SCALES NW BACK SAFETY PROGRAM

Transcription

1 Purpse This safety prgram is designed t establish clear cmpany gals and bjectives with regard t back safety and will be cmmunicated t all required persnnel. The cmpany will review and evaluate this safety prgram: On an annual basis When changes ccur t 29 CFR that prmpt revisin f this dcument When facility peratinal changes ccur that require a revisin f this dcument When there is an accident r clse-call that relates t this area f safety Review the safety prgram any time these prcedures fail Scpe This prgram applies t the ttal wrkplace regardless f the number f wrkers emplyed r the number f wrk shifts Respnsibilities Management and Supervisr: Evaluate the wrkplace fr ptential back safety issues Implement cntrls and awareness training t prevent back injuries Review this prgram and infrmatin at least annually t assure it remains effective. Emplyees: Fllw wrkplace rules and prcedures Immediately reprt injuries r symptms f back disrders Safety Officer (as needed r required): Assist in the implementatin f the back safety prgram 2. Prcedure Back Disrder Risk Factrs. Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 1 f 9

2 Identificatin f hazards will be based n risk factrs such as cnditins f a jb prcess, wrkstatin, r wrk methds that cntribute t the risk f develping prblems assciated with back disrders. Nt all f these risk factrs will be present in every jb cntaining stressrs nr is the existence f ne f these factrs necessarily sufficient t cause a back injury. Supervisrs will use the fllwing knwn risk factrs t islate and reprt suspected prblem areas: Repetitive and/r prlnged activities Bad bdy mechanics such as: Cntinued bending ver at the waist Cntinued lifting frm belw the knuckles Cntinued lifting abve the shulders Twisting at the waist Twisting at the waist while lifting Lifting r mving bjects f excessive weight Lifting r mving bject f asymmetric size Prlnged sitting with pr psture Lack f adjustable chairs, ftrests, bdy supprts, and wrk surfaces at wrkstatins Pr grips n handles Slippery fting Frequency f mvement Duratin and pace Stability f lad Cupling f lad Type f grip Reach distances Wrk height Safe Lifting Techniques Use a pushcart r ther material-handling device t psitin yu the material being lifted int place. Ask a c-wrker fr help if n device is available. If yu must lift alne here are sme tips. Befre starting t lift r carry anything, check yur entire walkway t make sure yur fting will be slid. Yur shes shuld give yu gd balance, supprt and tractin. Keep lads as clse t yur bdy as pssible. The fllwing situatins shw basic lifting techniques t avid injury: Lifting r lwering frm a high place Stand n a platfrm instead f a ladder Lift the lad in smaller pieces, if pssible Slide the lad as clse t yurself as pssible befre lifting Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 2 f 9

3 Grip firmly and slide it dwn Get help when yu need it t avid injury Lifting frm hard-t-get-at places Get as clse t the lad as pssible Keep back straight, stmach muscles tight Push buttcks ut behind yu Bend yur knees Use leg, stmach, and buttck muscles t lift -- nt yur back Lifting drums, barrels, and cylinders Use mechanical assists Always be aware that lads can shift Get help if lad is t heavy Awkward bjects Bend yur knees with feet spread Grip the tp utside and bttm inside crners Use yur legs t lift, keeping back straight Shveling Make sure yur grip and balance are slid Tighten yur abdmen as yu lift Keep the shvel clse t yur bdy Use the strength f yur thigh muscles t bring yu t an upright psitin Increase yur leverage by keeping yur bttm hand lw and tward the blade Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 3 f 9

4 General safety tips Dn t lift bjects ver yur head Dn t twist yur bdy when lifting r setting an bject dwn Dn t reach ver an bstacle t lift a lad Pace yurself t avid fatigue 3. Safety Infrmatin. Jb Hazard Analysis and Wrk Statin Analysis Surveys Jb hazard analysis surveys will be rutinely perfrmed by a qualified persn fr jbs that put wrkers at risk. This analysis survey will help t verify risk factrs and t determine if risk factrs fr a wrk psitin have been reduced r eliminated t the extent feasible. Upper extremities. Fr upper extremities three (3) measurements f repetitiveness will be reviewed: Ttal hand manipulatins per cycle. The cycle time. The ttal manipulatins r cycles per wrk shift. Frce measurements. Frce measurements will be nted as an estimated average effrt and a peak frce (unless quantitative measurements are feasible). They will be recrded as "light," "mderate," r "heavy". Tls. Tls will be checked fr excessive vibratin and weight. (The NIOSH criteria dcument n hand/arm vibratin shuld be cnsulted.) The tls, persnal prtective equipment, and dimensins and adjustability f the wrkstatin will be nted fr each jb hazard analysis. Pstures. Hand, arm, and shulder pstures and mvements will be assessed fr levels f risk. Lifting Hazards. Wrkstatins having tasks requiring manual materials handling will have the maximum weight-lifting values calculated. (The NIOSH Wrk Practices Guide fr Manual Lifting shuld be used fr basic calculatins.) Videtape Methd. The use f videtape, where feasible, will be used as a methd fr analysis f the wrk prcess. Slw-mtin videtape r equivalent visual recrds Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 4 f 9

