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Tray 1-A: NIOSH Investigations of WMSDs in Work Settings |
SIC Codes: 4311 4311 4311 4441
| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4311 Public utilities (Postal service) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Large sack sorting and small parcel bundle sorting operations at a major airport mail facility. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Back and leg discomfort; injuries from being struck with mail exiting chutes; overexertion. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Prolonged standing, heavy lifting, extended reach. |
| Recommendations |
Furnish floor mats, step rails, and sit and stand stools to relieve prolonged standing postures. Design loading procedures and utility carts to eliminate unassisted manual lifts of mail sacks weighing up to 70 lb. Add diverters in chutes to funnel packages within easy reach of worker. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 93–1145–2529 NTIS order no. PB–96–191–770 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4311 Public utilities (Postal service) |
| Work setting and tasks |
The work setting was a mail processing facility. Job tasks were those involved with feeding mail to several automated mail processing machines and removing such mail once it has been sorted. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Limited to study of ergonomic risk factors in job tasks. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Frequent stooping to retrieve mail trays for feeding the machines, extended reach, and trunk flexion in sweeping and stacking sorted mail. High volume capacity of sorting machines makes these actions more repetitive. |
| Recommendations |
Automated options for relieving manual operations with the processing machines need consideration. Examples would be a weight sensitive stacker bin that would eject its contents into a container either below or beside the bin where a moving conveyor could carry the mail away. Another would be spring-controlled leveling systems that raise the feeder trays as others are removed. Other measures would be to limit the time spent on these machine tasks or to provide added breaks. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 92–0073–2337 NTIS order no. PB–94–133–824 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4311 Public utilities (Postal service) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Mail processing facility with workers engaged in loading mail into automated sorting machines and transferring the sorted mail once it is collected in bins. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Limited to an assessment of ergonomic risk factors in job tasks. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Prolonged standing postures and walking on hard floor surfaces. |
| Recommendations |
Provide for a sit/stand option for those operating the loader and furnish foot rests to rest one leg while standing. Install cushioned mats to run the length and width of the loading and sweeping areas. Mats should have a beveled edge to reduce a tripping hazard and should be kept in place by velcro or some other method. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 92–019–2188 NTIS order no. PB–92–193–887 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4441 Transportation (Water) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Operation, repair and maintenance tasks at river locks and dams. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
None reported |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetitive and forceful exertions, awkward postures, heavy lifting, vibration |
| Recommendations |
The major recommendation is to develop an ergonomics program. Three jobs were analyzed, yet these represent only a fraction of the jobs performed at the various sites. Specific engineering control recommendations for the jobs studied include adjustable workstations, use of hoists and lifts for shop work and extending the height of rope tie-off posts for lock operation work. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 90–385–2173 NTIS order no. PB–92–176–809 |
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