Almost everyone has experienced an ergonomic ailment — tennis elbow, tendinitis, writer’s cramp are classic examples. Recently, such ailments have been given names like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cumulative Trauma Disorder and Repetitive Motion Syndrome in Worker’s Compensation injury reports. But regardless of the name given to the ailment, the problem is one of ergonomics.
Ergonomics is the art (science?) of matching machines to humans. Although ergonomics has been around for a long time—look at some old hand tools to see how they were made to fit the body, maximize comfort and minimize energy output —it was not until the 1960’s that Swedish designers deliberately worked to make tools, equipment and furniture fit the human body. In the last 10 to 15 years, employers, safety engineers and risk managers have begun to pay attention to the problems caused by the poor ergonomic conditions in the work place. This is partly due to spiraling Worker’s Compensation costs, but also because of lost time, absenteeism, low morale and decreased production.
The ski industry is also experiencing an ergonomic backlash. Ski employees complain of sore wrists, elbows and shoulders from loading chairs. Ticket checkers frequently complain of burning and tender wrists from punching tickets. Vehicle mechanics doing track or growser repair are familiar with pains in the wrist, shoulder or forearm toward the end of the day. Purchasing agents and reservationists fall victim to cumulative trauma disorders from extensive time spent with a telephone receiver pressed to their ears. Secretaries and accountants are experiencing shoulder pain, eye strain and wrist pain caused by long periods of time at a word processor or calculator key board. Food service employees complain of problems from cutting meat or kneading and decorating pastry. Rental shop technicians experience pain and sometimes lost time from the stress placed on their body by the pre- or post-season binding installation and maintenance. Lift mechanics experience cumulative trauma disorder while doing sheave lining replacement. Nursery attendants often fall victim to back and shoulder discomfort brought about by the continual stooping, squatting and lifting while tending to children. Housekeepers file accident reports because of discomfort they experience from season-long vacuuming, dusting and polishing. The list goes on and on and the costs in human suffering, medical bills and lost production skyrocket, to say nothing of rising insurance premiums.
Ergonomic-type problems are becoming the ailment of the decade. The dramatic increase in this type of compensation claim in the past few years confirms this with some non-ski-industry businesses reporting 80 to 85 percent of their Worker’s Compensation claims in this category.
Ergonomics are a challenge. Fortunately, there are many things that can be done to improve poor ergonomics, often inexpensively, sometimes requiring only corrections to work stations, work routines or procedures.
At the same time, businesses are being inundated with salesmen, advertising and catalogs selling furniture, wrist splints, custom chairs, pads, mats, gloves, etc., at high prices. In truth, many dollars spent for quick fixes may not be the only or even the best answer.
Most ergonomists and safety engineers agree that there are three basic approaches to deal with any ergonomic challenge: administrative, environmental and engineering. Sometimes the solution may be found in a combination of these approaches.
Administrative Controls, the least expensive way to control ergonomic problems, includes the following:
Observation. Managers should watch employees doing their jobs. It matters not that the supervisor may have done the same job in the past or is still doing a similar job. The important thing is how a specific employee does his or her job and the types of stresses that employee is enduring.
Are body parts overloaded or placed in positions that expose him or her to known risk such as repetitive motion, vibration or excessive force? It is also a good idea to discuss the job with an employee, asking what task is most tiring? How do you feel at the end of the day? What would you like to see changed at your work station? Why? Do any of the things you do cause you discomfort or pain? Clues to potential problems may be revealed by “home fixes” such as wrist splints, Ace bandages, back belts, etc.
Observation is an inexpensive and very effective way of reducing the problems of cumulative trauma disorders.
Training. Training is not inexpensive, but it is usually cheaper than a batch of repetitive-motion-syndrome Worker’s Compensation claims. Teaching employees proper body positions to lessen the potential for musculoskeletal disorders or to be aware of the potential for such ailments can be effective. Conversely, on-the-job training can be ineffective unless the trainer is qualified and familiar with the potential for ergonomic problems.
Job Safety Analysis. Although job safety analysis is usually the purview of safety professionals or the ergonomist, it can be done effectively by knowledgeable and objective supervisors. He or she needs to ask: What are the obvious hazards of the task? Where have we experienced cumulative trauma problems in the past? What complaints are expressed by the persons doing the job? After gathering this data, action can be taken to reduce risks by alleviating the observed hazards.
Record Review. It is common good sense to review the accident reports and the OSHA form 200 to see what ergonomic problems have occurred in the past. Ask, who has had the cumulative trauma problems? Where have they occurred? What was the suspected cause? What was done about the problem to prevent a recurrence? Did it work?
By using historical data, problem areas can be identified without a large outlay of dollars. A telephone call to an attending physician for any ergonomic-related illness can also be very helpful in preventing similar incidents in the future.
Environmental controls can be both difficult and expensive although they need not always be so. At a ski area, control of the outside temperture is impossible, but teaching employees how to dress for the cold, giving them warm-up breaks and, if possible, the providing wind breaks is effective. In the office, the environmental stresses such as noise, temperture, workstation design and the utilization of proven ergonomic aids such as padded keyboard wrist rests, good lighting, etc., are easy preventive measures.
Environmental solutions to ergonomic challenges are effective, but they require objective investigation, honest evaluation and, when necessary, the expenditure of funds to change or attenuate the work environment. Usually, an environmental fix will more than pay for itself.
Engineering controls for ergonomically-caused disorders are getting easier and less expensive as manufacturers create tools, furniture and equipment that considers humans in the design of products. Chairs have ergonomic features; power tools are shaped to fit the hand and place less stress on muscles and tendons. In some situations, engineering controls are the only solution to the ergonomic problem. Relighting an office or the replacement of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system in an office or shop can run into thousands of dollars and may meet with resistance at budget time. The question then is, what is an employee’s or group of employees’ health, morale and productivity worth? What is the resulting payback when major structural changes are mandated?
The problems associated with ergonomic mismatches are many and varied and the resulting ailments are costing American industry billions of dollars in medical and compensation payments. The ski industry is paying its share, and it will probably continue to escalate as employees become more informed about problems and Worker’s Compensation courts continue to rule in favor of claimants. Prudent ski area operators must recognize that the problems associated with ergonomics are real.
Fortunately, these ailments and problems can be controlled and reduced, but it takes knowledge, money, effort and a realistic determination to meet the challenge. Be assured that the problem will not go away; it is only going to get worse. The time to start is now.
