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Tray 1-A: NIOSH Investigations of WMSDs in Work Settings |
SIC Codes: 4510 4813 5411 5411
| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4510 Transportation (Air) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Key entry at computer workstations at a central airline reservation office. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Posture, muscular discomfort |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Cramped work areas, noise interference, poor lighting, heat |
| Recommendations |
Suggested engineering controls included improved workstations and lighting.
Suggested administrative control included 15-min breaks every 2 hours for workers. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 78–134–630 NTIS order no. PB–80–193–030 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
4813 Public utilities (Communications) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Telecommunications work setting; directory assistance operators, using VDTs. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper extremities (hand/wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck). |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Use of bifocal glasses were associated with neck disorders. Work organization and psychosocial factors (e.g., fear of being replaced by computers, lack of supervisor support, and increasing work pressure) linked with musculoskeletal disorders. Workstation and postural measurements were taken but not analyzed due to methodologic limitations. |
| Recommendations |
Continue joint ergonomics committee and consider equipment purchases based on their recommendations. Conduct visual testing of employees to ensure adequate corrected vision. Address concerns of job security and provide job diversity. Reduce information processing loads. Require prompt examinations of employees with musculoskeletal symptoms. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 89–299–2230 NTIS order no. PB–93–119–329 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
5411 Retail trade (Food stores) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Grocery store cashiers working at express checkout stands that involved frequent reaching, scanning, and keying tasks. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Neck, upper back, shoulder, lower back, buttocks, and legs. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetition, awkward postures, excessive reach, and trunk flexion. |
| Recommendations |
Changes made included adding a barrier at the far corner of the checkstand to reduce excessive reach and trunk flexion and providing an adjustable keyboard to relieve other postural stress. Videotape training was provided. Follow up showed a decrease in some symptoms after implementing these changes based in part on employee input. Other checkstand modifications recommended. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 88–345–2031 NTIS order no. PB–91–117–234 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
5411 Wholesale trade (Food stores) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Grocery warehouse setting with jobs involving order selecting (i.e., locating orders for selection, manual handling, and loading of orders for delivery). |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Back injuries and back pain. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repeated lifting of heavy loads requiring extended reach.
Need to meet incentive standards. Thermal stress further aggravated problems. |
| Recommendations |
Design of storage racks and physical layout should be rearranged to allow ready access to orders, and the grocery items (cases) should be restricted in size to ease handling. Performance standards should be reexamined or worker rotation and restrictions on overtime provisions to minimize risks of overexertion. Measures to reduce heat stress should be considered (e.g., cooling fans, ample, easily accessible cool drinking water, and increasing rest breaks in cool locations). |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 91–405–2340 NTIS order no. PB–94–131–638 |
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