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Tray 1-A: NIOSH Investigations of WMSDs in Work Settings |
SIC Codes: 8351 8731 9190 9999
| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
8351 Services (Child care) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Caring for children at a day care facility. Tasks involve lifting children and frequent kneeling and squatting. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper limb, neck, back, and lower limb |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetitive exertions, static exertions, awkward postures, and heavy lifting |
| Recommendations |
Suggested engineering controls were to provide furniture and fixtures at appropriate adult heights. Proposed administrative and work practices controls included use of lifting techniques to minimize back stresses. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 93–0995–2442 NTIS order no. PB–95–129–235 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
8731 Services (Biological research) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Research laboratory conducting anticancer research. Numerous laboratory tasks. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper extremities |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Sustained awkward and static postures of the hand/arm, repetition, use of pinch grips, contact with sharp edges of workstations. |
| Recommendations |
Engineering controls included retrofitting pipettes with finger trigger strips and pipette foot switches and modifying biosafety cabinets (e.g., padding sharp edges, providing height-adjustable turntable for easier access). Administrative controls were changing job protocols to reduce repetitions, job rotation, and frequent micro-breaks. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 95–0294–2594 NTIS order no. (in process) |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
9190 Services (Government) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Data entry and other tasks involving video- display units at a Federal government office. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper limb and neck, back, eyestrain |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetitive exertions, awkward postures, glare and poor illumination |
| Recommendations |
Various recommendations were made to improve lighting and reduce glare and to improve workstation design (keyboard height, viewing distance and angle, chair features, wrist rests, detachable keyboards). A visual testing program and a rest-break schedule were recommended. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 83–463–1642 NTIS order no. PB–86–206–059 |
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| Standard industrial classification (SIC) |
9999 Non-classifiable (Sign language interpreters) |
| Work setting and tasks |
Sign language interpreters for the deaf. |
| Work-related musculoskeletal problems found |
Upper extremities (e.g., shoulder, elbow, fingers, neck, and hand) disorders and back problems. |
| Ergonomic risk factors found |
Repetition and awkward and static postures. |
| Recommendations |
Include rest breaks in interpreting sessions.
Maintain signing motions between the shoulders and within the area bounded by the chest and waist.
Avoid forceful contacts between the hands. |
| HETA/NTIS reference no. |
HETA 92–0268–2447 NTIS order no. PB–95–219–465 |
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