Post on 15-Dec-2015
transcript
BEST PRACTICES FOR GLOVEBOX ERGONOMICS
Scott Hinds, PECindy Lawton, PT, OCS
Cameron Van CleaveScott.hinds@merrick.com (505)663-4162
CindyL@lanl.gov (505)667-0252
UNCLASSIFIED
LA-UR 12-22787
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Practices to keep our glovebox workers comfortable and safe while working
UNCLASSIFIED
OUTLINE
• Background
• Glovebox Design
• Worker Best Practices and Exercises
UNCLASSIFIED
WHY ERGONOMICS?
• Proper work environment Lower stress Less fatigue Improved productivity Decrease risk of Injury
• Decrease risk of a BREACH
UNCLASSIFIED
GLOVEBOX INJURY DATA54 people
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Jan-June 2011
July-Dec 2011
Jan-June 2012
First Aide 0 0 2 3 3 10 4 0
Recordable 7 10 8 2 6 6 0 1
Shoulder Elbow Wrist Hand/fingers Thumb Spine/other
17 26 5 5 3 5/2
2006-2010 2011- June 2012
Repetitive 88% 58%
Single Occurence 12% 42%
Survey Project for GB workers - Oct 2010 through March 2011
UNCLASSIFIED
PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS REPORTING SYMPTOMS VS. YEARS AS A GLOVEBOX WORKER
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Years As a Glovebox Worker
Perc
enta
ge o
f Wor
kers
Rep
ortin
g Sy
mpt
oms
<3 3-5 >5-10 >10-15 >15-20 >20-25 >25
UNCLASSIFIED
AVERAGE YEARS AS A GLOVEBOXWORKER VS. NUMBER OF SYMPTOMS PER PERSON
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Number of Symptoms Per Person
Avera
ge Y
ears
as a
GB
Work
er
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
UNCLASSIFIED
KEY ERGONOMIC GLOVEBOX DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
• Depth of glovebox and Width of glovebox• Gloveport height• Windows• Transfer devices, airlocks, and doors• Use of computer simulation
UNCLASSIFIED
- Engineering Controls - Design and make engineering changes to improve the situation
- Administrative controls such as task rotation, decreasing duration, training, and exercises can help to buy time until you can do the appropriate engineering change but are NOT the solution
UNCLASSIFIED
DEPTH AND WIDTH OF GLOVEBOXTasks should determine size
UNCLASSIFIED
GLOVEPORT HEIGHT, SHAPE, AND ORIENTATION
• The ideal height is at operator’s elbows, but that limits reaching distance.
• Ovular ports allow for a greater range of motion.• Depending on the task, gloveports can be horizontal,
vertical, or angled.
UNCLASSIFIED
REACH DISTANCE
UNCLASSIFIED
Correct
Incorrect
•Using tools helps keep your body in a more neutral position.
EXTENSION HANDLES
• Extension poles for cleaning windows and paint brushes helps with reach. An angled paint brush helps reaching in corners
UNCLASSIFIED
SHOULDER BEST PRACTICES
• Using a platformImproves alignment
of the spine
• Shoulder angle must be below 70 degrees
UNCLASSIFIED
SHOULDER BEST PRACTICES CONT’D
Recommended Platform Height (in) Height (in) Shoulder Height (in)
2 68-67 57-55
4 66-63 54-52
6 62 - 58 51 - 47
Platform Height Recommendations(52 in centerline)
UNCLASSIFIED
PLATFORMS
• Platforms help decrease stress on the neck and shoulders.
• Important that size fits just between two ports, easily portable (wheels)
• Shoulder below 70 degrees
UNCLASSIFIED
SHOULDER STRESS
Crease
Wear
Breach
Poor Ergonomics
Injury Risk
UNCLASSIFIED
SOLUTION
Retractable shelf for airlock
UNCLASSIFIED
WINDOWS• When the
visual field is impaired, so is productivity and dexterity.
• Full view windows are ideal
UNCLASSIFIED
Shielding on windows decreases clarity.
COMPUTER SIMULATION
• Use early on in the design process
• Identifies ergonomic stressors
• Reassess/validate changes
UNCLASSIFIED
COMPUTER SIMULATION CONT’D
• Graded approach to ergonomic stressors
(red, orange, yellow, green)
UNCLASSIFIED
COMPUTER SIMULATION
UNCLASSIFIED
Identifies clearly the viewing by the operator
WORKER BEST PRACTICES
• Shoulder• Elbow• Lower back and neck
UNCLASSIFIED
SHOULDER BEST PRACTICES
• Pull fingers free• Extract with
elbow angled down -improves muscle imbalances
UNCLASSIFIED
Removing arms from glovebox gloves
SHOULDER BEST PRACTICES CONT’D
• Ideally - Use reach assist tools
• Place hand to inner surface of front panel to reduce stress on reaching shoulder and improve reach distance
UNCLASSIFIED
ELBOW BEST PRACTICES CONT’D
• Proper grasping techniques
• Do not reach over the top and grab/move items – a lot of stress on elbow
Improper technique Proper techniques
UNCLASSIFIED
ELBOW BEST PRACTICES CONT’D
Power Grip vs. Pinch Grip
• Avoid pinch grip/ use a more open hand power grip
• Design tooling to reduce pinching
• Use foot controls vs. hand controls.
Improper technique Proper technique
UNCLASSIFIED
ALLEN WRENCHES
Enlarged handles…• make wrenches easier to
grab and hold.
• help avoid Pinch grip.
UNCLASSIFIED
REVERSE LOCKING TWEEZERS
• The fatigue from holding tweezers closed is eliminated.
• The length reduces the need to reach.
UNCLASSIFIED
LOWER BACK AND NECK BEST PRACTICES
• Anti-fatigue mats
• Help reduce lower back and leg fatigue
UNCLASSIFIED
LOWER BACK
• Move items closer prior to lifting
• Reduce lifting by improved housekeeping
• Items that weigh over 15 lbs in a glovebox need an assistive device to move
UNCLASSIFIED
EXERCISES
• Traffic cop:
Helps with upper back stress and shoulders
UNCLASSIFIED
SHOULDER EXERCISES
• Strengthening exercises
• Rotator cuff• Internal
Rotation• External
Rotation• Rhomboids
UNCLASSIFIED
ELBOW EXERCISES
• Stretching exercises
• Should be done throughout the day
10 – 15 second holds
Stretching forearm flexors Stretching forearm extensors
UNCLASSIFIED
Summary
• Improve Designs
• Use appropriate tooling.
• Improve techniques.
• Strengthen Rotator Cuff and stretch forearms
UNCLASSIFIED
Thank you.
Questions
UNCLASSIFIED