Work-related Musculoskeletal System Disorders (WMSDs) have many names including repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorders, overuse syndrome, repetitive motion injuries, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, white finger, and game-keeper’s thumb. The most widely known term, and perhaps the most prevalent WMSD in the workplace, is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) & White Hand.
To prevent these injuries, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to them. Ergonomics are the laws or rules of human strength. A bad match hurts productivity and results in frequent WMSDs. Factors that contribute to the development of WMSDs include:
Forceful Exertion - strength needed to perform a task
Repetitive Motion - frequency of a task is performed during shift
Awkward Posture - positioning of the body to perform a task
Lack of recovery time
Whole Body & Arm Vibration
Hot & Cold Temperature - colder temperatures are more harmful
The making of arrangements for ensuring, so far as practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use or operation, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances”. (Section 15 (2)(b)).
4(c) To promote an occupational environment for persons at work which is adapted to their physiological and psychological needs
General responsibility of the employer and self employed
Therefore, new OSHA Amendment “The Bill” 2020 stated:
Additional responsibilities on employers/principals towards employees (New) Section 18A: Mandatory requirement for principal employers to ensure the safety of contractors and sub-contractors including those employed by them as far as reasonably practicable. (New) Section 18B: Obligation to conduct risk assessment in relation to the safety and health risk posed to any employee at the workplace.
Financial Deterrent: Increase in penalties Section 19: Increment of penalty from RM50,000 to RM500,000 for offences including failure of employers to formulate safety and health policies. Section 23: Penalty of RM200,000 (previously RM20,000) for violations under Section 21 and Section 22 (Manufacturer’s duty on plant and materials at the workplace).
However, some strict clause in Factory & Machinery Acts 1967 stated:
ACTS 139, PART II - SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE, Section 22. Provisions relating to health and Section 12. Lifting of weights. No person shall be employed to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely to cause bodily injury to him.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
IKS’s Ergonomics Total Solution is aligned with Department of Occupational Safety & Health guidelines under Ergonomics Risk Assessment at Workplace 2017 AND Guidelines for Manual Handling at Workplace 2018. Factors such as
Increasing trend on reported occupational diseases in Malaysia mainly due to exposure ERGONOMICS risk factor in every aspects of the industries or corporate
Relatively LOW COMPLIANCE to industrial hygiene related regulations in Malaysia
Industrial Hygiene related regulations seems as DIFFICULT and COSTLY to comply
which have created challenges in industries to comply with the guidelines. We provide the best tools and solutions in handling injuries at workplace as well as to avoid further injuries at clients’ workplace. This Ergonomics Total Solution Program offers the best solution for client to manage all Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs).
3.0 ERGONOMICS TOTAL SOLUTION PROGRAM
Diagram below demonstrate on the ergonomics total solution program flows which recommended to execute into phases.
3.1 PHASE 1 – ERGONOMIC AWARENESS TRAINING (All Workers)
3.1.1 Basic Ergonomics Awareness and Manual Handling Topic (2 Days)
Full 2 days training for operation/ field workers to be conducted to ensure all workers have the knowledge and apply the ergonomics & manual handlings (lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying techniques) knowledge into their day-to-day operation. The training module has to be aligned with current guidelines Ergonomics Risk Assessment at Workplace Guideline 2017 & Manual Handing Guideline 2018 by DOSH.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this training, participants will able to:
Understand values of implementing ergonomics in the workplace environment.
Identify ergonomic concerns for workplace and external activities.
Understand health, safety and undesired effects due to poor workplace ergonomic practices.
Practical ways to reduce MSDs concerns and risk at workplace.
Know all MSDs risk factors and how to counter the issues.
Understand in details of Pushing, Pulling, Lifting, Lowering, Carrying techniques.
Identify the risks and how to prevent injury in Manual Handling tasks.
Know how to stretch certain muscles on body parts if have discomfort/pains.
Delivery Method
The following are several methods that will be engaged in order to ensure the effectiveness of training:-
Reconcile syllabus according to the needs
Design module according to the characteristics of the participants
Classroom
-Notes on office ergonomics
-Workshop and group discussion
-Recommendation
Exercise
Discussion/ recommendation after the program
A group of 4-5 to be formed during the class.
Course Contents: DAY 1:
Module 1: Ergonomics Introduction
Pe-Test Questionnaires to gauge knowledge prior to training begins.
What is ergonomics and its definition.
Ergonomics Benefits.
Module 2: DOSH Guideline & OSHA 1994 (Act 514)
ERA 2017 by DOSH Overview.
OSHA 1994 (Act 514) clause.
Overview of the SOCSO statistics.
