of working
techniques and tools and contains plenty of graphics showing the ways to use them effectively. It is in
a booklet form. For further details see https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-131/pdfs/2007-131.pdf
RAPID UPPER LIMB ASSESSMENT (RULA)
• RULA is specified for risk types that are primarily concerned with WRULDs. It is a screening tool that
looks at the biochemical and postural loading on the whole body, specifically on neck, trunk and upper
limbs.
• RULA is based on three steps:
• Observing and selecting the posture to assess.
• Scoring and recording the posture
• Action level. The score recorded can be compared with the level list.
• For further details see https://ergp-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/RULA-A-Step-By-StepGuide1.pdf
(DIAGRAM)
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45. CONTROL MEASURES
• PRACTICAL MEASURES THAT CAN BE UNDERTAKEN TO PREVENT WRULD’s FROM
ERGONOMIC DESIGN, INCLUDE:
• Designing working space and equipment that is suitable
• Providing adequate equipment and furniture that’s adjustable
• Implementation of controls that are clearly marked, standardized and easily accessible
• Introduction of automation and its usage
• Eliminate or reduce the requirement to bend or overstretch regarding tasks of employees
• Reducing the weights of loads that to be moved manually
• Designing tools to reduce application of force
• Changing work patterns
• Improving the work environment such as temperature, lighting and noise
• Improving the presentation of information using signs, displays and color coding
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46. PRACTICAL CONTROL MEASURES TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE RISKS
Elimination of risk
• It is the first step of risk assessment basically. To identify and
eliminate the hazardous manual handling. If elimination is not
possible, try to reduce the exposure towards the hazardous
activities.
Automation/mechanical assistance
• It concerns the safe and adequate use of handling aids.
(MECHANICAL AIDS DIAGRAM)
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47. Alternative work
• This refers to the alternative ways of work that can be adopted to avoid and reduce the
associated risks. Consider alternative ways to carry out the task
• Designers should consider to make safe tools and ways to operate the activity required. The
design must be effective enough to minimize the risks including activities:
• Construction
• Use
• Transport
• Installation
• Commissioning
• Decommissioning
• Dismantling
• Disposal/recycling
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48. Ergonomic design of tools, equipment, workstations and workplaces
• Ergonomics in general means the job design or workplace design that caters
human comfort and confirms that the person is physically comfortable while
sitting and working at workstation.
• Designing the workplace, work equipment and work methods in such a way that
is suitable for worker.
• Make sure that the tools, equipment and workstation is a good fit for the worker.
• Do anthropometry, which is the scientific measurement of human body.
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49. Job rotation/work routine
• The workers must not be given work stress. There must be proper resting hours. Shifts and job
rotations must be designed effectively in order to cater individual’s health and safety needs.
Training and information
• A training program must include:
• How can be hazardous loads recognized?
• How to deal with unfamiliar loads and weights?
• The proper use of handling equipment or aids
• The proper use of PPE
• Working environment’s characteristics
• The importance of housekeeping
• Factors that might affect individual capability
• Good and suitable handling techniques
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50. Efficient moves
• Always make your mind before you start a work, know the right
ways to perform the task. Think before handling or lifting,
choose the right way and equipment. Keep the load close to the
waist. Adopt a stable position.
Personal aspects
• Age and capabilities of individual
• State of health, fitness and strength
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