5 Hazard Preventin and Cntrl SCALES NW BACK SAFETY PROGRAM f wrkers perfrming their rutine jb tasks will be used where practical t determine the demands f the task n the wrker and hw each wrker actually perfrms each task. A task analysis lg/frm will be used t break dwn the jb int cmpnents that can be individually analyzed. Cmpany management understands that engineering slutins, where feasible, are the preferred methd f cntrl fr ergnmic hazards. The fcus f this safety prgram is t make the jb fit the persn, nt t make the persn fit the jb. This is accmplished by redesigning the wrkstatin, wrk methds, r tls t reduce the demands f the jb. Such as high frce, repetitive mtin, and awkward pstures. This safety prgram will whenever pssible research int currently available cntrls and technlgy. The fllwing examples f engineering cntrls will be used as mdels fr wrkstatin design and upgrade. Wrkstatin Design. Wrkstatins when initially cnstructed r when redesigned will be adjustable in rder t accmmdate the persn wh actually wrks at a given wrkstatin. It is nt adequate t design fr the "average" r typical wrker. Wrkstatins shuld be easily adjustable and either designed r selected t fit a specific task s that they are cmfrtable fr the wrkers using them. The wrkspace shuld be large enugh t allw fr the full range f required mvements especially where hand held tls are used. Examples include: Adjustable fixtures n wrk tables s that the psitin f the wrk can be easily manipulated. Wrkstatins and delivery bins that can accmmdate the heights and reach limitatins f varius-sized wrkers. Wrk platfrms that mve up and dwn fr varius peratins. Mechanical r pwered assists t eliminate the use f extreme frce. Suspensin f heavy tls. The use f diverging cnveyrs ff f main lines s that certain activities can be perfrmed at slwer rates. Flr mats designed t reduce trauma t the legs and back. Design f Wrk Methds. Traditinal wrk methd analysis cnsiders static pstures and repetitin rates. This will be supplemented by addressing the frce levels and the hand and arm pstures invlved. The tasks will be altered where pssible t reduce these and the ther stresses. Examples f methds fr the reductin f extreme and awkward pstures include the fllwing: Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 5 f 9

6 Enabling the wrker t perfrm the task with tw hands instead f ne. Cnfrming t the NIOSH Wrk Practices Guide fr Manual Lifting. Excessive frce. Excessive frce in any peratin can result in bth lng-term prblems fr the wrker and increased accident rates. Ways t reduce excessive frce will be cntinually emphasized by first line supervisrs and emplyees. Examples f methds t reduce excessive frce include: The use f autmatin devices. The use f mechanical devices t aid in remving scrap frm wrk areas. Substitutin f pwer tls where manual tls are nw in use. The use f articulated arms and cunter balances suspended by verhead racks t reduce the frce needed t perate and cntrl pwer tls. Repetitive mtin. All effrts t reduce repetitive mtin will be pursued. Examples f methds t reduce highly repetitive mvements include: Increasing the number f wrkers perfrming a task. Lessening repetitin by cmbining jbs with very shrt cycle times, thereby increasing cycle time. (Smetimes referred t as "jb enlargement.") Using autmatin where apprpriate. Designing r altering jbs t allw self-pacing, when feasible. Designing r altering jbs t allw sufficient rest pauses. Administrative Cntrls Administrative cntrls will be used t reduce the duratin, frequency, and severity f expsures t ergnmic stressrs that can cause back injury. Examples f administrative cntrls include the fllwing: Reducing the ttal number f repetitins per emplyee by such means as decreasing prductin rates and limiting vertime wrk. Prviding rest pauses t relieve fatigued muscle-tendn grups. The length f time needed depends n the task's verall effrt and ttal cycle time. Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 6 f 9

