CITY OF SACRAMENTO Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram Tpic: Ergnmics Prgram Effective Date: 05/19/09 Frm: T: Human Resurces Department Risk Management Divisin Department Directrs/Divisin Managers Supersedes: 03/03 Sectin: RCP # 2 Barbara Brenner Lss Preventin Manager APPROVED:~..Jd~I...6...L-l---I:!'=:::.!':.!:':::::::::::::::~ Geri Hamby Directr f Human Resurces SUMMARY OF CONTENTS Page N. 1. 2. 3. Purpse Prcedures Training 2 2 3 Attachments A. Wrkstatin Mdificatin Prcedure B. Ergnmic Evaluatin Dcumentatin Frm C. Cmputer Wrkstatin Ergnmic Checklist
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP N.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 2 Purpse Repetitive mtin injuries (RMls) are musculskeletal injuries bjectively identified and diagnsed by a licensed physician. This regulatry cmpliance prgram prvides prcedures "t minimize RMls thrugh wrksite evaluatins, adptin f cntrl measures and training f emplyees. This prgram cmplies with the Califrnia Cde f Regulatins (CCR) Title 8, Sectin 5110, Ergnmics Standard. II Prcedures A. Wrksite Evaluatins 1. Where mre than ne RMI is reprted fr the same jb, prcess r peratin, safety staff will d wrksite evaluatins per the prcedure listed in Attachment A Bth ffice and field ergnmics evaluatins are available. 2. The evaluatin will identify ptential expsures and determine the methds the City will use t cntrl r minimize these expsures. 3. The evaluatin will be dcumented and recrds can be reviewed at Risk Management. Attachment B is an example f an ergnmic evaluatin dcumentatin frm. 4. Ptentially expsed emplyees will be infrmed f the ptential expsures and trained in the City's cntrl measures. B. Cntrl f Expsures Which Have Caused RMI 1. Divisin Managers are respnsible fr crrecting expsures that have caused RMls r t minimize the expsure t emplyees t the extent feasible. 2. The fllwing engineering and administrative cntrls will be cnsidered when determining hw t eliminate r minimize emplyee expsures. All reasnable, cst-effective engineering r administrative cntrls shuld be emplyed t minimize repetitive mtin injuries. a. Engineering Cntrls: wrkstatin redesign, adjustable fixtures, tl redesign b. Administrative Cntrls: jb rtatin, wrk pacing, alternative wrk breaks 3. If engineering and administrative cntrls cannt reasnably eliminate r minimize expsures, persnal prtective equipment (PPE) will be used t minimize expsure t the extent feasible (e.g. anti-vibratin glves).
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP N.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 3 C. Injury Reprting 1. Emplyees are encuraged t reprt all suspected RMls r symptms and ther ergnmic cncerns t their supervisr r EH&S Specialist. III Training A. Scpe f Training 1. Emplyees with ergnmic expsures, including managers and supervisrs, will receive. training which includes the fllwing tpics: a. A descriptin f the City's ergnmic prgram, b. Types f expsures which have been assciated with RMls, c. The symptms and cnsequences f injuries caused by repetitive mtin, d. The imprtance f reprting symptms and injuries t the City, and e, The methds which may be used t minimize RMls including infrmatin frm Attachment C. B. Frequency f Training 1. Training is prvided t ptentially affected emplyees as fllws: a. Initial training was prvided as part f the implementatin f this ergnmics prgram. b. General ergnmics as well as field ergnmics awareness training is ffered t emplyees upn hiring and as needed there after. Training is available thrugh City University, via n-line training r frm the EH&S Specialists. c. EH&S Specialists incrprate training int wrksite evaluatins. d. Training is ffered t all ptentially expsed emplyees given new jb assignments fr which training has nt previusly been received. e. Attachment C prvides self-guided training.