New OSHA Amendment BILL 2020
Module 3: Understanding Ergonomics Concerns, Risks and Its Consequences
Primary Tools for Office & Operation Works.
Ergonomics Risk Factors At Workplace.
Work-Related Risk Factors.
Human Capacities Vs Work Demand.
Module 4: Common Musculoskeletal System Disorders (MSDs)
What are MSDs?
What are Work-Related MSDs?
MSDs And Problematic Areas At Work.
MSD Status Among Workers.
DAY 2:
Module 5: MSDs risk factors in Field Manual Handling
What are Work-related Musculoskeletal System Disorders (WMSDs)?
How to prevent injuries when work in operation, production or field areas?
Module 6: Practical Ways & Strategies : Ergonomics At Workplace
Personal Adjustment.
Practical Adjustment with Minimal Cost.
Stretch-Exercise.
Module 7: Field Ergonomics Manual Handling on Pushing, Pulling, Carrying, Lifting, Lowering Techniques
Preparation To Perform Manual Handling.
Manual Handling Risk Factors.
Demonstration on actual work behaviours’ vs ergonomics ways and learning activities at field on manual handling Pushing, Pulling, Lifting, Lowering & Carrying tasks.
Ergonomics Guide on Manual Handling Techniques
Pushing
Pulling
Carrying
Lifting
Lowering
Recommended Weight by NIOSH.
Demonstration and activities using Mechanical Aid.
Case Studies.
8. Post Test & Feedback Session.
NOTE: Attendance certificate to be issued to participant upon completion of both days training.
3.1.2 Basic Office Ergonomics Topic (1 Day)
One (1) full day training for office base worker which the objective is to learn on how work can be made safe, more comfortable and productive in office workplace by understanding the human factors present in work tasks, communication and planning. Body sizing, human strength, the limitations of the senses, and strain injury avoidance are all addresses.
Delivery Method
The following are several methods that will be engaged in order to ensure the effectiveness of training: -
Reconcile syllabus according to the needs
Design module according to the characteristics of the participants
Classroom
-Notes on office ergonomics
-Workshop and group discussion
-Recommendation
Exercise
Discussion/ recommendation after the program
A group of 4-5 to be formed during the class.
Course Objective:
Participants will learn how work can be made safe, more comfortable, and productive by understanding the human factors present in work tasks, communication and planning. Body sizing, human strength, the limitations of the senses, and strain injury avoidance are all addresses. Participants will be able to :-
Describe human physical abilities and limitations.
Apply ergonomics principles to create safe, healthy, efficient and effective activities in the workplace.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the work system that they have designed.
Design a work system by taken into consideration human capabilities and limitations.
Understand the concept of ergonomics.
Be able to describe ergonomic risk factors.
Identify risks present in the environment and work tasks.
Understand and implement risk avoidance practices.
Course Contents:
DAY 1
Module 1: Introduction to applied ergonomics.
Meaning of ergonomics.
The importance of Ergonomics in daily work activities.
Ergonomics and OSH Act 1994.
DOSH Guideline 2017
The concept of primary tools.
Module 2: Main office ergonomics concerns.
Ergonomic risk factors at workplace. Case studies: Identify good and poor work practices
Module 3: Health effects due to poor practice of ergonomics.
What are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?
On-set work related musculoskeletal injuries.
Measure level of body damage.
Case Study from the Video source.
Module 4: Practical ways to avoid pain & discomfort
Practical: Identify ergonomic concerns at your workplace.
Poor work habits versus poor workplace setup.
How to correctly adjust office chair for better sitting and proper workplace setup.
Examples of low cost and practical solutions for improvement.
Stretching Exercises.
Module 5: Demonstration on work-setup & role-play by participants
Demonstrate on how to make self-assessment & workplace setup
Practice on evaluation to injured personnel
Learning Outcome sharing.NOTE: Attendance certificate to be issued to participant upon completion of the 1-day training.
Ergonomics Evaluation Tracking Tool (EETT) is an online tool that can be used by organization to manage all complaints and feedback likelihood or potentially to be MSDs case in the organization. No other ergonomics consultant in Malaysia has developed this except our Principal Ergonomist for the Oils & Gas company.
The objective of the EETT as below:
To mitigate the ergonomics hazards and risks found at the workplace.
Minimizing the numbers of ergonomics cases in organization.
To control and reduce medical cost of the company.
To ensure that all workers are safe and have a good health.
To tabulate data and perform data analysis on all ergonomics cases.
To track the chronology of events on all log cases.
Our principal ergonomist has very vast experienced in developing this tool and by using this tool has proven a good KPI result on keeping MSDs Case management to excellent level and reduce numbers of MSDs cases in the organization. However, great support from the Top Management Level will make a success of this case management program.
