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Tray 1-A: NIOSH Investigations of WMSDs in Work Settings |
SIC Codes: 0171 1725 2011 2015
| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
0171 Agriculture (Berry crops) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Harvesting wild blueberries. Task involves combing through bushes with a hand-held rake to scoop up berries |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper extremities (hand/wrist and elbow) and back. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Awkward (stooped) postures, repetitive deviations of the wrist, and repetitive and forceful motions of the hand/arm and shoulder. |
| Recommendations |
Recommended engineering controls included using mechanized harvesting where feasible, and redesigning the rake (substitute material to make the rake lighter). Better work practices, work conditioning, and reducing the loads in buckets were also recommended. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 93–1031–2521 NTIS order no. PB–96–115–472 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
1752 Construction (Floor work) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Carpet Installation. Tasks include use of the "knee kicker" to stretch carpet |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Lower limb |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Forceful exertions and contact stress |
| Recommendations |
Control recommendations included using knee pads and more use of a hand-operated power stretcher. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 82–065–1664 NTIS order no. PB–86–225–661 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
2011 Manufacturing (Meat products) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Plant processing beef and pork products. Tasks studied were cutting and dissecting cattle and hogs with saws, straight knives, powered hand knives, clippers, and hooks. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper extremity disorders (mainly hand/wrist but also elbows, shoulder, and neck). |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Vibration and force found to correlate highest with problem cases.
Data on repetitive actions and awkward postures were judged insufficient for analysis. |
| Recommendations |
Engineering changes included reorientation of tools, adjustable fixtures, better layout of workstations and delivery bins, and automating aspects of the work process to relieve workload demands. Train new employees in proper work methods, use of job rotation, and rest breaks suggested along with better maintenance of cutting knives to reduce vibrations. Improved medical management stressed, such as educating workers to report early signs of problems, allowing adequate time off for symptomatic cases to heal, and a slower paced return to work policy after surgery. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 88–180–1958 NTIS order no. PB–90–128–992 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
2015 Manufacturing (Poultry processing) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Turkey processing. Jobs include eviscerating and boning tasks. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper limb and neck |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetitive and forceful exertions, awkward postures, low temperature> |
| Recommendations |
Engineering control recommendations include use of better designed knives and adjustable workstations. Also recommended were a comprehensive knife and scissor sharpening program and improving the work load distribution throughout the plant. Administrative control recommendations were work practice training and decreasing line speeds. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 86–505–1885 NTIS order no. PB–89–106–546 |
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