7 Increasing the number f emplyees assigned t a task t alleviate severe cnditins, especially in lifting heavy bjects. Using jb rtatin, with cautin and as a preventive measure, nt as a respnse t symptms. The principle f jb rtatin is t alleviate physical fatigue and stress f a particular set f muscles and tendns by rtating emplyees amng ther jbs that use different muscle-tendn grups. If rtatin is utilized, the jb analyses must be reviewed t ensure that the same muscle-tendn grups are nt used when they are rtated. Prviding sufficient numbers f standby/relief persnnel t cmpensate fr freseeable upset cnditins n the line (e.g., lss f wrkers). Jb enlargement. Having emplyees perfrm brader functins which reduce the stress n specific muscle grups while perfrming individual tasks. Incidents and Injuries If an emplyee reprts symptms f a Musculskeletal Injury Scales NW, Inc. will ensure: Musculskeletal injuries caused by imprper lifting will be investigated and dcumented Incrpratin f investigatin findings int wrk prcedures n rder t prevent future injuries Injuries must be recrded and reprted as required by 29 CFR Part 1904 Review & Updating Lifting and Handling Lads Prgram Supervisin must peridically evaluate wrk areas and emplyees' wrk techniques t assess the ptential fr and preventin f injuries. New peratins shuld be evaluated t engineer ut hazards befre wrk prcesses are implemented. Training and Infrmatin. Types f training Supervisrs will determine whether training required fr specific jbs will be cnducted in a classrm r n-the-jb. The degree f training prvided shall be determined by the cmplexity f the jb and the assciated hazards. Initial Training. Prir t jb assignment the cmpany shall prvide training t ensure that the hazards assciated with pre-designated jb skills are understd by emplyees. Als the knwledge and skills required fr the safe applicatin and Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 7 f 9

8 usage f wrk place prcedures and equipment is acquired by all emplyees. The training shall include the fllwing: Each affected emplyee shall receive training in the recgnitin f back injury hazards invlved with a particular jb, and the methds and means necessary fr safe wrk. Training curse cntent. All new and current wrkers, wh wrk in areas where there is reasnable likelihd f back injury, will be kept infrmed thrugh cntinuing educatin prgrams. Initial and refresher training will, as a minimum, cver the fllwing: 1. Back hazards assciated with the jb. 2. Lifting techniques. 3. Ptential health effects f back injury. 4. Back injury precautins. 5. Prper use f prtective clthing and equipment. 6. Use f engineering cntrls. Respnsibility. Emplyees are respnsible fr fllwing prper wrk practices and cntrl prcedures t help prtect their health and prvide fr the safety f themselves and fellw emplyees, including instructins t immediately reprt t the Supervisr any significant back injury. Refresher Training. Scheduled refresher training will be cnducted n an as needed basis. Retraining shall be prvided fr all authrized and affected emplyees whenever there is a change in their jb assignments, a change in equipment r prcesses that present a new hazard, r when their wrk takes them int ther hazard areas. Additinal retraining shall als be cnducted whenever a peridic inspectin reveals, r when there is reasn t believe that there are deviatins frm r inadequacies in the emplyee's knwledge f knwn hazards and use f equipment r prcedures. The retraining shall reestablish emplyee prficiency and intrduce new equipment, new lifting prcedures r revised cntrl methds and prcedures. Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 8 f 9

9 Certificatin. The cmpany shall certify that emplyee training has been accmplished and is being kept up t date. The certificatin shall cntain a synpsis f the training cnducted, each emplyee's name, and dates f training. New Emplyee Acclimatizatin Perid. Supervisrs will ensure that new r transferred emplyees are allwed an apprpriate acclimatizatin perid. New and returning emplyees will be gradually integrated int a full wrk schedule as apprpriate fr specific jbs and individuals. Emplyees will be assigned t an experienced trainer fr jb training and evaluatin during this perid. Emplyees reassigned t new jbs shuld als have an acclimatizatin perid. Imprtant: Supervisrs will clsely mnitr emplyees that fall int this categry thrughut their acclimatizatin perid. Training: Each affected emplyee shall receive training in the recgnitin f back injury hazards invlved with a particular jb, and the methds and means necessary fr safe wrk. Supervisrs will determine whether training required fr specific jbs will be cnducted in a classrm r n-the-jb. The degree f training prvided shall be determined by the cmplexity f the jb and the assciated hazards. Prir t jb assignment training is prvided t ensure that the hazards assciated with pre-designated jb skills are understd by emplyees. Als the knwledge and skills required fr the safe applicatin and usage f wrk place prcedures and equipment is acquired by all emplyees. Back Safety in the Wrkplace Prgram Page 9 f 9