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP N.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 4 Attachment A Wrkstatin Mdificatin Prcedure 1. After the emplyee and the supervisr have attempted the basic adjustments described in Attachment C, the supervisr will request a frmal ergnmic evaluatin frm the Envirnmental Health and Safety Office (808-5278). The emplyee shuld be encuraged t share their cncerns with the EH&S Specialist. 2. The Envirnmental Health ana Safety Specialist will ntify the Divisin Manager befre scheduling the ergnmic evaluatin. 3. The EH&S Specialist will meet with the emplyee and evaluate the wrkstatin with the emplyee. 4. The emplyee's wrkstatin will be evaluated fr ergnmic sundness, efficiency and all-arund safety. Only valid ergnmic imprvements and unsafe cnditins will be nted. 5. If there is a Wrkers' Cmpensatin claim and the emplyee's physician has rdered an ergnmic evaluatin, the physician's request shuld be sentt the Wrkers' Cmpensatin Unit. Wrkers' Cmpensatin will then crdinate the ergnmic evaluatin with the EH&S Specialist t ensure that the physician's specificatins are met as prescribed in the treatment plan. 6. The EH&S Specialist will send the wrkstatin evaluatin reprt t the emplyee, the supervisr and the Wrkers' Cmpensatin Unit (if there is a claim). The prcedure fr crrecting the emplyee's wrkstatin is as fllws: a. The supervisr reviews the reprt, apprves the recmmendatins, r prmptly ntifies the EH&S Specialist f any cncerns. b. The supervisr will frward the apprved equipment recmmendatins t their department's persn respnsible fr rdering equipment. c. This persn will place the equipment rder. This purchase is t be charged t the department's accunt like any ther ffice supply r equipment purchase. d. Once the item(s) are received, it is the respnsibility f the emplyee r the emplyee's supervisr t cntact Facilities Maintenance and crdinate the assembly r installatin f any items requiring lifting, tls r furniture mving. N ne else is t mve r manipulate heavy items, r try t install furniture cmpnents. e. After the item(s) are installed, it is the emplyee's respnsibility t cntact the EH&S Specialist fr any final adjustments and verify that the emplyee is infrmed f hw the new item(s) functin. 7. If the emplyee feels the mdificatins d nt crrect the prblem, it is their respnsibility t cntact their supervisr and reprt their cncern. The supervisr shuld ntify the EH&S Specialist.
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP N.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 5 Attachment B City f Sacrament Ergnmic Evaluatin Dcumentatin Frm Evaluatin Perfrmed Fr: Wrk Lcatin: Date f Evaluatin: ------------------ Evaluatin Perfrmed By: ~ _ Observatins: _ Recmmendatins: ~ ~~_ Date Recmmendatins Cmpleted: ~ _
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP NO.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 6 Attachment C City f Sacrament COMPUTER WORKSTATION ERGONOMIC CHECKLIST Ergnmics is the applied science f designing equipment and prcedures t reduce peratr fatigue and discmfrt. Simple adjustments t the wrk area and wrk habits can prevent repetitive mtin injuries frm wrking at a cmputer. GOOD POSTURE IS THE KEY Gd psture is the basis f gd wrkstatin ergnmics and is the best way t avid a cmputer-related injury. Make sure yu can cmfrtably reach the keybard with yur wrists as flat as pssible (nt bent up r dwn) and straight (nt bent left r right). Make sure that the angle frmed at yur elbws (between the inner surface f the upper arm and the frearm) is at least go degrees t avid nerve cmpressin at the elbw, Make Sure that yur upper arms and elbws are clse t the bdy and relaxed when yu use the muse. Avid ver-reaching! Make sure yu sit back in yur chair and that yu have gd back supprt. Als check that yur feet can rest flat n the flr r n a ftrest. Make sure yur head is as straight as pssible. Make sure yur psture feels relaxed. THE IDEAL POSITION FOR TYPING The ideal cmputer wrkstatin includes the fllwing features:... The tp f yur screen shuld be at eye level r slightly belw. If yu wear bifcals, yur screen may need t be even lwer. Yur keybard shuld be at a level s yur elbws are at r near a go-degree angle. There shuld be a straight line frm yur elbws t yur fingertips. Feet shuld rest n the flr r ftrest. Yur knees shuld frm a go-degree angle. Avid crssing yur legs.
City f Sacrament Regulatry Cmpliance Prgram RCP NO.2 Ergnmics Prgram Page 7 Use a ftrest if necessary, r change the angle f yur knees frm time t time thrughut the day.. Change yur psitin peridically thrughut the day. ARRANGE A "USE ARC" Make sure thse items yu use mst frequently are clsest t yu, s that yu can reach them cnveniently and cmfrtably. Make sure yu are centered at the keybard. Mve the keybard s that the "B" key is centered n yur mid-line. Make sure yur phne is clse if yu frequently use it. D nt cradle the phne with yur shulder. Use a headset if yu need t use the cmputer while n the phne. TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS Ergnmic experts agree that it is a gd idea t take frequent, brief rest breaks. Eye breaks-lking at a cmputer screen fr a lng perid causes changes in hw yur eyes wrk such as blinking less ften and thus expsing mre f the eye surface t air. Every 15 minutes r s, briefly lk at a distant bject fr a minute r tw, preferably smething mre than 20 feet away. This lets yur eye muscles relax. Als, blink yur eyes rapidly fr a few secnds t refresh the tear film and clear dust frm the surface f yur eyes. Micr-breaks-Mst typing is dne in bursts rather than cntinuusly. Between these bursts f activity, rest yur hands in a relaxed, flat, straight psitin. Try standing t answer the phne t give yur bdy a chance t mve. Rest breaks-every 30 t 60 minutes, take a brief rest break. Stand up, mve arund, get a drink f water, r lk ut a windw. Ding smething different allws yu t rest and exercise different muscles, and yu will feel less tired. Exercise breaks-there are many stretches and gentle exercises yu can d t help relieve muscle fatigue. Yu shuld d these every n t tw hurs.