Presentation on behalf of CIEHF to the third BOHS Worker Health Protection Conference in Abu Dhabi September 2016

1. Understanding the
Risks from the
Processes
1
Designing for People

2. 2
Presentation Content
Introductions
MSDs in the Workplace
How do we know we have a problem?
What tools can we use to evaluate work tasks?
What about review afterwards?
How do we manage new ways of working?

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Introductions
I am here today representing the Chartered Institute of
Ergonomists and Human Factors (CIEHF), the chartered
professional body for ergonomists.
CIEHF represents ergonomists and human factors
specialists as well as accrediting training (from short
courses to degrees).
The mission of CIEHF is:
to develop and share our understanding of ergonomics
and human factors, demonstrate its benefits for human
wellbeing and organisational success, and bring about
its adoption in everyday life.

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What do ergonomists do?
There are a number of different specialisms within
ergonomic including:
Physical
Cognitive
Social
Organizational
Environmental
Some ergonomists specialists in specific areas, others
work across areas.

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What do ergonomists do?
Head of Ergonomics and Human Factors at the Institute
of Occupational Medicine
IOM came from British Coal so a long history of
involvement in mining and miners’ diseases including
pneumoconiosis and physical and environmental
ergonomics
Kept up with the research agenda in relation to health:
Asbestos
Nano Safety
In ergonomics a long tradition of musculoskeletal
disorders, psychosocial risks, thermal environments,
PPE and ageing and work.

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Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still
one of the major reasons why people are absent from
work. Why can’t we reduce the burden from:
• Back Pain
• Upper Limb Disorders
• Lower Limb Disorders – hips, knees etc.
Epidemiology gives us some answers – overloading,
repetition and postures adopted.
There is also the health people bring to work and known
risks for younger workers (lack of experience) and older
workers (physiological change).

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What is the scale of the problem
MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still
one of the major reasons why people are absent from
work.
Back Pain
Upper Limb Disorders
Lower Limb Disorders
HSE 2014

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What do we know?
MSDs are an issue that we are still tackling but are still
one of the major reasons why people are absent from
work.
Back Pain
Upper Limb Disorders
Lower Limb Disorders
HSE 2014

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In your particular workplace how
do you know there is a problem?
Quite often accident data is mentioned as one data-set
to use. However, not all musculoskeletal problems are
down to accidents.
Often it is the cumulative effect of overloading or
repetitive work that impact most on upper limb disorders
We need to find out about health data too – this can be
problematic due to confidentiality.

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In your particular workplace how
do you know there is a problem?
What tools do we have available:
Risk Assessment
In the UK context required assessments for
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations (2004)
• Display Screen Equipment Regulations (2002)
The employees are your barometer – involve them in
risk identification, assessment and solution building.
Taking a participatory approach with employees allows
ownership of both the problem and the solution.

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Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
Nordic questionnaire were
individuals are asked to
show the site of their
discomfort.
Data collection includes
data on the last 7 days and
last 12 months.
It is a screening tool, not a
diagnostic tool but can you
help identify areas of
problems in your workplace
and where this is impacting
on your employees

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How do we evaluate
Tools
MAC – developed
by HSE and
downloadable

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How do we evaluate
Tools
Rapid Entire
Body
Assessment
(REBA)

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How do we evaluate
Computer use, risk assessments available

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How do we evaluate
Part of DSE assessment is
how much pressure are
people under.
First time a link between risks
but if stress a problem,
evaluate the psychosocial
risks.
Guidance produced by the
European Agency for Safety
and Health freely available.

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Importance of Re-evaluation
When we have identified our risks and taken risk
reduction measures we must re-evaluate:
• Risk re-assessment
• Talkthroughs and walkthroughs with employees
Be wary of the unintended consequences of change.
HSE 2014

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New ways of working
When we think about how we work a number of changes
due to technology:
• Reducing physical requirements
• Increased sedentary work
• Shift Work – have a better understanding of the
health outcomes
• Mobile technology – being accessible 24/7
• Extension of working lives
How do we make work more sustainable?
A need to protect the health of the worker from
workplace hazards but also a need to maintain health
and fitness – should we look more to NIOSH Total
Worker Health?

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The Human Connection
From CIEHF 24 case studies
across different industries.
This can help to create ideas
of what can work in your
workplace context.
HSE 2014

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Linkages
We need to understand the importance of linking our risk
assessments – link between safety and health
Musculoskeletal and psychosocial risks – link identified
two decades ago but still risk assessing in isolation
Its about designing work fit for human use.
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Thank you for listening
Its been a pleasure to come here and for any further
information please don’t hesitate to contact me
Joanne Crawford
Email: joanne.crawford@iom-world.org
CIEHF http://www.ergonomics.org.uk/

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Reference Sources
MAC Assessment
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/mac/index.htm
DSE Assessments
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/index.htm
REBA
http://ergo-plus.com/wp-content/uploads/REBA-A-Step-
by-Step-Guide.pdf
EU OSHA e guide for psychosocial risks
https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/e-
guide-managing-stress-and-psychosocial-risks